Monday, June 13, 2011

Understanding Erectile Dysfunction and Viagra

In 1998, the FDA approved Viagra as a prescription medication for safe and effective erectile dysfunction treatment. Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, is a PDE-5 inhibitor drug that increases blood flow to the penis to improve erections. It is advised to take Viagra under medical supervision in order to prevent some mild-to-moderate side effects. But in the last few years, there have been reports of recreational use of Viagra. Men who never suffered from erectile dysfunction are using Viagra to simply enhance endurance.

Viagra as a recreational drug

In some men, Viagra can cause mild-to-moderate temporary side effects such as headaches, blurred vision, stuffy nose, and facial flushing. Using Viagra without medical necessity can also cause minimal side effects. But when Viagra is taken in combination with other substances such as ecstasy (a night club drug) or amyl nitrate for recreational use, it can cause serious complications. Recreational use of Viagra can cause sudden drop in blood pressure levels. There is also a risk of developing a condition known as priapism, which causes persistent and painful erection. Priapism can cause insufficient supply of blood to the penis, which can damage intracavernosal smooth muscles in the penis.

Can I get addicted to Viagra?

Viagra, when used as directed, is considered a safe and non-habit forming medication for the treatment of impotence. Viagra cannot cause addiction because it causes no long-term change in sexual function. It temporarily increases the flow of blood to the penis, which doesn't affect a man's ability to perform sexually in future. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity. It is important to understand that Viagra cannot treat the medical conditions causing erectile dysfunction, so it is likely that a man will have to continue using Viagra to get an erection. This doest not mean that he is addicted to Viagra; it simply means that he is still experiencing erectile dysfunction.

Viagra - Erectile dysfunction treatment

Erection is a complex process. It starts with sexual stimulation of the penis, which sends signals to the brain. In response, the brain sends reflex signals to the blood vessels to relax in order to increase the flow of blood to the penis. As blood enters the penis, it causes an erection. Blood is prevented to flow out from the penis until climax is reached during a sexual intercourse. A disruption in any of these processes can cause erectile dysfunction.

cGMP is a chemical that relaxes blood vessels in order to increase the flow of blood to the penis. PDE-5 (phosphodiestrase-5) is an enzyme that breaks down cGMP. In that way, it hampers the ability to get an erection. Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is a PDE-5 inhibitor that blocks the action of PDE-5 enzyme and maintains the level of cGMP. In this way, Viagra increases blood flow to the penis and causes an erection.

How can I take Viagra?

To get the best results out of impotence pills such as Viagra, it should be taken exactly as directed by doctor. It is usually taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual intercourse. Viagra should not be taken more than once per day. Viagra 50mg dosage is recommended for most men to start with. But based on tolerance and effectiveness, the dosage can be adjusted to Viagra 25mg or Viagra 100mg.