Viagra, also known as Sildenafil, is used by patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction problems. Statistics indicate that over 15 million people in the USA are diagnosed with this unfortunate abnormality.
Consuming Viagra without knowing its drug interactions, minor and major side effects, prescription and dosage limits can be stressful as well as dangerous for a regular consumer. We have curated few of the most commonly asked questions about Viagra. Keep reading to solve the majority of your doubts.
The main purpose of Viagra is fighting the erectile dysfunction issue when a man needs to indulge in sexual activity. Usually, consuming 50 mg tablets is what is recommended.
Never consume it more than once in a day. It is safe to consume every day provided you are not mixing it with other drugs that may react and cause fatal side effects.
Attaining in erection may seem only sensual for you. But in reality, your hormones, blood vessels, nerves, heart, and brain contribute throughout the process.
When PDE-5 inhibitors such as Viagra are consumed, there is an increase in the cGMP levels due to restricting the PDE type 5 enzymes.
This increase in cGMP leads to penis tissues to relax and contains substantial blood flow in the penis. Factually, there is approximately over 8 times of blood than when you do not have an erection.
Keep in mind that Viagra will not give you an erection if you are not sexually aroused.
Most erectile dysfunction medications have very similar side effects as they provide the same function to the body. Viagra will contribute to mild headaches, flushing of the skin, nasal congestion, back pain and occasionally impaired vision.
The vision can get disrupted because blood flow to the optic nerve reduces – blurring the patient’s vision.
Another not so common but possible side effect of Viagra is known as Priapism – a prolonged erection. This can lead to immense pain and nerve damage to the penis.
Thus, always buy Viagra from a trusted dealer and do not consume more than the recommended dosage amount.
The one most important drug interaction that you must avoid at all costs is that of nitrates and Viagra.
Nitrates are present in medicines that are responsible for getting a hold of high blood pressure and resolving the problem of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), also known as, hypertension. The nitrates present in these tablets work by dilating the blood vessels to lower blood flow and pressure to its normal range.
Viagra too has the same functionality. When consumed together the heart receives less blood and the possibility of a fatal cardiac arrest becomes highly possible. Nitrates present in foods are ok, but never in medicines.
Remember if you are having Viagra it must be at least 24 hours after you took your last dose of medicines that contain nitrates.
Small amounts of food would be a better option as compared to large meals. Eating Viagra after a fairly heavy meal will lead to delayed absorption of Viagra inside the body, thus reducing its half-life and making it less effective.
By delayed absorption, I mean that Viagra will take longer to break down and get concentrated with your blood. This can lead to significantly shorter erections and lower sexual performance.
Remember, eating a high-fat meal is not a good idea, as your blood flow is naturally diverted to your intestines to help with digestion.
Viagra is available in doses of 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg.
The most commonly prescribed dose is 50 mg.
In order to decide the best and most effective dosage, you must meet a healthcare provider. They will analyse factors such as your age, medical history, your body’s reaction to the different doses and your current overall cardiovascular health.
Different men need different doses – for some a 25 mg dose suffices for a more than satisfactory sexual performance. Whereas, for some men, even a 100 mg dose can prove to be not sufficient during sexual intercourse.
Be honest with your doctor about your medical history, how often do you plan to have sex, any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and whether you are ready to put a hold on your excessive alcohol drinking habits.
Viagra can take anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in and can last up to 6 hours depending on the dosage you consumed.
Never consume Viagra on a full stomach (especially high-fat meals) as this postpones the dissolving of Viagra in the blood.
Please refrain from consuming more than one or a maximum of 2 drinks of alcohol before consuming Viagra. This is because alcohol is known to impair mind and body coordination. Not only does alcohol make it harder for the brain to understand emotions of excitement, sexual arousal or sadness, it also makes it 5 times more complex for the brain the send signals to desired parts of the body.
Few more factors that definitely help in longer effects of Viagra are related to your lifestyle.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and body functionality at peak levels is a great advocate for actually reaping the benefits of Viagra.
Make sure you avoid diabetes, do enough cardiovascular and breathing exercises, do not smoke and refrain from drugs that stay in the bloodstream for longer.
Ever since the Generic version of Viagra was launched, a lot of online pharmacies have started selling it at cheap prices. But, is it safe?
Well, a lot has been said about this and, yet, there’s no solid conclusion. The best thing you can do is buying Generic Viagra from a reputable and trusted source; like BlinkHealth, ForHims, SecurePharmaOnline, etc.
Viagra is the most ideal, trusted and suitable alternative for people who suffer from Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Since the late 1990s, it has been on the shelf of most pharmacies and the go-to drug for people who have gone through prostatectomy. Please, never give Viagra to women, children or men who do not have erectile dysfunction. It is extremely important to resolve all your doubts pertaining to your Viagra prescriptions before you are administered the medicine.
Sushil Sharma is a freelance blogger who's woking in the field of men's & women's health.