What is Viagra?

Viagra is a brand name for sildenafilTrusted Source.

Doctors normally prescribe Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition where a person has difficulty having or maintaining an erection.

Viagra helps increase the blood flow to the penis, which can help individuals maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. However, doctors do not recommend taking more than one dose daily.

This drug can start working within 30 minutesTrusted Source and can last up to 18 hours. While doctors usually prescribe 50 milligrams (mg) of Viagra, they may lower this dosage to 25 mg or increase it to 100 mg.

Individuals who take Viagra may notice they find it easier to have and maintain an erection. However, people should also discuss any potential safety considerations with a healthcare professional before using this drug.

Advantages

Several clinical studies have investigated the effect of Viagra on ED. The research found that people who took this drug were more likely to achieve and maintain an erection than those who did not. While the percentage of individuals who found Viagra helped them differed depending on the dosage, the researchers discovered that all doses were more effective than not taking Viagra at all.

Additionally, while the number of times a week individuals had penetrative sex did not change during the course of taking Viagra, study participants reported more success in maintaining an erection.

Drawbacks

Viagra may not be suitable for everyone, including those who:

• • have had an allergic reaction to Viagra or sildenafil before
  • take nitrates or nitroglycerins
  • have a heart or liver condition
  • have had a stroke or heart attack
  • have low blood pressure
  • have some rare inherited eye conditions, such as retinitis pigmentosa

Additionally, Viagra or sildenafil can cause some side effects, includingTrusted Source:

• • headaches
  • skin flushing or rash
  • indigestion
  • nasal congestion
  • back pain and muscle pain
  • nausea
  • dizziness

Learn more about the safety and side effects of Viagra.

Viagra is not suitable for females or children. As Viagra is a prescription medication, a doctor will discuss any potential side effects and any other safety considerations with each individual before prescribing this drug.

How to buy Viagra online

A person may purchase Viagra online from several online pharmacies or telehealth companies.

However, the drug is only available with a prescription. Some online pharmacies will fill an electronic prescription and notify individuals when Viagra is available for collection at a local pharmacy. Other online pharmacies offer delivery to a person’s door.

If a person does not have a current prescription, some online pharmacies or telehealth companies may offer an online consultation with a doctor via phone or video call. This consultation may lead to a prescription, which the company can then fill.

Individuals should never purchase Viagra from a company that does not require a prescription. A 2012 study found that 77% of this drug sold online from companies that did not require a prescription was counterfeit.

In addition to companies not requiring a prescription, other warning signs that the Viagra a person buys online is not genuine include the following:

• • the company shipping Viagra from a different address than where it claims to be based
  • the Viagra does not come with a product information leaflet
  • the Viagra does not come with safety warnings

Therefore, individuals should research a company that sells Viagra to ensure they are not buying counterfeit drugs before purchasing.

Pills for ED

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are medications that males can use to help treat ED. These drugs prolong erections by blocking the action of phosphodiesterase enzyme, which triggers the end of an erection.

The FDA have approved the use of four PDE-5 inhibitors for ED:

Depending on the efficacy and side effects a male may experience while taking any of these drugs, doctors may recommend a different dosage.

PDE-5 inhibitors are also available on prescription in other formats. For example, alprostadil (Muse) is a suppository that males can insert into the urethra of the penis. The same medication is also available in an injectable form called Caverject.

People should not buy ED pills online unless they have a prescription from a doctor and are purchasing them from a reputable online pharmacy. The FDA do not regulate online ED products to check that they are safe.

According to an FDA report, around one-thirdTrusted Source of ED supplements they assessed contained other prescription drugs or other unlisted ingredients. Six out of 17 products contained sildenafil or another PDE-5 inhibitor.

This means that ED products available online could contain harmful substances or high amounts of drugs that consumers are not aware of. Taking high doses of PDE-5 inhibitors such as vardenafil can cause:

• back pain
• muscle pain
• abnormal vision

Since 2004, the FDA have identified the following products as unsafe:

• Actra-Rx
• Hero
• Libidus
• Naustra
• NaturalUp
• Neophase
• Vigor-25
• Xiadafil VIP
• 4EVERON

The FDA and Federal Bureau of Investigation are working together to help stop the supply of illegal ED pills in the United States.

In 2008, the FDA seized more than 14,000 doses of unsafe ED products from a single company.