Viagra sildenafil, popularly known as the blue pill, is the very first and most popular impotence treatment pill. The path-breaking drug changed the society’s perception towards sex and impotence. Men, who were until then hesitant to discuss their sexual woes with a doctor, began to seek a prescription for Viagra from their doctor. The best feature about Viagra is that it gave men with impotence a convenient treatment option. By just taking a pill, a few minutes before anticipated sexual activity, men could achieve strong and firm erections long enough to complete sexual intercourse. Before the advent of Viagra, the only treatment option available before men was the use of vacuum pumps, penile injections and penis implants. Most men found these to be uncomfortable options and therefore hesitated in using them. In fact, they chose to keep mum about their condition instead of discussing a treatment with their doctor. Viagra changed all that; it made men more open towards discussing their sexual problems with their doctor.

How does Viagra works?

Sildenafil – the active ingredient in Viagra – belongs to a class of medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors. In response to sexual stimulation, sildenafil releases a chemical messenger called cGMP that causes the blood vessels in the penis to widen. This allows more blood to rush into the genital organ. As a result, your penis gets filled with blood, causing you to achieve a rigid erection. The cGMP is normally broken down by another chemical in the body called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Viagra sildenafil inhibits the action of PDE5 enzyme and therefore prevents an early breakdown of cGMP. By working in this manner, Viagra sildenafil allows your blood vessel to remain dilated for a long time, helping you to sustain an erection long enough to complete satisfactory sexual intercourse. Following intercourse, the erection dissipates and the penis returns to its normal flaccid state.

Studies conducted on Viagra

Viagra has been extensively studied in various clinical trials and is proven for its safety and efficacy. Viagra was evaluated primarily at all the 3 doses of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg in 21 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of up to 6 months in duration. To carry out the trial, Viagra was administered to more than 3,000 patients aged 19 to 87 years with erectile dysfunction with a mean duration of 5 years. The results of the study showed that as compared to placebo, Viagra helped men achieve statistically significant improvement in all 21 studies.

Blue pill side effects and precautions

Viagra is a serious prescription medicine that should be taken only after consulting a doctor and in the dosage recommended by your doctor. Listed below are a few necessary precautions that should always be kept in mind when using Viagra.

• Always inform your doctor about your medical conditions and the medicines that you may be taking

• Never take Viagra if you are taking any form of nitrate medicines

• Inform your doctor if you have a known allergy to sildenafil or any component of Viagra

• Viagra should only be taken by men suffering from erectile dysfunction, men with normal erectile function besides women and children below 18 years of age should not take Viagra

• Don’t take more than 1 Viagra pill in 24 hours, overdose may cause side effects

• Always take Viagra as recommended by your doctor, don’t alter your dosage without first consulting your doctor

Not taking the medicine as advised by your doctor can cause you to suffer from Viagra side effects such as headache, facial flushing, nasal congestion and upset stomach. In some men, Viagra may also cause temporary changes in colour vision, eyes being more sensitive to light or blurred vision. In rare cases, Viagra sildenafil is known to have caused priapism – a condition in which an erection lasts for longer than 4 hours. If this happens or if any of the side effects of Viagra become particularly bothersome, seek medical assistance immediately.