Fortunately, we live in a time when addressing erection difficulties is more straightforward and effective than ever. Erectile dysfunction affects millions of men of all ages and all backgrounds, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Yet many men are reluctant to discuss erection problems with those who can help.
As with most problems, there are countless people online offering solutions of dubious merit for erection problems. As hard as search engines try to push sketchy websites offering cheap and questionable solutions to erection problems to the bottom of search engine rankings, they always pop back up like dandelions after a summer rainstorm. There is big money in promising solutions to erection problems without requiring a prescription. Most such sites also offer what they claim are name brand drugs for erectile dysfunction at ridiculously low prices.
The Temptation to Save Money
Viagra isn’t cheap, and in the US, it could be the year 2020 before prices come down significantly due to patent protection. Only one generic has been approved, and it won’t be on the market until late 2017. That generic, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, had to enter into a non-public agreement with Pfizer, maker of Viagra, in order to be allowed onto the market, and prices probably won’t come down significantly until other generics are introduced.
Clearly there is a lot of money to be made selling something that looks like Viagra to Americans. Viagra is the most counterfeited drug in the world, and counterfeiters are extremely good at making products that look identical to the real drug. When these products are confiscated and sent to Pfizer, even Pfizer’s researchers can’t tell by looking whether they’re fake, and have to run chemical analyses to find out what’s actually in them. Here are 8 reasons why you should insist on only using Viagra that you can trace back to Pfizer to ensure it’s real.
1. Counterfeits May Contain Dangerously High Amounts of Sildenafil
Pfizer has researchers dedicated to analyzing fake Viagra, and in some cases, they’ve found more than twice the amount of active ingredient (sildenafil) as in real Viagra. More sildenafil means more side effects, such as headache and vision disturbances. It can also mean a higher risk for a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can be a serious medical emergency. Cheap “Viagra” isn’t so cheap when it includes a trip to the ER.
2. Counterfeits May Contain Little to No Sildenafil
Some counterfeit Viagra contains insufficient sildenafil to address erection problems, and some contains no sildenafil at all. Even a dollar per tablet is a complete waste of money when the product has no active ingredient. But with fake Viagra, inadequate amounts of sildenafil are the least of your worries.
3. Some Counterfeits Have Been Found to Contain Prescription Antibiotics
Pfizer scientists have found metronidazole in fake Viagra. Sold under the trade name Flagyl, metronidazole is a powerful antibiotic typically used to treat conditions like aspiration pneumonia, lung abscesses, and stomach ulcers. Side effects of metronidazole include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a metallic taste in the mouth – hardly conducive to enjoyable sexual activity. And if you happen to be allergic to metronidazole, you could end up in the hospital.
4. Amphetamines Have Been Found in Counterfeit Viagra
That’s right: speed has been found in some counterfeit Viagra. Perhaps the makers think that an energy boost will help sexual performance, but they probably don’t really care as long as the credit card charge goes through. There is no “safe” level of amphetamines. Adverse effects can include blurred vision, trembling, elevated heart rate, and seizures.
5. Paint, Floor Wax, and Printer Ink Have Been Found in Fake Viagra
Counterfeiters get that trademark blue color for their fake Viagra tablets the way you match the walls of your room to the drapes: with custom paint. Floor wax (for a smooth coating) has also been found in counterfeit Viagra, as has printer ink. Binders used to hold the tablets together include the stuff that drywall is made from. None of these things are things you should consume.
6. Importing Prescription Drugs from Overseas Is Illegal
The state of Maine has some provisions for importing prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, but for the most part, importing prescription drugs from overseas is illegal, even if they turn out to be fakes. Realistically, the chance of getting caught is slim. But do you really want to risk having to explain to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent why you were buying “Viagra” from someplace in Myanmar?
7. The Best Case Scenario Is Often “Just” Losing Money
If you buy Viagra from a questionable source and it works just like real Viagra, then buy yourself a lottery ticket, because you’re extremely lucky. When you risk ingesting blue paint, antibiotics, and wallboard, losing money without getting sick is a best case scenario. In 2008, four men died, and 150 were hospitalized in Singapore after unknowingly taking fake Viagra that contained Glyburide, a medication for diabetes.
8. Going Through Proper Channels Could Indirectly Improve Your Health
When you go through the process of obtaining a prescription so you can buy genuine Viagra, you’re not only doing the correct thing legally, you could indirectly improve your overall health. In some men, erection problems are a clue to underlying heart disease or diabetes, and if these conditions are discovered early, you can address them before they can seriously compromise your health. And chances are, you’ll still be an appropriate candidate for Viagra for your erection problem.
If you see Viagra sold anywhere (including websites claiming to be from Canada or the US) for an unrealistically low price, assume it’s fake. The FDA and CBP have seized massive amounts of fake pharmaceuticals (with Viagra among the most common) over the past decade. You risk losing money when you buy any of these products, but the risks go well beyond that. Not only could you had over your credit card information to a criminal enterprise, you could end up taking something that contains dangerous ingredients.
At eDrugstore.com, we sell only genuine Viagra made by Pfizer, and every shipment includes information you can use to verify that the medication is the real thing. We also have US-licensed pharmacists available to answer questions about your shipment. eDrugstore.com is HIPAA-compliant, dedicated to customer privacy, and committed to the highest standards of online ordering security.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook