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Designed primarily for men with insufficient blood flow to the penis, Pfizer’s innovative little blue pill triggers reactions in multiple body systems to help restore erectile function temporarily.
Most men who’ve taken Viagra or another of the popular oral impotence drugs introduced over the past two decades know that the medication helps them to temporarily overcome the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Few, however, can tell you exactly how the medication accomplishes this goal.
To shed some light on this topic, Superdrug, a U.K. health and beauty product retailer, recently offered a minute-by-minute guide to the effects that the little blue pill has on the body in general and erectile function in particular. For those who already use Viagra or plan to do so, this guide offers valuable insights on what to expect.
Onset of Action Varies Widely
Pfizer, the drug company that developed Viagra and still holds the U.S. patent on the medication, recommends taking the drug roughly 60 minutes before the anticipated start of sexual activity. However, according to Superdrug’s timetable, some Viagra users report that they’ve been able to achieve an erection within 12 minutes of taking the pill. The overall time for onset of effect ranges from 12 to 70 minutes, with 27 minutes being the median time needed to get an erection.
Superdrug proceeds to explain that it usually takes about an hour, or 57 minutes to be exact, for Viagra’s active ingredient — sildenafil citrate — to reach maximum concentration in the bloodstream. However, depending on the severity of an individual’s ED symptoms, the ability to actually achieve erection varies widely. It also notes that taking Viagra with food can delay its onset of action by as much as an hour.
A Half-Life of Four Hours
Viagra’s half-life is about four hours, according to Superdrug’s timetable. This means that only about half of the drug’s active ingredient remains in the bloodstream four hours after the pill is taken. All traces of the drug have disappeared from the blood 24 hours after taking the pill. In one study, 10 hours after taking the drug men were still able to achieve erection at the same rate as they did 90 to 120 minutes after taking the medication. By 12 hours after the pill was taken, many men were still able to get an erection, but its staying power was significantly decreased at that point.
Superdrug also shared data from an earlier study that explored the average duration of erections produced at various times after Viagra was taken. That study, published in the September 2004 issue of “The Journal of Sexual Medicine,” was conducted by a pair of urologists from Southmead Hospital in Bristol, England, in collaboration with two researchers from Pfizer Global Research and Development.
Duration of Erection
They found that erections produced an hour after Viagra was taken lasted an average of 33 minutes. Eight hours after the drug was taken, the average duration of erections produced was 23 minutes, and 12 hours after taking the drug, the average duration of erections had fallen to 16 minutes. This data indicates that the effects of Viagra can be considerably more long-lasting than the four hours claimed by the manufacturer.
First introduced in 1998, Viagra was the first drug in the family of medications known as PDE5 inhibitors, which has since grown to include Levitra, Cialis, Staxyn, and Stendra, as well as generic versions of Viagra and Cialis. These drugs temporarily optimize blood flow to the penis by disabling an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-5, which is found at high levels in the corpora cavernosa of the penis. The corpora cavernosa are twin columns of spongy erectile tissue that lie within and run the length of the penile shaft. Erection occurs when blood fills these columns of erectile tissue.
Why Disabling PDE5 Is Key
Holding the PDE5 enzyme at bay is of particular significance in men who are suffering from some degree of vascular insufficiency. Erections begin in the brain when that organ receives signals indicating feelings of sexual desire or physical stimuli to male erogenous zones. The brain then sends a flood of nitric oxide coursing toward the pelvic region.
The nitric oxide sets off secondary chemical reactions, one of which produces a substance known as cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP. The cGMP then signals a relaxation of the smooth muscle tissue lining the arteries that supply the penis. As these muscles relax, blood flow into the penis increases sharply, and erection occurs.
Can Sabotage Erectile Function
The PDE5 enzyme breaks down cGMP, so it can readily sabotage erectile function in men whose vascular systems are already compromised to some degree. By temporarily disabling the PDE5 enzyme, Viagra and the other PDE5 inhibitors make it easier for nature to take its course.
Superdrug’s overview of Viagra and its effects also included the results of a meta-analysis of multiple trials measuring the efficacy of all PDE5 inhibitors now on the market or under study. That comparison was first published in the October 2015 issue of “European Urology.”
Results of Data Study
The meta-analysis compares the efficacy of 50 milligrams of Viagra against the recommended starting doses of Levitra (20 milligrams), Cialis (20 milligrams), Staxyn (20 milligrams), and Stendra (100 milligrams), among others. It found that Viagra achieved the highest degree of efficacy, narrowly beating out Cialis, which came in second. While erectile dysfunction can target adult men of any age, its incidence is greatest among the elderly.
If you would like to order Viagra or another PDE5 inhibitor from a reliable online supplier, consider buying your medications from eDrugstore.com. In business since the late 1990s, eDrugstores supplies only FDA-approved drugs that are sourced exclusively from licensed U.S. pharmacies. To learn more about the drugs available and possibly place an order, visit eDrugstore’s Erection Problems page.
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