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A U.K. vendor’s analysis of Viagra data indicates that Pfizer’s little blue pill usually goes to work faster than advertised. The analysis also found that Viagra’s effects last longer than the manufacturer claims.
Although it’s been on the market for more than two decades, the actual workings of Viagra remain a mystery to most men, even those who use the drug regularly. The one thing those men care about most is that the little blue pill allows them to get and keep an erection — something that was extremely difficult, if not impossible, before.
To shed some light on the drug’s effects on the body, Superdrug, a major U.K. health and beauty retailer, conducted a review of scientific findings to determine just how Viagra works in the body to facilitate erection in men who previously were unable to achieve it on their own.
Works Quickly for Some
One of the most eye-opening revelations from Superdrug’s review was the speed with which the drug takes effect, at least in some men. Pfizer, the drug’s developer, tells users that Viagra usually takes effect within 30 to 60 minutes and can be taken up to four hours before the anticipated start of sexual activity.
Superdrug found that a significant number of men taking Viagra were able to get erections as quickly as 12 minutes after taking the pill. What wasn’t entirely clear, however, was whether it was the actual physiological effects of sildenafil citrate, Viagra’s active ingredient, at work or more of a placebo effect.
In any case, the study found that the average response time to Viagra was 27 minutes, just three minutes shy of the 30-minute minimum suggested by Pfizer. For men in a hurry, this is reassuring news, indicating that the drug is likely to take effect more quickly than Pfizer advertises.
Improves Blood Flow
For those unfamiliar with Viagra and the other impotence drugs that have been introduced in its wake, these so-called PDE5 inhibitors are designed to temporarily overcome the symptoms of erectile dysfunction caused by insufficient blood flow to the penis. This is by far the biggest single cause of ED.
The family of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, which includes not only Viagra but Levitra, Cialis, Staxyn, and Stendra, are so called because they temporarily disable the phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme, which can interfere with optimal blood flow. One of the primary functions of the pesky PDE5 enzyme is to break down a substance known as cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP, which optimizes blood flow by signaling the smooth muscle tissues lining arteries to relax and thus expand. As these arteries dilate, they can carry a greater volume of blood to the genitals, which is needed to support erectile function.
Maximum Concentration
Superdrug’s review also found that the maximum concentration of Viagra in the blood occurs on average 57 minutes after the drug is taken. At this point, according to Superdrug, “maximum erection potential” is achieved. The study also found that erections achieved roughly an hour after taking the drug lasted an average of 33 minutes.
Superdrug also found that the half-life of Viagra in the body is approximately four hours, meaning that every four hours after taking it, the concentration of drug in the bloodstream is about half what it was four hours earlier. However, even as the level of sildenafil in the blood becomes progressively more diluted, many men in this study were able to achieve erection long after the four-hour mark had passed.
Longer Lasting Than Advertised
Superdrug’s study showed that even 10 to 12 hours after taking the drug, some men were able to get an erection firm enough for penetration. However, it was found that the erections achievable this long after taking the drug were of shorter duration. And by 24 hours after taking the drug, the level of Viagra’s active ingredient in the blood had pretty much dissipated altogether.
Superdrug also looked at the average duration of erections achieved one hour, eight hours, and 12 hours after taking Viagra. As previously noted, the average duration of erections achieved one hour after taking the drug was 33 minutes. By the eight-hour mark, the average duration dropped to 23 minutes, and to an average of 16 minutes 12 hours after taking the drug. The good news from Superdrug’s study is that the effects of Viagra are considerably more long lasting than those claimed by Pfizer.
Chinese Study Cited
To illustrate Viagra’s efficacy, Superdrug cites the results of a Chinese study covering 3,837 men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. The effects of the drug were measured against an erection hardness score ranging from 1 to 4. Before taking the drug, 59 percent of the study participants were able to get erections ranking at only 1 or 2 on the hardness scale. Such low-scoring erections are incapable of penetration.
The Chinese study, published in the April 2014 issue of Urology, found significant improvements in erection hardness after test subjects took Viagra for a period of four weeks. Thirty-three percent of the participants were able to achieve erections ranking 3 on the hardness scale, while 64 percent got erections ranking 4 on the hardness scale.
Efficacy, Adverse Events Compared
Also evaluated by Superdrug was a review comparing the relative effectiveness of various PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil citrate (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra and Staxyn), and avanafil (Stendra), among others. That review, published in the October 2015 issue of European Urology, also balanced each drug’s efficacy against reports of the adverse effects it reportedly has caused. This large-scale review covered 82 trials and 47,626 patients for efficacy analysis and 72 trials and 20,325 patients for adverse event analysis.
In this evaluation melding both efficacy and the frequency of adverse events reported, Viagra came out on top with an overall rating of 47 percent. Cialis came in second with a rating of 44 percent. Vardenafil, the active ingredient in both Levitra and Staxyn, scored 39 percent, while Stendra came in last at 29 percent.
Side Effects Usually Mild
Viagra’s side effects are generally mild and often disappear altogether after continued use of the drug. The most common side effects are back pain, dizziness, flushing, headache, muscle ache, nausea, rash, runny or stuffy nose, and upset stomach. The little blue pill can also cause more serious side effects, including erections that last more than four hours and a sudden loss of hearing or vision. While very rare, these more serious side effects are medical emergencies, and anyone suffering from them should seek immediate medical attention.
A prescription is required to purchase Viagra in the United States, where it’s available from brick-and-mortar pharmacies as well as online vendors. However, buying Viagra online can be dangerous unless you’re dealing with a reputable online facilitator, such as eDrugstore.com. It sells only FDA-approved drugs, all of which are sourced from licensed U.S. pharmacies.
If you have a prescription from your doctor, you can fax it or scan and email it along with your online order. If you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore can arrange an online consultation with one of its team of licensed U.S. physicians. To get started, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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