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Viagra is one of the most recognizable names in the pharmaceutical world, synonymous with the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, not everyone is familiar with the nuances of how this drug works, the benefits of its generic counterparts, or the science behind its effects. While the original branded Viagra remains a popular choice, generics have carved out their own place in the market, offering affordable and versatile alternatives. This article delves into the specifics of Viagra and its generics, exploring their mechanisms of action, effectiveness, and the reasons behind their enduring popularity among men worldwide. Whether you are considering Viagra for the first time or simply want to understand the differences between the brand and its generics, this guide provides a clear and detailed overview to help you make an informed choice.
Sildenafil citrate is designated chemically as 1-[[3-(6,7-dihydro-1-methyl-7-oxo-3-propyl-1Hpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)-4-ethoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-4-methylpiperazine citrate and has the following structural formula:
Generic Viagra
Generics of Viagra are drugs that are actually copies of the original drug. The main difference between generics of Viagra and the prototype drug are in the excipients, as well as the color or shape of the tablets. Generics are sold under other names, since the name “Viagra” itself is patented by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, the creator of the famous branded blue pills. Thus, if a man chooses the original Viagra, he can be sure that he won’t be offered an analogue under this name.
The active substance in all generics of Viagra is the same as in the original drug. This is Sildenafil citrate, an inhibitor of the PDE-5 enzyme, which is responsible for stopping an erection.
Generics of Viagra today enjoy enormous popularity. More and more often, when it comes to potency restoration products, men prefer generic Viagra, which is more affordable and offered in a wider range of dosages and forms. Of course, their popularity is primarily due to the impeccable reputation of the original drug. However, they themselves are not without advantages, which will be mentioned in this article.
What Does Viagra Do?
Despite the fact that almost every man has heard about Viagra at least once in his life and that this medicine helps against problems with potency, few people imagine how it affects the male body and how such an effect as improved erection is achieved.
In fact, the principle of action of Viagra is easy to describe in simple words. When sexually aroused or sexually stimulated, Viagra’s active ingredient, Sildenafil citrate, improves blood flow to the cavernous bodies of the penis and helps to achieve a more stable erection faster. However, Viagra or its generics cannot help in cases where a man experiences problems with potency caused by a violation of libido, for example, when taking certain medications. Among them, the most common are antidepressants and psychotropic drugs. Also, this drug is not advisable to use if the balance of sex hormones is disturbed. Of course, Viagra is not able to affect a man’s sexual interest in a person who is unpleasant to him or does not arouse any sexual desires in him.
How Does Viagra Work
Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra and its generics, plays a key role in the drug’s action by affecting the vascular system and levels of certain chemicals, such as nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).
When a man becomes aroused, nerve endings in the genital area release nitric oxide, which interacts with muscle cells in the vessels of the penis. Nitric oxide promotes the formation of cGMP, an important molecule that helps relax the smooth muscles of blood vessels, widening the arteries in the cavernous bodies of the penis. This, in turn, increases blood flow to the genitals and helps achieve an erection.
Sildenafil interferes with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that breaks down cGMP. By blocking the production of this enzyme, the level of cGMP in the tissues of the penis increases, which supports the relaxation of blood vessels and promotes a more pronounced blood supply. Thus, Viagra enhances the action of nitric oxide, allowing for an increase in the duration and quality of an erection. Although Viagra is effective in improving erectile function, it is important to note that it does not cause arousal by itself and does not affect libido levels. Its action is strictly related to sexual stimulation or arousal, and without these conditions, the drug won’t be able to cause the necessary reaction. All that a man will experience is a maximum of side effects such as a headache. Be sure to read the information about side effects.
How Long Does Viagra Take to Work
Each man has his own individual sensitivity to the active substance of Viagra. In addition, it is influenced by such factors as the amount and fat content of food eaten shortly before taking the medicine, body weight, sexual constitution, the presence of alcohol in the body, and the combined use of certain drugs that can weaken or, conversely, strengthen the effect of Viagra on the body. On average, 35-50 minutes should pass after taking the pill for Viagra to begin to act. When taking a higher dosage (100 mg), the effect usually occurs a little faster than if a dosage of 25 or 50 mg is used. Viagra acts most quickly and effectively on an empty stomach or if a very light meal has been left behind. If taking the medicine was preceded by a hearty feast, especially with fatty foods, then the absorption of Sildenafil citrate into the blood can be significantly slowed down.
How Long Does Viagra Last
The duration of Viagra’s action is another question that worries many men who have decided to resort to the help of this drug to normalize their sex life. Their anxiety is understandable, because the most annoying thing is if the erection falls during sex. This can cause significant moral trauma to both the man himself and his partner. Quite often, women fall into such a trap: it seems to them that if a man has a problem with an erection, then they themselves are to blame. They are afraid that something in their behavior or appearance has ceased to excite a man. In fact, there can be hundreds of reasons for troubles in bed, ranging from problems with blood vessels to stress at work. And even developing erectile dysfunction does not at all indicate that a man has ceased to be attracted to his partner. When taking Viagra, there is no need to worry that the drug will stop working at the most crucial moment. From the moment you start to feel the effects of Viagra until its effect wears off, it takes at least four hours. For many men, the effects of Viagra last for six hours. This allows you to have sex without worrying about the pill suddenly wearing off.
Viagra Dosage
Brand Viagra is available in dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg. These options allow you to flexibly adjust the dosage regimen in accordance with the needs of a particular man and taking into account his health condition. And now we are talking not only about sexual health directly, but also about concomitant diseases. Thus, the maximum dosage is not recommended for men with existing cardiovascular diseases, even if they are compensated and under control.
In most cases, doctors recommend starting erectile dysfunction therapy with a dosage of 25 or 50 mg so that it can be increased if necessary. However, it often turns out that the initial dosage is already enough to achieve a satisfactory effect on potency.
The dosage of 25 mg of Sildenafil is used mainly at the initial appearance of erectile dysfunction or in cases where a man needs situational help when wanting to have sex in unfavorable conditions. For example, when he is very tired or after a stressful day, while in everyday life he does not suffer from erectile dysfunction.
50 mg is the most common dosage of Viagra and its generics. As a rule, it effectively copes with erectile dysfunction of moderate severity, regardless of its etiology, be it psychological, physiological or combined.
A dosage of 100 mg is used in cases where erectile dysfunction is quite advanced or the body is insensitive to a lower dosage of Sildenafil citrate. This option causes slightly more side effects than others, or rather, to a more pronounced degree. However, it is recognized throughout the world as the most effective way to treat serious problems with potency.
Regardless of what dosage you consider optimal for yourself, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor at least before the first use of Viagra. The fact is that it is important to consider not only the individual response of the body to the drug in sexual terms, but also many other aspects, such as concomitant diseases and other medications taken, in order to avoid the development of any complications for the body.
Viagra Dosage by Weight
Viagra is not a drug whose dosage is significantly affected by the patient’s body weight. There are no recommendations that larger men should take a higher dosage of this drug. However, there is a small degree of dependence, so if you are very light-bodied, try starting treatment with a lower dosage of Viagra.
| Weight Range (kg) | Recommended Dosage (mg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50 - 60 | 25 | Start with a lower dose to minimize side effects. |
| 61 - 80 | 50 | Standard dose for most users. |
| 81 - 100 | 75 | Consider consulting a doctor for higher dosages. |
| 101 and above | 100 | Maximum dosage; ensure no underlying conditions. |
Does Sildenafil Expire
Sometimes men wonder if it is possible to take Viagra if the expiration date indicated on the package has already expired. Of course, it is an extremely unpleasant situation when you need Viagra and you even find it in your bedside table, bag or pocket, but you discover with annoyance that the expiration date has already expired. You have to throw away the pills that, it would seem, could still be used. And this is a lot of money. In this regard, you can often hear the following question: maybe nothing terrible will happen if you use Viagra after it has ceased to be usable? Unfortunately, we are ready to give only a negative answer to this question. Like all other drugs, Viagra has its expiration date. It is determined by manufacturers using calculations, as well as empirically. Like all other active ingredients, Sildenafil is destroyed over time. This means that the effect of the drug becomes weaker as the days, weeks and months pass from the expiration date. All drugs, both active ingredients and auxiliary ones, remain chemically active only for a certain time.
The shelf life is quite long, about two years. If the medicine was stored correctly, namely in conditions where there is no direct sunlight, where there is no high humidity, in a sealed package, then nothing terrible will happen if you take the medicine with a slightly expired shelf life. However, this advice is relevant only if we are talking about literally a few days, a maximum of a month from the expiration date. If you see that the expiration date has expired, it is better to throw away the medicine and buy a new one. The chemicals that are part of Viagra and any other drug disintegrate over time. They can even be affected by mold or harmful bacteria, especially if the integrity of the blister is damaged. Finally, an expired medicine won’t work, and can also cause severe side effects.
Viagra Ingredients
The basis of Viagra action is Sildenafil citrate, an artificially synthesized substance that belongs to the pharmacological classification of PDE-5 inhibitors. In addition to this ingredient, without which Viagra does not exist, the tablets contain auxiliary substances and substances necessary for the formation of the film coating of the tablet. These are calcium hydrophosphate, sodium caramellose, magnesium stearate, special dyes according to the Opadry system. Ingredients such as vanillin or biotin can be added to the film coating. They make the tablet pleasant to the taste so that when taken, it does not seem bitter to consumers. Generic manufacturers can use other dyes that differ from those used in the production of branded Viagra. Also, the quantity and ratio of auxiliary ingredients in generics may differ. Some of them can be replaced by others without any sensation for the consumer, since they are only responsible for making up the mass and density of the tablet. It is for this reason that generic Viagra tablets may vary in size: the filler has a different density.
Today, non-standard versions of generic Viagra are also available on the global pharmaceutical market, for example, soft tablets or sachets with gel for oral administration. In this case, of course, completely different auxiliary substances are used, although this does not affect the main ingredient.
