It may seem incredible that this ‘little blue pill’ has proven so very effective for men all over the world who suffer from erectile dysfunction, but it does. The actual mechanism that makes Viagra effective may seem complicated to the layman, but is readily understood by medical professionals.
 
Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) was originally developed by Pfizer in the UK as a medication for high blood pressure and angina. However, it proved far more effective in producing an erection and thus became what it is today, a miracle pill with an estimated US 1.7 billion dollar market. After 9 years of proven effectiveness for a problem that is said to afflict 30 million men, it has received rave reviews from more than 22,000,000 men that it helped.
 
Understand, first, that a normal man’s erection requires a receptive mindset. It also depends upon the correct amount of Testosterone, healthy veins, arteries and nerves. However, achieving a satisfactory erection that permits sexual intercourse also calls for the production of nitrous oxide (NO) that functions to transmit impulses of arousal between nerves and also to smooth the muscle cells in arteries so that they will dilate and admit an adequate quantity of blood into the penis. If the nitrous oxide isn’t there in adequate amounts, the result is simply a flaccid organ when it should be tumescent. The nitrous oxide is absolutely required for an erection to take place because it tells arterial cells to make cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a chemical that causes increased blood flow to the man’s penis. Unfortunately, perhaps, the penile tissues also produce PDE5, an enzyme that has the reverse effect of breaking down the all-important cyclic guanosine monophosphate. It’s a bit of a Catch-22 in that regard.
 
Generally, the penis generates enough of this enzyme to produce the desired erection and retain its hardness through intercourse. It also produces enough PDE5 to eliminate the erection when intercourse and ejaculation are over. In ED, this process is clearly unbalanced and Viagra can restore the proper balance within 30 minutes of being ingested. That’s why Viagra is classed as a PDE5 inhibitor; by doing so, it increases the supply of the critical cGMP enzyme and permits a normal erection when accompanied by adequate sexual stimulation. Note however, that Viagra is most effective for men with milder cases of ED than it is for men who are severely impaired.
 
Viagra is also a very safe drug for men who are otherwise healthy. Serious side effects are extremely rare and more common ones are little more than annoyances. Sometimes, very-prolonged reactions (priapism) will occur and a doctor must be consulted to either lower the prescribed dosage or, in some instances, discontinue the use of Viagra. There are those men who have other medical conditions that require nitrates such as the nitroglycerine used for angina pain. The use of Viagra or any other PDE5 inhibitors is contraindicated for these men. Men with some degree of cardiovascular disease can still benefit from Viagra in lower doses provided that their condition is stable.

 See also Cialis