Viagra
has become one of the most popular drugs in the USA. It is used to
treat erectile dysfunction: the inability of some men to get or maintain
an erect penis. The European Medicines Evaluation Agency will have
to give its consent before the drug can go on sale in Britain, but
Pfizer Inc - the company that manufactures the drug - hope to get
this approval by the autumn. How does Viagra work? Viagra, also known as Sildenafil, does
not directly give a man an erection. It works by boosting the natural
mechanism that leads to an erection. When a man is sexually aroused,
certain tissues in his penis relax. This allows large amounts of blood
to flow into the muscle, thus producing an erection. Viagra helps
by elevating the levels of the chemical that causes the tissues to
relax. These effects were discovered accidentally. The drug was originally
developed to improve blood supply to the heart in angina sufferers.
Who can it help? The drug can help impotence associated with
diabetes, spinal cord injuries, prostate surgery, and even impotence
with mysterious causes. Viagra was tested on 3,000 men with varying
degrees of impotence. It achieved a success rate of 60-80%, depending
on the dosage. Does it have side-effects? In a small number of cases, people
who have taken Viagra have complained of headaches, flushing and stomach-ache.
It can also cause some visual problems, including an increased sensitivity
to light, blurred vision or an inability to tell the difference between
blue and green. Men who are already taking medicines that contain
nitrates, such as nitro-glycerine, are strongly advised not to use
Viagra because the combination can lower blood pressure too much.
There are also concerns about its safety following the deaths of a
small number of American men who have taken the drug. The Food and
Drug Administration is investigating. What other treatments are available for
impotence? Many men use vacuum devices or compression rings to
get and keep an erection. It is possible to have an injection in the
base of the penis to increase the flow of blood. Surgery and implants
are also an option in some cases. There are also several other prescriptions
and over-the-counter pills that have been recommended for impotence
problems in men, but none of these have ever been proven to be as
effective as Viagra. This page contains basic
information. If you are concerned about your health, you should consult
a doctor. Source: BBC