Viagra

What does Viagra do? – Viagra treats erectile dysfunction, which is a common problem in men. Erectile dysfunction can have physical or psychological causes. Most men can’t get an erection at some point in their lives, but if you regularly can’t get an erection, then you are likely to be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.

Possible physical causes include diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Psychological cause of ED can be stress, anxiety/performance anxiety, depression and tiredness.

What is it? – Viagra (manufactured by Pfizer) is a drug to treat erectile dysfunction. Viagra’s main ingredient is sildenafil, which is a class of drug known as a PDE-5 inhibitor. Viagra was discovered when scientists were looking for a treatment to improve blood flow, and improved erections just happened to be a side-effect of their new medicine. Viagra tablets are blue, with a rounded diamond shape. They say ‘Pfizer’ on one side and either ‘VGR25’, ‘VGR50’ or ‘VGR100’ on the other side.

How does it work? – Viagra works by temporarily enhancing the muscle relaxation effect and blood inflow in the penis caused by sexual stimulation. The invention of Viagra led to a more open discussion of issues related to impotence and Viagra as well as sexual problems in general.

You need to find the right site – there are numerous websites from which you can buy Viagra. However, many of them are neither licensed nor legitimate, which means taking the medication they supply could harm you. Before buying any medication online, you should always check whether the web service you are using has been approved by the general medical council and is regularly reviewed by the Care Quality Commission. You should also bear in mind that Viagra is prescription-only medication. Any website selling it without the involvement of a doctor is fraudulent.

How can I get Viagra? – if you would like to order treatment online, doctor services like DrEd are the safest option. Our doctor at DrEd will review your answers to our medical assessment and advise the most appropriate treatment. If medication is recommended, we will post it to you in discreet packaging. We also offer a telephone consultation with a doctor for £15.

Beware of websites which claim that Viagra increases penis size or has other miracle properties. If a website advertises medication with false claims it is highly likely to be illegitimate.

When to take it – Viagra takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour to work, although in some people it may start to work more quickly than that. The drug can cause an effect for up to 4 hours, however an erection should not last for hours, if it does this could be a sign of priapism and soyou should consult your doctor straight away if an erection lasts for four hours or more.

Taking Viagra for the first time – bear in mind that some people put themselves under a lot of pressure the first time they take Viagra, and this can affect how effective the treatment with Viagra is. Be prepared for 3 or 4 attempts at your initial dosage before you move to a higher dose.

Avoid alcohol – manufacturers do not recommend drinking alcohol whilst on Viagra medication. Alcohol is a ‘blood thinner’, and so will worsen any Viagra side effects as well as reducing the ability to achieve and maintain an erect penis. Alcohol consumption should be avoided, especially if a patient is taking Viagra and also has kidney, liver or heart disorders.

Do I need to avoid certain foods when taking Viagra? – you should avoid eating fatty food at the same time as taking Viagra as it may delay absorption of the drug. As a result, Viagra could take longer to work. If you're feeling hungry, just wait about an hour after taking the medicine and you can eat again without affecting the efficacy of the drug.

Moreover, there are certain foods to avoid with Viagra. In particular, drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit can be dangerous, as it increases the concentration of Viagra in your blood and so can amplify the side-effects. You can consume alcohol and take Viagra, although you should bear in mind that alcohol consumption affects your sexual performance.

Can I take more if it doesn’t work? – no. Viagra affects blood flow so altering this too much by overdosing can result in serious and even lethal blood pressure related problems. If the treatment is not working, a doctor must be consulted in order to increase the prescribed dosage or to try another treatment.

Side effects – for a full range of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

When to get emergency help:

• If an erection lasts for more than 4 hours
• If you experience a sudden decrease or loss of vision
• If you experience chest pains during or after intercourse
• Viagra can cause dizziness and affect vision. Individuals should be aware of their reactions to VIAGRA before driving or operating machinery

Viagra dosages are available in 25mg/50mg & 100mg.

What if the dosage doesn’t work? – if 50mg Viagra tablets don’t work for you, you can ask your doctor whether you can increase the dosage to 100mg. You SHOULD NOT take Viagra more than once a day and you should never take more than 100mg at one time.

Is there a risk of overdosing? – if you or someone you know has taken an overdose of Viagra, consult your doctor or go to A&E. You will need to take the box of Viagra with you, even if it’s empty, to help the doctors.

In rare cases, some people suffer from uncontrolled erections that last more than four hours (i.e. priapism). If that happens, you should go to the hospital right away and seek treatment, as this can cause permanent damage to your erectile tissues.

Viagra can be taken by young and old men alike. Initial research on Viagra looked at side effects in men between the ages of 19-87 years of age. Erectile dysfunction is more likely to have an underlying psychological cause in young men, whereas in older men it is more likely to have a physical cause.

Viagra must not be taken:

• By women or adolescents under 18
• If you have an allergy to the main ingredient Sildenafil (e.g. rash, itching, swollen face, eyelids, lips or throat, or shortness of breath)
• If you have had a recent stroke or heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• If you have or have had low blood pressure (hypotension)
• If you are taking medication for high blood pressure (hypertension)
• If you have severe heart problems
• If you have severe liver (hepatic) problems
• If you have a severe kidney (renal) problem or are having kidney dialysis.
• If you have a family history of inherited eye degeneration (e.g. retinitis pigmentosa)
• If you have ever had loss of vision due to damage of the optic nerve due to insufficient blood supply (non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION))
• In combination with other treatments for ED
• In combination with nitrates (e.g. glycerol trinitrate for angina relief)
• In combination with nitric oxide donors (e.g. “poppers”)

Tell your GP if any of the above that apply, or:

• If you have sickle cell anaemia
• If you have myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow)
• If you have leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells)
• If you have haemophilia
• If you are using alpha-blockers for high blood pressure
• If you are using protease inhibitors for HIV treatment (e.g Ritonavir or Indinavir)
• If you are using Ketoconazole or Itraconazole antifungal medicines
• If you are using medicines for treatment of arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) such as Quinidine, Procainamide, Amiodarone or Sotalol
• If you are using Erythromycin, Clarithromycin or Macrolide antibiotics
• If you have a penis deformity or Peyronie’s disease
• If you have stomach ulcers (gastric or peptic ulcers)
• If you have heart , kidney or liver problems

Yes, it could work for you – Viagra is an effective, established and safe treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), which contains the active ingredient Sildenafil citrate.

How does Viagra work? – it prevents the action of a chemical in your body called phosphodiesterase type-5. This widens the blood vessels and encourages the inflow of blood to the penis, which is necessary for an erection. Viagra will only work if you are sexually aroused.

How effective is Viagra for ED? - it can improve ED in 77% of men who try it. The majority of men notice a firmer and longer lasting erection with Viagra. Men usually respond after the first couple of doses, but some may need a few more attempts. 

Viagra can help with different types of ED:  

• Psychogenic ED – this is caused by a psychological reason related to your thoughts or feelings which can be triggered by stress, depression or anxiety
• Mixed ED - this is caused by both a physical and psychological reason
• Organic ED – this is caused by a physical reason such as heart disease, diabetes, surgery or side effects of some medicines

ED can also be caused by hormonal imbalances in your body such as low testosterone or abnormal levels of thyroid hormones. Viagra won’t make ED go away if hormonal imbalance is the problem.

A small minority of men have ED of which there is no known cause.

Viagra is one of the main go-to treatments for ED. It was the first treatment available in the UK to be taken as a tablet and was first marketed by Pfizer in 1998. Many long-term studies have shown it is a safe and effective treatment, which has helped millions of men.

You can buy Viagra in two ways:

• Buy online
• Obtain a prescription from a doctor after a face to face consultation

What is common in both options? – both require a prescription after a doctor has assessed it is safe for you to take Viagra. Both options offer you the same dosages and pack sizes.

What are the differences? – online prices are usually cheaper and competitive. Getting a prescription online is also quicker and discreet as there is no face-to-face consultation with a doctor. You still need to fill out a brief online questionnaire, which our doctors assess before confirming Viagra is safe for you. You can then get your medicine posted out to you, which saves time and avoids any potential embarrassment. 

What are the different forms of Viagra? – you can also buy generic Sildenafil in the UK, which is the non-branded version of Viagra. Both are medically identical as they contain the same active ingredient, Sildenafil citrate. 

Viagra Connect is the new over the counter Sildenafil citrate medication that you will be able to get from pharmacies without prescription or online from Spring 2018. 

Kamagra is another form of treatment for ED, which contains Sildenafil citrate. It’s potentially dangerous to use because it’s exact active ingredients and side effects are unknown. Kamagra is not licensed in the EU and is not an alternative to Viagra.