Photo Credit: by tiffany.ironfan, flickr.com
Viagra is now 20 years old, but the drug continues to be popular and well known around the world. In this article, we provide the latest research on Viagra so you can stay on top of the times and up to date with the current research in the world of erectile dysfunction drugs.
The history of Viagra
Do you know how Viagra was discovered? The drug recently celebrated its 20th birthday--it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998--but its debut as a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction is unique because at the time, erectile dysfunction wasn’t a recognized medical condition.
According to a Quartzy article titled After 20 years, Viagra has impacted so much more than just sex, “The researchers who discovered Viagra weren’t even looking for it. Sildenafil, the drug’s active ingredient, was originally developed to treat cardiovascular problems—specifically to dilate the heart’s blood vessels by blocking a particular protein called PDE-5. But early clinical trials were a bust, and by 1993, Pfizer was considering abandoning the project. That is, until they noticed the men enrolled in the study did something weird whenever the nurses went to check on them.”
Many of the men involved in the trial would lie on their stomachs because they were embarrassed that they had been getting unexpected erections as a result of taking the sildenafil. Pfizer then went on to push their little blue pill through clinical trials in just two years, when most drugs take ten or more. It was an instant success, with thousands of prescriptions for Viagra written in the span of just a few weeks after its release.
What’s happening in the world of Viagra? The latest Viagra research
Now that you know a bit about the history of Viagra, let’s take a look at the current state of Viagra. Below, we’ve included some information from Quartzy to give you a look at Viagra by the digits:
* $62 million: number of men who take the little blue pill globally, according to Pfizer
* $15: cost of an individual Viagra pill in 1998 (adjusted for inflation)
* $65: cost of a single Viagra pill today
* $1.2 billion: Viagra revenues in 2017
Even though it’s been on the market for more than 20 years now, Viagra is still as popular as ever. And the more that we use and research Viagra, the more we learn about it. Breakthroughs continue to emerge. For example, did you know that Viagra could possibly enhance bone marrow transplants?
According to an article by Gizmodo, “The long story of sildenafil citrate, best known by the brand name Viagra, may have another chapter to it. Researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz think the drug can improve how we perform bone marrow transplants, as part of a combination therapy that allows doctors to harvest stem cells from patients quicker and safer than the traditional method.”
Just like Viagra was originally intended for a different purpose altogether than treating erectile dysfunction, it may now serve another function once again if it proves to be useful for improving the way we perform bone marrow transplants. It’s possible that this development could help to encourage healthy volunteers to donate stem cells to patients in need by making the donation process shorter and simpler. This could change the lives not only of those who need bone marrow transplants, but also their friends, family, and loved ones who wish to help them.
This same news viewed from another perspective points out how bone marrow transplants affect cancer patients. Another recent bit of Viagra research that has emerged also seems promising in the way that it was positioned in an article titled Viagra May Be Key for Treating Leukemia and Lymphoma, published by The Rio Times.
The article states, “A new study points out that the popular medicine has the potential to improve the availability of stem cells used in bone marrow transplants. Researchers at the University of California in the United States have found in a new study that Viagra can be useful for purposes other than erectile dysfunction: the drug could be used in bone marrow transplants.”
If the drug does prove to be useful in this case, this could dramatically improve the prospects for those diagnosed with and suffering from leukemia or lymphoma.
However, not all recent news about Viagra research is good news. For example, a well respected doctor recently reminded his readers that although Viagra has a major impact on dilation and blood pressure for erection purposes, it is not an effective method for controlling blood pressure.
Dr. Keith Roach, a Times Colonist columnist, writes in response to a reader, “Sildenafil (Viagra) does have a blood-pressure-lowering effect in many men. However, the average effect is only about eight points systolic and six points diastolic … Further, the blood pressure effect is gone in less than eight hours. The goal for blood pressure medicine is continuous lowering without big ups and downs. … If the medication were truly safe and effective for blood pressure control, you can be sure it would be marketed as a blood pressure pill with additional benefits for some people, just as tadalafil (Cialis) is marketed as a treatment for benign prostate enlargement, in addition to its proven role in treating erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil is also being studied as a potential benefit in heart-failure treatment.”
An article published by The Mirror UK also mentions the potential new debut of a Viagra cream that works quickly--within five minutes--but only lasts for half an hour. Still, the drug is being hailed as a product that could help encourage spontaneous sex between partners rather than men having to wait for the effects of the drug to kick in.
“A British company claims it has created a new cream which will rival Viagra--with less side effects,” the article reads. “Futura Medical says its new product--named Eroxon--works in just five minutes, although its effects last just half an hour. Scientists reckon this will allow lovers to be more spontaneous. The pharmaceutical firm said it was tested by 230 men, with 44% getting an erection within five minutes of application, and 70% within 10.”
Of course, the term Viagra cream isn’t exactly accurate since this product is not the Viagra brand drug but rather another substance entirely. Still, those struggling with erectile dysfunction may be interested to know that a cream alternative may be available.
Female Viagra: what you need to know
With the many ways that Viagra has changed sexuality in the past 20 years, many expect that a female Viagra version would do the same. However, it turns out that creating and implementing a female Viagra is a bit more complicated.
An article published in Cosmopolitan states, “The first drug to treat low sexual desire in women, ‘female Viagra,’ has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This drug is called Flibanserin, branded as Addyi, and was originally developed as an antidepressant. Addyi is a non-hormonal medicine used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in people who have not yet reached menopause. HSDD is characterised by low sexual desire that isn't due to existing medical or psychiatric conditions, or problems within a relationship.”
However, there is no real “female Viagra” in the sense that one simple pill fixes the main sexual dysfunction that women face. While Viagra can improve men’s erections, there is no simple fix for women’s lack of desire, loss of interest, or inability to reach orgasm. Unfortunately, treating sexual dysfunction in women isn’t as simple as it is for men.
Can you buy Viagra online?
Sometimes you’d rather take a nap than get busy in the bedroom and you think you can’t afford the Viagra that might help convince you otherwise. But luckily, in this day and age, cheap Viagra is easier to get than ever. You can even buy Viagra online.
Looking for generic Viagra? Drugs like PRZ-Sildenafil Canada can change the game. With the expiration of the Viagra patent, generic drugs hit the market and brought prices lower all around. Lower cost drugs can benefit the entire market by making necessary prescriptions more accessible to everyone. So, for example, if you’re looking for PRZ-sildenafil 100mg, we’ve got you covered.
If you have any questions about ordering from an online Canadian pharmacy, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have.
###
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *.