Author: edquestions

The History of Viagra

In 1989, two British Pfizer scientists Albert Wood and Peter Dunn created a drug known as sildenafil citrate. They believed that the drug would be helpful in the treatment of high blood pressure and angina. This is a chest pain that comes hand in hand with coronary heart disease.

In 1990, several trials were made on the drug with the hopes that it would be used for heart problem treatment. However, the volunteers who used the drug in the clinical trials reported an increase in erections few days after using the drug. This was according to researcher Ian Osterloh.

This discovery that the drug could cause an erection was an unplanned event. Pfizer realized that erectile dysfunction was an unmet medical issue and realized that this was a great financial opportunity.

Nicholas Terret was named in 1991 as one of the users of Sildenafil for heart problems treatment, and he is therefore known as the father of Viagra since he discovered just how much use the drug would be for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

In 1994, Terret and his colleague Peter Ellis discovered that the drug enhanced blood flow to the penile region for those patients that suffered from ED as they investigated the utility of the drug as a heart medicine.

The drug was discovered that it had the ability to enhance muscle relaxation effects of nitric oxide, which is the chemical that is released when an individual is sexually stimulated. This relaxation increases blood flow and assists in the production of an erection.

FDA approved the patent name Viagra as the name of the blue pill for the treatment of ED in 1998. From then, Viagra is now the world’s favorite little blue pill that has revolutionized erectile dysfunction’s treatment. It has improved many men’s sex life and given a new ray of hopes to those suffering from erection problems. However, the pill does not work if one is not sexually stimulated.

At around $84.2 million per year, the Pentagon spends a significant portion of their annual budget on erectile dysfunction medication. This amount is huge compared to the estimated $8.4 million needed for gender transition-related health care for transgender military personnel.

With the recent ban on transgender military members, attention is on the massive military budget line item, recently approved by President Trump, for erectile dysfunction medication. A closer look reveals the budget line item is largely due to military retirees and psychological issues prevalent among post-Iraq and Afghanistan active duty military members.

Military Retirees

Equivalent to the cost of multiple fighter jets, the annual $84.2 million spent on erectile dysfunction medication is mostly due to older retirees. Millions of military retirees and their family members are covered by the Pentagon’s healthcare system. With a total cost of $52 billion in 2012, the massive healthcare system covers around 10 million people. More prevalent among older men, over 90% of prescriptions for erectile dysfunction are written for retired military personnel.

Psychological Issues

Though less than 10% of erectile dysfunction prescriptions are written for active duty military personal, the disorder has increased since the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts began. Psychological issues, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are a major cause of erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems.

From a study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2015, male veterans with PTSD are significantly more likely than their civilian counterparts to experience erectile dysfunction. The Rand Corporation also reported that one in five veterans, serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, suffers from PTSD or a similar psychological disorder.

An increasingly common condition, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are all linked to erectile dysfunction. With an estimated 18%, as reported in 2007, of US men suffering from erectile dysfunction, it is unsurprising that a large amount of healthcare spending would be allocated for this prevalent disorder. Supplying healthcare to millions of men, both active duty and retired, results in huge amounts of money spent on male-specific health issues, specifically erectile dysfunction.

When a drug is made specifically to help men have stronger, more predictable erections, it only stands to reason that men will want to take it recreationally, even if they’ve never had erectile dysfunction. The reasoning is, “If it helps men get an erection when they can’t otherwise, maybe it will make my erection that much better!”

In general, it’s not wise to turn to Viagra to make a good night better.

That’s a little like taking your friend’s eyeglasses when you have perfect vision and expecting them to give you super-human vision. Here are some frequently asked questions about taking Viagra when you don’t have erectile dysfunction. Spoiler alert:

you shouldn’t.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled the Ultra Shop Supplement Super Panther 7X after the agency found that the product contained the active ingredients in Viagara (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). Since the packaging did not disclose that those two substances were included in the capsules, use of the product could cause serious health problems.

When used with nitrates, such as those found in prescription medications for diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and heart disease, both sildenafil and tadalafil have been known to lower blood pressure and even to cause heart failure and death.

Marketed as a “sexual enhancement capsule” that promises “7 days long action,” as well as, “longer and harder erections,” Super Panther 7X has been removed from all stores and online sales forums. Since the undisclosed ingredients make Super Panther 7X an untested and unapproved drug by the FDA, it is imperative that anyone who currently has the product refrain from use and contact the agency to report any adverse affects.

Interestingly, the original version of this product, Black Panther (no 7X), was recalled by the FDA in April 2015 because it was found to contain sildenafil but not tadalafil. The FDA website notes that:

This notification is to inform the public of a growing trend of dietary supplements or conventional foods with hidden drugs and chemicals. These products are typically promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, and body building and are often represented as being “all natural.” FDA is unable to test and identify all products marketed as dietary supplements that have potentially harmful hidden ingredients. Consumers should exercise caution before purchasing any product in the above categories.

Consumers who have purchased Super Panther 7X are encouraged to return the pills to their place of purchase for a refund. For those who purchased the product directly from Ultra Shop Supplement, the company can be reached at 888-246-9664 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Viagra, normally marketed under several trade names, is now being used to treat pulmonary hypertension because it boosts the levels of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, which means it can lower blood pressure, especially when used alongside other similar blood pressure-lowering drugs such as nitrates — nitroglycerine and isosorbide.

However, I would reason that Viagra and other blood pressure-lowering drugs might act in an additive or synergistic way to influence the blood pressure. Thus, ensure that your physician is aware of other medications you’re on before you take Viagra.

If you don’t have erection problems and take Viagra, you will probably have a stronger, more intense, and longer lasting erection. What’s not to like, right? Well, you also put yourself at risk by taking Viagra recreationally. Men who take it recreationally tend not to obtain Viagra from a doctor, but from a buddy, a cab driver, or “that guy in the club.” Assuming what they hand you actually is Viagra, the possibility exists that it will interact with any other necessary or recreational drugs you may take. But there are many other risks as well.

There has been a recall of AMPT coffee due to derivatives of Viagra and Cialis being found in it. As of August 2017, the online shop for the coffee is now defunct. AMPT was touted as a “natural testosterone booster,” claimed to be made with a mixture of Tongkat Ali, guarana, and maca root. This coffee was supposed to do more than just be a quick pick-me-up, it was formulated to boost sex drive, muscle mass, and mental clarity.

FDA Investigation

The coffee was recalled by the FDA after the federal agency not only sildenafil in it, but also tadalafil. These are the active ingredients found in Cialis and Viagra, medication to treat erectile dysfunction and urinary problems.

Why AMPT Coffee May Be Dangerous

Viagra and Cialis are controlled, which will require prescriptions from a physician or doctor. Using the ingredient in coffee without notifying consumers can potentially expose drinkers of AMPT coffee to serious side effects. Unknowing consumption can lead to memory problems, back pain, loss of hearing, headaches, and even the inability to differentiate between blue and green hues. The recommended dosage of Viagra, for example, is between 25 and 100 mg – when it’s used in a coffee ground, there is no viable way of measuring how much of the ingredients is instilled in it.

None of these warnings were stated in the packaging – users were consuming a concoction of powerful PDE5 inhibitors without even knowing it. This was further complicated by the packaging not mentioning that it was formulated with milk, which can be dangerous for those with milk allergies. Not noting a known allergen in its packaging is enough to cause a recall.

AMPT Coffee was sold in small red packets, packaged within a red box via a Shopify site. The company has warned prior buyers to discard their remaining coffee – there hasn’t been any notification of the company issuing any refunds. Further inquiries can be made at [email protected]

Most of us are familiar with the use of stents to keep arteries from narrowing more than they already are. Sometimes, however, the use of bare metal stents can exacerbate the narrowing when tissue grows around the stent; they can also cause blood clots that increase a patient’s chance for future heart attacks. Fortunately, scientists have discovered that a drug popularly used for erectile dysfunction has the ability to reduce the potential side problems associated with stents.

Drug-Eluting Stents

Some stents, known as drug-eluting stents, are covered in a chemical layer of drugs in order to prevent the blood vessels from closing; however, not all drugs have proven equal in offering protection. Sildenafil, also known as Viagra, has been shown to provide stent-users with protection from blood clots and other serious problems associated with the use of stents. Sildenafil is typically used to help men who have erectile dysfunction but is also prescribed under the name of Revatio to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. The drug increases blood flow and simulataneously relaxes the arteries, allowing blood to flow freely throughout the cardio-pulmonary system.

The Study

The lead scientist of the study, Dr. Han-Mo Yang of Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea, presented his results at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2017 Scientific Sessions in Portland, Oregon. The research results indicated that Sildenafil works to increase activity of the enzyme PKG (protein kinase G), which keeps the walls of arteries from thickening after injury or surgery. It was shown to reduce platelets from clumping by 30%. Used as a coating on the stent, sildenafil will keep the walls of the arteries from re-narrowing and reduce the tendency of clotting close to the stent.

While Yang’s study only involved animals, clinical trials are not far away and could result in immediate clinical use if approved since sildenafil is already being used in other settings.

Most of the time, doctors begin with the 50-mg dosage. This dosage isn’t right for every Viagra user, but it’s in the middle of your options, and makes it easy to move up or down in dosage to learn which is most appropriate. If 50 mg isn’t effective, and if it hasn’t caused unpleasant side effects, your doctor may choose to bump it up to 100 mg and ask you to report back.

Keep in mind that whichever dosage your doctor chooses, it’s going to be a maximum of one dose every 24 hours. In other words, if your doctor prescribes 50 mg, that doesn’t mean you should take 25 mg twice a day in hopes of stretching out the benefits. Also bear in mind that any other medications (including over-the-counter medications and supplements) can affect your experience with Viagra, so it’s absolutely essential to tell your doctor the names and dosages of any drugs or supplements you take.