Category: Viagra

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in a bottle of little blue pills. Viagra is one of the most recognizable drugs of all time, so when it came time to decide which brand to go with to treat your erectile dysfunction, it seemed like a no brainer. Viagra is known for doing what it’s intended to do: cause erections. But how exactly does it work? What is causing this little blue to pill to tell the body to achieve an erection? If you want to understand the drug you’re taking, here’s a simple breakdown of how Viagra operates.

Erectile dysfunction is caused when blood cannot consistently reach the penis. The penis depends on a steady flow of blood to stand at attention, so when the body is struggling to get blood down below, this translates into missed erections. Reduced blood flow can be caused be a number of issues, such as plaque build up in the blood vessels, constriction of the blood vessels, or problems with the heart. Even if blood is flowing normally through the rest of the body, the key arteries leading to the penis may narrow, leading to blood struggling to reach the penis to induce erections.

To get blood to reach the penis, your body is going to need help. This is where Viagra comes in. When ingested, Viagra dissolves in the acid of the stomach and is then dissipated throughout the blood stream of the body. The Viagra essentially sends a signal to the brain, letting the brain know that it’s time to open up the arteries. The brain then responds to this chemical signal and tells the smooth muscles that line the arteries to relax, which allows the blood vessels to expand.

From there, it’s business as normal. The Viagra will keep the blood vessels open, allowing blood to reach the penis. To achieve an erection, you’ll need to go about it the old-fashioned way, but once sexual stimulation has been communicated to the brain, it can quickly supply the penis with blood, allowing the penis to achieve an erection.

So there you have it. Viagra facilitates blood flow, which allows your penis to spring to life. Now that you know how Viagra works, it’s time to put it to use for you.

Viagra, like any medication, is best when taken under certain conditions. But what those conditions are seem to vary wildly. Should you take Viagra in the morning? At night? On an empty stomach? With water?

There is a lot of conflicting information about how to get the most bang for your buck from your Viagra. Here are the ideal conditions for properly taking Viagra:

Plan ahead: Sex can be wild and spontaneous, but if you rely on erectile dysfunction medication to get your little guy moving, sex is going to require some planning. Viagra should be taken between 30 minutes to 4 hours before getting down to business. This way, your body will have plenty of time to process the Viagra and allow it to work it’s magic.

Watch what you eat: Looking for instant gratification? When taking Viagra, take it on an empty stomach. This will allow your body to process the medication quickly, which ensures the drug will take effect quickly. Looking to take your time? Take Viagra after a big meal. This will slow the process down, and will ensure Viagra takes a little longer to kick in.

If you booze, you lose: Viagra is a serious medication. Like all medication, it shouldn’t be taken with alcohol. Sure, a couple drinks may lead to a frolic in the sheets, but Viagra can react poorly to being taken with alcohol. If you plan on using Viagra, avoid alcohol.

If you’ve finally caved and decided to invest in Viagra, you probably want to make sure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Sure, your friends have sung the praises of this little blue wonder pill, but there’s got to be a right way and a wrong way to take it, right? Well, like all medication, Viagra works best under certain criteria. If you want to make sure you are taking Viagra properly, here are some do’s and don’ts for the ED drug.

DON’T Take it on a full stomach: Viagra takes about an hour to dissipate throughout your bloodstream and take effect. If you take Viagra after a big meal, it will take even longer for the drug to kick in. To ensure the pill works quickly, make sure you take Viagra on an empty stomach.

DO Be Sexually Stimulated: Viagra is not an instant erection pill. You must be sexually stimulated for the medication to take hold. So engage in some foreplay or kissing with your partner to set the mood, and Viagra will do the rest.

DON’T Take it with alcohol: While drinking can certainly lead to romps in the bedroom, taking Viagra after a night of drinking is bad idea. The medication can react negatively to alcohol, which could leads to problems. For your own safety, avoid alcohol when taking Viagra.

Your best source for authentic Viagra coupons is the official Viagra website, which is operated by the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer Inc. As this is written, the site offers a coupon entitling the bearer to three free pills. A companion coupon, designed to be used with your second purchase, offers 30 percent off the total price of your second purchase of Viagra.

To take advantage of these offers, you’ll need to have a prescription from your doctor, and you’ll also have to make your purchase from a “participating pharmacy.” Since the site has no list of pharmacies taking part in this special offer, you’ll have to check around at local pharmacies to see if one or more in your area is participating. Present the first Viagra coupon with your prescription, and you’ll be given three free Viagra pills so that you can try the drug and see how well it works for you. If you’re satisfied with its results, you can get 30 percent off the price of your next purchase. According to the fine print, the second coupon entitles you to 30 percent savings “off of the amount of your copay or your out-of-pocket cost, with a maximum savings of $90.”

While searching the Internet, you are likely to find many other Viagra discount coupons, most of which entitle you to savings at the retail pharmacy that is distributing the coupon.

Generally speaking, you’ll find the lowest prices on Viagra and the vast majority of prescription drugs in the pharmacy departments of big-box retail chains, such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and Target. Coming in a close second are the national drugstore chains such as CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens. In a recent survey of current prices, the pharmacy departments of regional and national pharmacies — Kroger, Publix, and Safeway — also had very low prices. Given the competitive pressures between pharmacies at these large chains, it’s not realistic to quote prices here because they change frequently. Your best bet is to shop around a bit before you buy.

If you’d prefer to purchase your Viagra online, pharmacies in Secure Medical’s network — AccessRx, eDrugstore, and ViaMedic — offer added value for your money. Although they charge a bit more for the drugs, these outlets can arrange a complimentary online consultation with one of their contract physicians if you don’t already have a prescription. Plus they offer the ease and privacy of shopping from your home, a big plus if you’d prefer to keep the details of your personal sexual health a private matter.

In the United States, a generic version of Viagra will not be legally available until 2017, when Teva Pharmaceuticals will be permitted to begin marketing a generic version under an agreement it reached with Pfizer in late 2013. Until Teva’s generic version hits U.S. pharmacy shelves, U.S. buyers should be wary of any product purporting to be generic Viagra.

In markets where Pfizer’s patent on Viagra has expired, generic versions of the drug that are manufactured by government-approved pharmaceutical companies should be essentially that same as Viagra produced by Pfizer. Such markets include the European Union, South Korea, and China (July 2014). Even in those markets, however, consumers should steer clear of so-called generics offered by online vendors of unknown reputation. Counterfeit drugs continue to flood the market, and the best way to avoid falling victim to these fakes is to buy prescription medications only from reputable retailers that dispense drugs manufactured by government-approved pharmaceutical companies.

Available in both 50- and 100-milligram tablets from AccessRx.com, eDrugstore.md, and ViaMedic.com, Viagra’s cost for two tablets is the same regardless of strength. For men who find that a 50-milligram dose meets their needs, they can get a lower price per dose by ordering 100-milligram tablets and splitting them. Two 100-milligram tablets cost $95, or $47.50 per 100-milligram dose and $23.75 per 50-milligram dose. To lower your cost per dose, increase the size of your order. Ten 100-milligram tablets cost $423, or $42.30 per 100-milligram dose and $21.15 per 50-milligram dose.

The first PDE5 inhibitor to win FDA approval, Viagra first hit the U.S. market in 1998. Viagra was developed and is marketed by Pfizer. Although its U.S. patent for the drug will remain effective until April 2020, Pfizer in late 2013 reached an agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals that will allow the latter to begin selling a generic version of Viagra in 2017. Elsewhere, Pfizer’s Viagra patent has expired in several key markets, including the European Union and South Korea. Its Chinese patent expires in July 2014.