Erectile Dysfunction Drug Therapy
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One drug in particular, Viagra, has become an international phenomenon since its launch in the late 1990s.
The drug, 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.
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.
Another drug, Levitra, works first time for nearly nine out of 10 men (87%) who are experiencing erection difficulties.