Viagra is a very special allopathic Medicine that people with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation use. It is a magical blue-colored pill that Pfizer, an American Pharmaceutical company, manufactures.

The company started selling the medicine way before the FDA approved them. The medicine has gained huge popularity within a couple of years, and to date, the medicine has done a total business of $123 billion by 2011.

In this blog, we will be discussing the details of Viagra medicine, its complete history, journey & future.

Introduction

Viagra was the very first medicine of PDE type 5 inhibitor class action medicine. The medicine consists of Sildenafil citrate as its active pharmaceutical ingredient. The main task of medicine is to help people with erectile dysfunction control the symptoms of the issue.

The symptoms that a person notices are premature ejaculation and softer erections. The medicine enters a person’s body, dissolves in the blood vessels, and blocks PDE type 5. Due to this, the blood vessels of a person start to dilate, and one starts noticing an erection that lasts for longer.

The medicine will take 20-25 minutes on average to show its action. The action produced by the medicine stays active for 5-6 hours in an average person’s body. Those with initial issues can also enjoy the results for 8-9 hours. Apart from ED, the medicine also helps patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Pulmonary Hypertension.

The medicine is a temporary relief for people who have erectile dysfunction but is still ranked the best among other solutions. A person can use the medicine easily for a longer period until the issue is completely resolved.

The Beginnings of Viagra

The roots of the history of Viagra medicine lie in the 1980s. Pfizer, an American Pharmaceutical company is looking to develop a medicine for hypertension and angina issues. They developed the salt Sildenafil citrate and started testing the medicine.

When they started the clinical trials of the medicine, they found that it is not showing action against hypertension issues but also shows great relief from erectile dysfunction problems. The use of medicine improved the sexual life of people who have ED and want to enjoy satisfactory intercourse.

In 1988, the company started selling the medicine under the Viagra brand name for erectile dysfunction patients. After that, around 60 clinical trials were performed on the drug with a sample size of 5000 ED patients.

After successful tests, the medicine was approved by the FDA for use in the case of erectile dysfunction in 1998. After that, the company released the medicine commercially. After that, medicine became the hottest drug on the market.

With that, Pfizer has also started campaigns spreading awareness in audiences about male impotence, and soon, many international shows started endorsing Viagra medicine. Other companies started developing salts and drugs for erectile dysfunction.

FDA Approval

After Pfizer has successfully tested the medicine and found it successful, they submit it to the Food & Drug Authority of the USA for approval. The main aim of the FDA is to check whether the medicine is working for erectile dysfunction, the risk factors involved in the case of medicine, who can not consume the medicine, etc. FDA forms a team who performs intensive medicine research for 10-12 months.

Their team tests the clinical data produced by the manufacturer, performs inspection, and looks after any kind of fabrication & manipulation. For that, they will also do extensive research on the medicine. The team also collects individual reviews of the medicine. After complete testing and finding it safe, the FDA approves the medicine.

After that, they want the manufacturer to label the medicine properly. Everything should be mentioned on the labels of the medicine. When the company commercially launched the medicine, the public response was amazing. Men worldwide have changed their sexual life with the help of medicine. Soon, the medicine became a household name because

The public response to Viagra was overwhelming. Men who had previously been unable to achieve or maintain an erection could now enjoy a normal sex life again. The media coverage was extensive, and Viagra quickly became a household name. More & more people started using the medicine, due to which the levels of sexual dissatisfaction among couples increased.

The Popularity of Viagra

In the early days, the popularity of Viagra was large because it was the first oral medication approved for treating ED. Before Viagra, treatments for ED were primarily injections or surgical procedures, which were uncomfortable and invasive. Viagra offered a more convenient and discreet option for men suffering from ED.

The media also played a significant role in the initial popularity of Viagra. The drug was heavily advertised, and news outlets worldwide covered its release extensively. The novelty of the drug and its potential to improve the sex lives of men captured the public’s attention, and Viagra became a cultural phenomenon.

The initial success of Viagra was also due to its effectiveness. Clinical trials showed that the drug was effective in improving erectile function in a majority of men. This led to high satisfaction levels among users, and word of mouth played a significant role in the drug’s continued popularity.

Overall, the popularity of Viagra in the initial days was due to a combination of factors, including its novelty, convenience, effectiveness, and extensive media coverage. The drug has since become a widely accepted treatment for ED, and its popularity continues. But with positive popularity, many people have also shown concerns about the interactions of the medicine. But the FDA and Pfizer have completely cleared those who can not take the medicine and what not to do when using the medicine.

Viagra’s Impact on Medicine

Initially, the medicine was known to help patients with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. But with time people have noticed a few other benefits of the medicine. The use of

Viagra’s impact on the sexual medicine industry has been significant. Before Viagra, treatments for ED were limited to invasive surgeries or vacuum pumps. Viagra, on the other hand, was a simple, non-invasive treatment that could be taken orally. Its success paved the way for other oral ED medications like Cialis and Levitra.

Viagra also had a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry. The drug’s success turned Pfizer into a powerhouse in the industry, with sales reaching over $1 billion in its first year alone. The success of Viagra also led to increased research and development in sexual medicine and related fields.

Recent Developments

Sildenafil was first approved in 1998. Since then, here are some recent developments in Viagra:

• Generic versions of Viagra: In 2013, the patent for Viagra expired in some countries, allowing other companies to start producing and selling their versions of the drug. This has led to a significant drop in the cost of medication, making it more affordable for people with ED.
• New formulations: Pfizer, the company that originally developed Viagra, has been working on new drug formulations. In 2019, they announced the developing of a chewable tablet version of Viagra called Viagra Chewable. This formulation is intended to be more convenient and discreet for men who need to take the medication. Along with that, a new form of Viagra was approved by the FDA called Vyleesi (bremelanotide). Unlike Viagra, which is taken orally, Vyleesi is a self-administered injection, or nasal spray used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.
• Potential uses beyond ED: There is some evidence that Viagra may have benefits beyond treating ED. For example, a study published in the journal BMC Medicine in 2020 found that Viagra may be effective in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a type of heart failure that is difficult to treat. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
• Alternative medications: Other medications are now available that work similarly to Viagra, such as tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra). These medications may be more effective or better tolerated by some men than Viagra.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) availability: In March 2018, the FDA approved an OTC version of Viagra called Viagra Connect, available in the UK without a prescription. The FDA has not yet approved an OTC version of Viagra in the United States.
• Combination therapies: Finally, some studies have explored the use of Viagra in combination with other drugs to treat ED or other conditions. For example, one study found that combining Viagra with a drug called prazosin was more effective in treating ED than alone.

Overall, while there have been some recent developments in Viagra, the medication remains a widely used and effective treatment for ED.

The future of Viagra

The future of Viagra will depend on several factors, including technological advancements, regulatory changes, and market demand. One potential future for Viagra is the development of new formulations and delivery methods.

Currently, Viagra is taken orally as a tablet, but ongoing efforts are to develop new forms of the medication, such as topical creams, nasal sprays, and sublingual tablets. These formulations could offer faster onset of action, longer duration of effect, and improved ease of use for patients.

Another potential future for Viagra is the emergence of new treatments for ED that compete with or surpass the efficacy of Viagra. There are several other medications currently available for ED, including tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra), which work in similar ways to sildenafil.

In addition, emerging therapies for ED target different pathways in the body, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and shockwave therapy. These treatments could offer new options for patients who do not respond well to Viagra or other existing medications.

Regulatory changes could also impact the future of Viagra. There has been increasing scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry and its marketing practices in recent years. Some experts have argued that medications like Viagra are overprescribed and may not be appropriate for all patients with ED.

As a result, regulatory agencies may place greater restrictions on the marketing and distribution of Viagra, which could limit its future growth and profitability.

Reference –

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/

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