Pfizer’s Viagra has been available since 1998. The active ingredient Sildenafil citrate, a PDE5 inhibitor, increases the blood flow to the penis to help men suffering from impotence (erectile dysfunction or ED). The increased blood flow results in an erection. Pfizer’s patent for Viagra expired in several European countries (including the UK) on 21 June 2013 allowing legal generic versions of the drug Sildenafil to be made available.
Many millions of men have taken Viagra (sildenafil) repeatedly and regularly for up to 15 years, since it became available in 1998.
The concerns raised in this article are based on a single short term study in mice, which may not be relevant to humans. The mice study was carried out using very much higher doses than are taken in humans.
The side effects of medicines are monitored. There has been no reporting of widespread permanent damage to vision in men taking Viagra/sildenafil. There is no need for men to be alarmed as we discuss this is more detail. Read in full
Sildenafil is the medical name for the active ingredient in Viagra tablets. The patent for Viagra held by the drug company Pfizer expired in June 2013. Since then a number of UK licensed brands of sildenafil have become available from various pharmaceutical manufacturers. These companies often market sildenafil branded by their company names, e.g. Accord/Actavis, Ajanta, Amarox, Aurobindo, Bristol Labs, Dr Reddys, Mylan sildenafil, Pfizer, Relonchem, RxPharma, Sandoz sildenafil, Teva sildenafil, Torrent, Zentiva, etc.
Good news for men suffering from erectile dysfunction: sildenafil is now more widely available on the NHS in England (from 1 Aug 2014), although health managers previously advised limits of 4 tablets per month.
When Pfizer’s patent for Viagra expired in June 2013, the supply cost of sildenafil (the generic name for Viagra) was slashed from pounds to pennies. Since 1999 the availability of Viagra/sildenafil on the NHS has been subject to certain restrictions. Specifically, the drug was only available to male patients whose erectile dysfunction was associated with any of the following conditions:
Most men with erectile dysfunction take tablets known medically as PDE5 inhibitors. These include Viagra/sildenafil, Cialis/tadalafil, or Levitra/vardenafil. However there are some less familiar treatments, including some less well known PDE5 inhibitors tablets and a medicine known as alprostadil. Alprostadil comes as cream, insertable pellet or injection and works directly on the penis. Read in full
A cream which treats erectile dysfunction (ED) is now available on prescription in the UK.
The cream – called Vitaros – now gives hope to the 2.3 million men over 18 across the country who currently try to deal with the problem by taking a variety of other treatments, such as Viagra (sildenafil).
Vitaros cream is available in a single-use, disposable applicator. A pre-prescribed amount is applied to the tip of the penis and, once absorbed, claims to yield an erection within five to 30 minutes.
The cream, which contains the drug alprostadil, means that men in the UK are the first in the world to have access to this new form of treatment to combat their sexual dysfunction issues.
Vitaros cream must be kept refrigerated and is unsuitable for mail order without specialist packaging to keep the medicine cooled. Read in full
After losing his Mother, property developer Simon began to suffer with depression and soon after he started to developed an issue with impotency.
Simon’s erectile dysfunction problem continued for almost a year before he was encouraged by his partner Laura to seek help from his GP.
He said: “Laura was extremely supportive and gave me the encouragement to seek some medical help. I’m 43 and it is very important to me that I can have a sexual relationship with her so I went to see my GP.” Read in full
Viagra/sildenafil side-effects, interactions and cautions
As Viagra and sildenafil are medically the same, they have the same side-effects and interact with other medicines in the same way. The same cautions apply to their supply.
Easy to read guidance is provided by manufacturers and supplied with the tablets: Patient information Leaflet of Viagra.
If in doubt about a medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist or one of the online clinics who supply it.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that affects a lot of men. It is estimated that half of all men between 40 and 70 will suffer from it to some extent. ED can occur for numerous different reasons, including anxiety, depression, obesity, and drinking, and can today be effectively combated with a variety of treatments such as therapy, penile pumps and Viagra.
Erectile Dysfunction isn’t a modern male phenomenon. In fact, the condition goes back for thousands of years – and throughout history the condition has been blamed on a cornucopia of culprits, from the curse of the gods to yin-yang imbalances.
It hasn’t always been as simple as popping a blue pill, or a getting a prescription from your GP. Here are some of the wildest, weirdest and most wonderful attempted cures for male flaccidity through the ages. Read in full
Most men with erectile dysfunction take tablets known medically as PDE5 inhibitors. These include 
After losing his Mother, property developer Simon began to suffer with depression and soon after he started to developed an issue with impotency.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that affects a lot of men. It is estimated that half of all men between 40 and 70 will suffer from it to some extent. ED can occur for numerous different reasons, including anxiety, depression, obesity, and drinking, and can today be effectively combated with a variety of treatments such as therapy, penile pumps and Viagra.