There are a lot of men out there who need help with a very personal problem, but they are afraid to do anything about it. This is because the topic of erectile dysfunction is about as terrifying to face as an appointment with a divorce lawyer, so they try to avoid it altogether. Unfortunately, erectile dysfunction affects not only men, but it also affects their spouses as well, so this makes it impossible to avoid indefinitely. Sooner or later the topic of sex (or lack thereof) will come up at the dinner table, and then they must face the problem head on. That is usually when the name Viagra enters the conversation, and they better be ready to make an informed decision on whether or not to use it.



Viagra was invented by a team of scientists in the late nineteen nineties, and it was approved for sale by the FDA (food and Drug Administration) on March 27, 1998. It was considered to be a breakthrough discovery in the medical and science worlds, and the inventors won the Nobel Prize for this invention. They had essentially discovered that when a man gets an erection a chain reaction occurs in the tissue of the penis which causes the levels of a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to be elevated. When the level of this substance remains high, the penis remains erect. They also discovered that an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) breaks down cGMP. They found that the cGMP levels tended to breakdown rapidly in some men, and this was the cause of their sexual dysfunction problems. The key to sustaining an erection was to maintain high levels of cGMP for a long period of time, so they invented a drug that would inhibit the levels of the enzyme PDE5. This would allow the cGMP levels to remain high, which would sustain an erection for a long period of time.

Before the invention of Viagra men with this kind of problem just had to suffer with their ailment. Many men were too ashamed to even talk about this problem. Beside the obvious issue of questioning their manhood, there just was not a whole lot they could do about it. There was no known cure, and that was a fact. They had to face this problem with very little help from the medical world. It was no wonder that most men kept this kind of thing to themselves. Many marriages were affected adversely due to this problem, and some even ended because of it.

Viagra has been a Godsend to many men who were experiencing problems in bed. The scientific name for Viagra is Sildenafil and it basically acts as an inhibitor of the enzyme PDE5. This preserves the high levels of cGMP that are produced when a man is sexually aroused. Similar products like Cialis and Levitra work in the same way, thus, all three products are defined as PDE5 inhibitors.

Viagra absorbs quite rapidly in the blood stream, usually within 30 to 120 minutes. It is a highly protein bound drug (96%) which means that is will absorb faster when taken with a high protein meal. Taking it with a high fat meal will reduce the absorption rate.

Pfizer is the company who makes the only genuine Viagra, and any other company who claims to make it is a fake. There are many web sites on the internet who claim to be selling ?real? Viagra, but most of them are frauds looking to make a quick buck. Only a U.S. licensed pharmacy can sell Pfizer's Viagra product, so make sure you do a little investigating about the company you plan to buy from before you make your purchase. There are many reputable companies on the internet selling genuine Pfizer Viagra through completely safe and secure web sites. All you have to do is a little research and you will get the same product you would get at your local pharmacy, but without the potential embarrassment. You will even get a better price if you buy your Viagra online than you would if you bought it at your neighborhood pharmacist, for the pharmacist selling his products online does not have to pay overhead costs (employees, building leases, benefits, etc?).

Viagra is metabolized in the liver by an enzyme that is known as CYP3A4. Any one with a liver condition (like cirrhosis) who is thinking about taking Viagra must consult their physician first to discuss a customized or reduced dosage.

What used to be a problem without a cure is now a problem that can be cured with a little blue pill. Men who take a 50mg dose about an hour or two before sexual activity can regain the sexual vitality and stamina that they have been missing in their lives. They can now enter that dreaded conversation at the dinner table with their spouse (about erectile dysfunction) armed with the knowledge that they have a breakthrough drug on their side that was worthy of the Nobel Prize. They can even order it at a U.S. licensed online pharmacy and have their Viagra shipped overnight to their front door by a FEDEX courier who will hand over their order in a plain-wrapped box.

? 2005 copyright. Michael P. Connelly