WHAT ARE THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS?

The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, and other related products is sildenafil citrate. This chemical is known to increase blood supply to the penis giving a firmer longer lasting erection when aroused. Because all of these products use the same active ingredient they all work in the same way and deliver similar results. The main difference between the two is that sildenafil is the generic or unbranded version of Viagra.

HOW DOES VIAGRA WORK?

Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. This chemical helps men to sustain an erection by helping more blood get to the penis when aroused. The erection is produced via a complex chain of signals in the nervous system that instructs messengers within the penis tissue. One of these messengers is called cyclic GMP.

HOW DOES SILDENAFIL WORK?

To achieve and maintain a strong erection you need to have plenty of blood flowing into the penis when it is aroused. In men with erectile dysfunction there may not be enough blood available. Sildenafil works in the same way as Viagra using the same active chemical. Sildenafil, the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, signals to the brain that more blood should be sent to the penis, thereby creating the conditions for a strong and sustained erection.

HOW DO YOU TAKE IT?

Both Viagra and Sildenafil are available in tablets. These medications should be taken around one hours before sexual activity. Before taking the tablet there are a few things you should keep in mind. Don’t eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol before or after administering the tablet, these can negatively affect the medication.

Once you have administered the tablet it will start working within one hour. When it has taken effect you can achieve the desired results for up to four hours. You will only achieve an erection when you are aroused during the period when the medication is active.

WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE BODY?

We know that Viagra and sildenafil are effective medications that can improve a couple’s sex life, but how does it function in the body to create an erection? You may be fascinated to discover some of the science behind this amazing drug that aids sexual stimulation.

Firstly a chemical called cGMP causes the walls of blood vessels in the vascular system to relax. This relaxation allows blood to flow more easily through the vascular system thereby creating an erection via increases in blood flow. It’s a quite paradoxical process.

Then, in the spongy part of the penis there is an enzyme called PDE5. Normally, this breaks down the cGMP when it arrives in the penis. Sildenafil (viagra) works by restricting the PDE5 process and allowing more cGMP to fill the organ.

WHO ARE THE MANUFACTURERS?

The original manufacturer of Viagra is the pharmaceutical brand Pfizer. They are the ones who initially developed sildenafil as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. They branded the medicine Viagra and issued it under a patent.

When the patent expired other manufacturers were able to create their own products based on the same active ingredient. One legal stipulation of all sildenafil products is that they contain the same amounts of the chemical as the original Viagra drug.

Although all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it should not be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Authored Mar 29, 2021 by Joseph Issac, MPharm
Reviewed Mar 30, 2021 by Prabjeet Saundh, MPharm