Viagra replacement over the counter: effect, price and danger

   . 6 min read

The active ingredient sildenafil, originally explored as a blood pressure lowering agent, sparked a second sexual revolution called Viagra replacement over the counter. Although the drug did not have the desired effect as a blood pressure medication, it did show an improvement in the subject’s ability to have an erection as a side effect. Found a drug against erectile dysfunction, colloquially called impotence.

Viagra replacement over the counter for a billion dollars

Blue pills have become big business for Pfizer. Due to Viagra alone, the annual sales of the pharmaceutical company around the world is 1.7 billion US dollars. Currently, there are other drugs with the same effect that contain the active ingredients Tadalafil (trade name Cialis), Vardenafil (trade name Levitra) or Avanafil (trade name Spedra).

These drugs inhibit a specific enzyme (phosphodiesterase 5) that normally controls the expansion of the cavernous bodies. Therefore, the active ingredients are also referred to as PDE-5 inhibitors. Because they provide relaxation of the smooth muscle cells of the penis and blood flow to the penis, causing an erection. In addition, the outflow of blood decreases when interacting with potential muscles located in the small pelvis.

This is how Viagra replacement over the counter erection

Viagra replacement over the counter and other drugs don’t work without a healthy libido

Anyone who thinks that taking only Viagra and company can lead to an erection is wrong. “If you just swallow a pill and then, for example, continue to write emails, nothing will happen,” the doctor explains. Matthias Man from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. “First of all, sexual stimulation is required. The circulation effect caused by this is only enhanced by Viagra, and then ideally leads to a visible erection.”

Therefore, PDE-5 inhibitors are not effective for erectile dysfunction caused by nerve damage. Even in the presence of circulatory disorders, they cannot be used. Additional contraindications the doctor can determine after a thorough examination. Medications such as Viagra should only be taken as directed by a doctor.

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How long does Viagra replacement over the counter and co. last?

Medicines are most effective when the concentration of a substance in the blood is highest. Depending on the medication, this can take anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours. Cialis shows the longest lasting effect, which is sometimes still present after just over two days. With Levitra and Viagra, the effect can persist even after five hours, but then it usually decreases significantly.

“Pills for potency” are also becoming a lifestyle product

In our highly sexualized society, male sexual behavior is easily equated with masculinity. Viagra replacement over the counter also sells very well as a lifestyle product. In 2004, politicians even banned the sale of potency pills in pharmaceuticals by law. Cash registers no longer cover any costs. Since then, politicians believe that erectile dysfunction needs as little treatment as obesity or hair loss. For pharmaceutical companies, this is not a problem. Because customers don’t stop there: the demand for sexual enhancers is constantly growing.

Fake sex enhancers pose a significant health risk

Prices per tablet

After the expiration of the patent protection of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, cheaper so-called generics with the same active ingredient become available.

The cost depends on the dosage, the size of the package (here are four tablets) and the manufacturer.

Sildenafil 50 mg – about 3.25 to 13.75 $
Tadalafil 10 mg – about 3.28 to 22 $
Vardenafil 10 mg – about 3.87 to 8 $
br />Avanafil 100mg – approximately 8.24 $

(Status: 2022, source: Stiftung Warentest)

Out of a sense of shame or for reasons of economy, many men try to avoid going to doctors and pharmacies. For four tablets of Viagra, patients must pay up to 50 euros at the pharmacy. Therefore, many people buy sexual enhancers online. According to a study by the central laboratory of German pharmacists in Eschborn, at least half of the potency pills ordered online without a prescription are fake.

This poses a significant health risk to users because Dr. Mona Tawab explains: “In principle, there are no good fakes, because they are produced out of control. You must distinguish between two types of fakes. Some of them are very similar to the original. are also included in it, but sometimes at a lower dose. But in fact, there are fakes of handicraft industries in which varnishes are processed. Swallowing them can be very dangerous or even life-threatening.”

The pharmacist also warns against herbal supplements advertised as harmless sexual stimulants. “We have already managed to detect synthetic chemicals in it that are not declared. And the catch, however, is that such herbal food supplements can contain the active ingredient of Viagra in much higher doses than in regular tablets. This is, of course, extremely dangerous.”

Disclaimer

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.