Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre Viagra: Respuestas A 22 Preguntas

¿Tiene alguna pregunta sobre Viagra? Tenemos respuestas. Desde la historia del medicamento hasta información sobre el inicio de acción de Viagra, los posibles efectos secundarios y más, a continuación hemos respondido 22 de las preguntas más comunes sobre Viagra (así como sobre su contraparte genérica, sildenafil).

¿Cuándo se inventó el Viagra?

Sildenafil, el ingrediente activo de Viagra, se desarrolló originalmente en la década de 1980 como tratamiento para la angina. Durante las pruebas, Pfizer descubrió que el medicamento era más eficaz para tratar la disfunción eréctil que la angina y decidió comercializarlo para este fin.

Después de someterse a pruebas clínicas a lo largo de la década de 1990, Viagra fue patentado en 1996 y salió al mercado en 1998 después de recibir la aprobación de la FDA. Esto significa que se ha utilizado durante más de 20 años, lo que lo convierte en el tratamiento para la disfunción eréctil más antiguo del mercado aprobado por la FDA.

¿Cómo funciona Viagra?

Viagra pertenece a una clase de medicamentos llamados inhibidores de la PDE5. Estos medicamentos actúan bloqueando la acción degradativa de la enzima PDE5 (fosfodiesterasa tipo 5 específica de cGMP), que desempeña un papel importante en la regulación del flujo sanguíneo al tejido eréctil similar a una esponja del pene.

En términos simples, Viagra (así como otros medicamentos para la disfunción eréctil, como Cialis y Levitra) actúa mejorando el flujo sanguíneo hacia los tejidos blandos del pene. Esto hace que sea más fácil lograr y mantener una erección. Nuestra guía sobre cómo funciona Viagra cubre este proceso con más detalle.

¿Viagra siempre funciona?

Viagra actúa aumentando el flujo sanguíneo hacia el tejido blando del pene. Es muy eficaz en esto, lo que lo convierte en una excelente opción de tratamiento si tiene disfunción eréctil causada por un problema de salud que afecta el flujo sanguíneo a su pene.

Sin embargo, Viagra no afecta directamente el aspecto psicológico del desempeño sexual, como el nivel de interés en el sexo, el nivel de excitación o la confianza sexual. Esto significa que aún es posible experimentar disfunción eréctil como resultado de un problema psicológico, incluso con Viagra.

La disfunción eréctil puede ocurrir por una gran variedad de razones, desde ansiedad por el desempeño hasta depresión. 

¿Para qué otras condiciones de salud se utiliza Viagra?

Viagra sólo se comercializa como tratamiento para la disfunción eréctil. Sin embargo, el sildenafil, el ingrediente activo de Viagra, también se usa para tratar afecciones como la hipertensión arterial pulmonar, que es una forma de presión arterial alta que afecta los pulmones.

Revatio, que contiene una dosis más baja de sildenafil que la mayoría de las tabletas de Viagra, se usa exclusivamente como tratamiento para la hipertensión arterial pulmonar.

¿Cuándo debería considerar usar Viagra?

Viagra can be a safe, effective treatment for men of any age. You should consider using Viagra if you experience erectile dysfunction that affects your sex life, whether it’s an occasional issue or something that occurs frequently. Viagra is a prescription medication, your doctor will be able to tell you more about whether it’s an appropriate treatment option for you.

How Long Does it Take for Viagra to Work?

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, usually starts working about 30 minutes after you take it. If you’ve recently eaten a large meal, particularly a meal that’s high in fat, it might take up to one hour before you notice the effects of Viagra.

For best results, you should take Viagra on a relatively empty stomach about one hour before you expect to have sex.

Is it Possible to Make Viagra Work Faster?

Your body needs time to absorb the sildenafil in a Viagra tablet after you swallow it. While there isn’t anything you can directly do to speed up your body’s absorption of sildenafil, you can make Viagra work faster by taking it in the right conditions.

For the fastest effects, take Viagra on an empty stomach and avoid eating any food for an hour after you take the medication. This means that your body will be able to absorb the sildenafil as soon as it reaches your stomach, without first having to digest other food or liquids.

What is a Normal Dose of Viagra?

Viagra, whether from Pfizer or in generic form as sildenafil, is available in several different doses. The smallest dose of Viagra is 25mg (generic sildenafil is also available in a smaller 20mg dose), while the maximum dose of Viagra contains 100mg of sildenafil.

Depending on your needs and the severity of your ED symptoms, you might be prescribed a 25mg, 50mg or 100mg dose of Viagra by your doctor. Studies show that a 50mg dose usually provides significant improvements for men with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction.

Our guide to Viagra dosages goes into more detail on the different dosages of Viagra used to treat erectile dysfunction and their effectiveness.

What’s the Difference Between Viagra and Sildenafil?

Viagra and sildenafil are the same thing. Viagra is the brand name for the original medication developed and marketed by Pfizer, whereas sildenafil is the active ingredient in the tablet that treats ED. One tablet of Viagra contains either 25mg, 50mg or 100mg of sildenafil.

Generic sildenafil has all of the same effects and side effects of Viagra. You’ll notice the same improvement in your erection quality and sexual performance, as well as the exact same onset of action, potential side effects and overall effectiveness.

What Are The Side Effects of Viagra?

Viagra is a safe and effective medication that typically only causes minor side effects. The most common side effects of Viagra are headaches, nasal congestion, facial flushing, indigestion and muscle aches.

These side effects also often occur with other ED medications, such as Cialis and Levitra.

How Long Does Viagra Stay in Your System?

The effects of Viagra typically last for three to four hours, after which the medication stops being effective at preventing erectile dysfunction. If you take Viagra on a fairly empty stomach and do not eat a large meal after using it, it will typically take five to six hours for it to exit your system.

Small amounts of Viagra could remain in your system for up to 20 hours. Certain side effects of Viagra, such as nasal congestion, facial flushing and heartburn, can continue for several hours after the medication exits your system.

How Often Can You Take Viagra?

Viagra is designed for use as needed, meaning you should take it about one hour before you plan to have sex. Regardless of the exact dosage of Viagra you’re prescribed, you should not take this medication more than one time per day.

If you want to have sex multiple times in one day and need a longer-lasting erectile dysfunction treatment, do not take more than one Viagra dose. Instead, it’s best to talk to your doctor about switching to a longer-lasting medication, such as Cialis (tadalafil).

What Other Medications Work Like Viagra?

Viagra is one of several erectile dysfunction medications currently on the market. Similar drugs include Cialis (tadalafil), which provides similar effects to Viagra but lasts for significantly longer in the body, and Levitra (vardenafil), which has similar effects to Viagra.

Are Natural Alternatives to Viagra Available?

There are countless supplements on the market that claim to provide similar results to Viagra, Cialis and other FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medications.

Although many over-the-counter supplements promise similar results to Viagra, few are reliable options for preventing ED. These supplements tend to contain ingredients such as “horny goat weed” (actually epimedium) that claim to boost testosterone and improve erections.

There is no significant scientific evidence proving that these ingredients work as treatments for erectile dysfunction. Many of these “natural” male enhancement supplements actually contain secret, unlisted ingredients such as powdered sildenafil and tadalafil.

The FDA maintains a list of tainted male enhancement supplements here. These supplements do not produce similar effects to Viagra, Cialis or Levitra and should not be viewed as reliable treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Other supplements, such as certain vitamins and niacin, may help to improve erection quality and reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction. However, these are significantly less effective than FDA-approved treatments like Viagra and are rarely suitable for severe cases of ED.

Is it Possible to Treat ED Without Viagra?

In some cases, it’s possible to treat erectile dysfunction and improve your sexual performance without using medication like Viagra.

Erectile dysfunction can occur for a variety of reasons. If your ED is caused by an underlying health condition or habit such as obesity, tobacco use, low testosterone or a dietary issue, it might be possible to reduce the severity of your symptoms without the use of Viagra.

This might involve using a hormonal treatment, changing your use of other medications, losing weight or making changes to your lifestyle to improve your general health and reduce your risk of being continually affected by ED.

When Will Generic Viagra be Available?

Generic sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) is already available in the UK. Using our online service, you can order generic sildenafil online, subject to doctor’s approval and following an online consultation with a physician.

Is Viagra Available Over the Counter?

In the United States, Viagra is a prescription medication, meaning you’ll only be able to buy it with a prescription from your doctor. Subject to doctor approval, you can buy sildenafil online after completing an online consultation with a physician.

What Happens if a Woman Takes Viagra?

Since Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the soft erectile tissue of the penis, it’s not an effective medication for women. Studies of Viagra in women show that while it does produce some minor benefits, it can also cause side effects such as nausea, flushing and headache.

Women with sexual performance or desire issues should not use Viagra. Instead, it’s best to speak with your doctor about treatment options. From hormonal medication to newer sexual drugs such as Addyi (flibanserin), there are now several similar medications for women.

Does Viagra Expire?

Like most medications, Viagra can become less effective over time and expire if it’s left unused for too long. Take note of the expiration date printed on your Viagra or generic sildenafil and aim to use the medication as prescribed before it expires.

If your Viagra has expired, do not use it. Instead, throw away the old medication and purchase a new packet of Viagra or generic sildenafil.

Is it Safe to Use Viagra and Other ED Medications Together?

It is not recommended to take Viagra and other ED medications such as Cialis or Levitra at the same time. Doing so can significantly increase each medication’s effects, creating a higher risk that you will experience side effects such as headache, nausea and cardiovascular issues.

If you find that Viagra is not fully effective at treating your erectile dysfunction, do not combine it with other medication. Instead, talk to your doctor about increasing your dose of Viagra or using a longer-lasting erectile dysfunction medication such as Cialis.

What if Viagra Doesn’t Work?

Viagra is highly effective at treating erectile dysfunction, with most men experiencing no issues achieving an erection after taking a 50mg or 100mg dose. However, it’s still possible for Viagra to fail in some situations.

Si bien Viagra funciona bien como tratamiento para el lado físico de la disfunción eréctil, no trata el bajo deseo sexual o la falta de excitación. Nuestra guía sobre lo que debe hacer si Viagra no funciona (vinculada arriba) cubre este tema con más detalle y enumera otras opciones para mejorar su desempeño sexual.

¿Qué drogas se deben evitar al usar Viagra?

Viagra puede interactuar con varios medicamentos de uso generalizado, incluidos los nitratos comúnmente utilizados para tratar la presión arterial alta y los inhibidores de CYP3A4 utilizados para tratar infecciones por hongos.

Cuando se usa con nitratos, Viagra puede provocar una caída repentina y grave de la presión arterial que puede provocar riesgos importantes para la salud. No use Viagra si usa nitratos. Si le recetan nitratos para tratar la hipertensión, debe informar a su médico antes de hablar sobre Viagra.

Si bien los inhibidores de CYP3A4, como el ketoconazol, no provocan una caída de la presión arterial cuando se usan con Viagra, pueden impedir que el cuerpo metabolice adecuadamente el sildenafil y provocar concentraciones de Viagra más altas de lo normal en el cuerpo.  

Finalmente, el jugo de toronja puede tener efectos similares, haciendo que el nivel de sildenafil en la sangre aumente más allá de su nivel normal. Drugs.com mantiene una  lista completa  de medicamentos y alimentos que tienen el potencial de interactuar con el sildenafil.