Interesting Facts About Viagra You Probably Didn't Know

Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition that is very common in middle aged men. Men suffering from this condition experience extreme depression and lower self confidence. However, thanks to Viagra, men suffering from erectile dysfunction can lead a normal sex life and are confidently able to handle the psychological effects resulting from this condition. Men taking Viagra can achieve and maintain an erection when they are sexually aroused.


Viagra, commonly known as the little blue pill, was launched by Pfizer, a globally leading pharmaceutical company. Scientifically known as sildenafil citrate, Viagra was originally developed to treat heart disease and it was only during clinical trials that its penile erection effects were observed. Since that time, Viagra has become a global success story, with annual sales exceeding a staggering 1 billion dollars yearly. Sold as a prescription-only drug, Viagra acts by blocking the enzyme, cyclic GMP, which prevents erection in males.

Interesting Facts about Viagra

Even though Viagra is one of the most popular prescription drugs, a vast majority of the people do not know much about it. Listed below are some interesting facts about Viagra that might help clear a lot of misconceptions people have about this wonder drug:

Viagra does not work instantly

A lot of people have the misconception that consuming Viagra results in an instant erection. In fact, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes for the drug to get absorbed in the blood stream. It should ideally be taken about 1 hour before (and not more than 4 hours before) the sexual activity.

Viagra is a sex stimulant

Viagra is not a sex stimulant and should not be used as one. Its primary function is to correct erectile dysfunction in men who, even despite being aroused, are not able to achieve an erection.

Viagra - the most counterfeited drug in the world

The demand for Viagra is very high and a lot of people want to try it out. However, a number of them are not willing to pay the full price for the drug and that brings out an excellent opportunity for generic drug manufacturers to launch fake versions of Viagra. You would be surprised to know that Viagra is the most counterfeited drug in the world. It is therefore, extremely important to ensure that you have the original version of the drug launched by Pfizer.

Viagra can be taken by women

Viagra was primarily launched by Pfizer as a treatment drug for erectile dysfunction in men. Studies are still going on to ascertain whether Viagra can play a role in changing the sex lives of women. No conclusive results have been obtained so far and therefore it is not recommended to be used by women.

Efficacy of Viagra is unaffected by the quality of food eaten prior to taking the pill

It is again a popular misconception that one can pop Viagra whenever one is in the mood. According to the physicians, if Viagra is consumed after taking a high-fat meal, its efficiency decreases and it takes longer to act. You should also avoid taking Viagra with grapefruit juice as studies have shown that grapefruit juice reacts adversely with Viagra and might trigger the risk of the side effects associated with the drug.

Alternative Uses Of Viagra

In addition to being used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, Viagra is used to cure a number of conditions commonly unheard of. Some of these are listed below:

Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary Hypertension is a medical condition associated with high blood pressure in the blood vessels going to the lungs. To cure this condition, Viagra, marketed under the name – Revatio is prescribed.

Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a medical condition wherein an exposure to cold triggers a spasm of the arteries that supply blood to fingers and toes. This leads to numbness and paling of the fingers and toes. Viagra has been found to be effective in the clinical trials for treating people affected by this condition.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. A study conducted by the Auburn University suggests that the usage of Viagra may help prevent the neuro-degeneration which is a hallmark of the disease.

Mountain Sickness

Viagra is also known to be useful in curing mountain sickness, by reducing the pulmonary artery pressure, at high altitudes. It thus improves the capability of the human body to exercise even in low oxygen conditions.

Memory and Learning

Here is another fact about Viagra which, I am sure would, surprise many. Researchers at the Auburn University have conducted studies that show that taking Viagra can boost the human mind’s memory and learning skills. It might also be of some help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, in the future.

Viagra helps in increasing the weight of the growing fetus

Clinical trials have shown that administering Viagra on pregnant women can reduce their chances of delivering underweight babies. In cases where the fetus is smaller than it should be for the number of weeks of pregnancy, doctors have found that Viagra increases blood supply to the womb, thereby facilitating more nutrients and oxygen to reach the fetus, in-turn triggering its growth. Viagra acts on the enzyme, PDE-5, which makes blood vessels expand and carry more nutrients to the fetus.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

A group of researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University have found that Viagra can be useful in the treatment of prostate cancer when used in combination with doxorubicin. The drug combination has also been found useful in the treatment of ovarian and stomach cancer.

Reducing the risk of Pre-eclampsia

Researchers have found that Viagra can help in thickening the lining of the womb in women who are facing fertility problems. The drug has been found to considerably lower the risks of pre-eclampsia, a frequent pregnancy complication.