Pfizer’s Sildenafil was the first significant erectile dysfunction (ED) drug to hit the market. The availability of generic Viagra is relatively recent. Even though the company’s patent on the well-known ED drug expired in 2020, Pfizer began producing and marketing generic Sildenafil in 2017. The choices for customers immediately increased once other businesses were permitted to sell sildenafil tablets on a legal basis in 2020.

Additionally, Viagra contains trace amounts of inactive substances. These components give the pill its shape and facilitate its absorption by the human body. Furthermore, a buildup of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enzyme, which limits blood flow to the penis and lowers the firmness of an erection, is one of the leading causes of ED. Sildenafil inhibits PDE5, which results in increased blood flow without restriction and a higher chance of erection.

Which companies make generic Viagra?

The benefits of Sildenafil for ED were accidentally discovered by the pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer. The drug’s effectiveness in treating angina or chest discomfort linked to heart disease and high blood pressure was being studied by researchers. They discovered that the drug was particularly good at causing erections. Viagra became the first oral medication mainly prescribed for ED when it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. In 1998, Pfizer was granted the initial Viagra patent, which would expire in 2020. Before the patent ran out in 2013, Pfizer did permit Teva Pharmaceuticals to sell generic Viagra.

Additionally, Pfizer released its version of Viagra under the brand names Greenstone in 2017 and Viatris, created through Upjohn and Mylan’s merger in 2020. Following the patent’s expiration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of generic Viagra by several pharmaceutical companies, including Aptapharma, Appco, Hetero Labs, Mylan, Novitium Pharmaceutical, Reyoung, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Labs, Cambia.

Uses of Generic Viagra

• At a lower dosage, Generic Viagra is used to treat pulmonary hypertension (a condition known for affecting arteries in the lungs and the heart’s right side).
• Generic Viagra is also used to treat Raynaud’s disease (a condition marked by spasms of the arteries in the fingers, especially in the extremities).
• Altitude sickness (discomfort in the body caused by a difficult time adjusting to the lower oxygen pressure at high altitude) is also treated using Generic Viagra.
• It is also used to treat female sexual arousal disorder.
• The generic drug Viagra is intended to relieve blood vessel wall muscles and improve blood flow to specific body parts.

How does it work?

Sildenafil is the medicine that is used to treat ED. In addition, Sildenafil does not treat PH either. It only aids in maintaining blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries. PDE5 inhibitors are the drugs that include Sildenafil. These medications limit PDE enzymes’ ability to degrade cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

This kind of chemical relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout the body, including the blood vessels that support the erection of the penis. By assisting the arteries in relaxing long enough to allow for easier blood filling, sildenafil usage enhances circulation. For most users, Sildenafil enters the system quickly and reaches its highest concentration in about an hour. Generic Viagra has the same blood pressure-lowering properties as other PDE5 inhibitors. If you regularly experience low blood pressure or take blood pressure medication, consult your physician to determine whether using Sildenafil is safe.

Sildenafil doesn’t automatically cause an erection or boost sexual desire. However, there is still a need for sexual stimulation. Sildenafil can, however, make getting an erection easier for most healthy people.

How to use generic Viagra?

Generic ED pills can come in various doses such as 10, 50, 10, 150 or 200 mg. . The recommended dosage may change depending on the patient’s response to treatment and physical condition. Moreover, doctors advise taking generic Viagra an hour before sexual activity because of its quick-acting and short-lived effects.

It can be taken anywhere from 30 to 4 hours before having intercourse. You can take generic Viagra with or without food. If you wish to eat, choose a light meal with low fat content to reduce the onset time of the drug.

People taking certain medications or health issues should first speak with their doctor. For instance, Sildenafil shouldn’t be taken by people taking nitrates- drugs for treating chest pain, since it could lower their blood pressure. Generic Viagra can be taken as needed, but not more than once in 24 hours. Without sexual stimulation or arousal, the medication does not produce an erection.

Avoid taking the pill with grapefruit or juice is crucial. These foods slow down the drug’s breakdown and absorption in the small intestine. A person may then have dangerous quantities of drugs in their blood.

What are generic Viagra side effects?

Side effects from taking generic Viagra include:-

• Headaches
• Warmth or flushing
• Issues with sleep
• Heartburn
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Body and muscle aches
• Sensory issues including tingling or numbness in the limbs, sensitivity to light, and nosebleeds

Serious adverse effects consist of:-

• Vision problems or sudden and acute vision loss
• Hearing loss
• Feeling unsteady or lightheaded
• An uncomfortable or prolonged erection that lasts for over four hours(priapism)
• Dizziness
• Loss of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Itching or burning while urinating, or rash

Dosage and effectiveness of generic Viagra

As a 20 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg pill and in liquid form, generic Viagra (Sildenafil) is a prescription. It is typically taken three times daily. The recommended dosage is 50 mg. However, your doctor may start you off on 25 mg to determine if that is sufficient. A person should take Sildenafil to treat ED, ideally one hour before sexual activity. However, Sildenafil may begin to work as early as 30 minutes before sexual activity and may continue to work for three to four hours after that. Sildenafil typically loses its effects after four hours. The recommended dosage of Sildenafil is one dose per day, maximum.

Interactions

The drug sildenafil can interact negatively with other medicines, alcohol, and even some foods, just like any other medication.

Heart medications and blood pressure

If you use a nitrate drug for angina or high blood pressure, avoid using Sildenafil. Moreover, you are at risk of having a dangerous drop in blood pressure if you take additional drugs for high blood pressure. These consist of Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Diuretics, and blockers of calcium channels.

The following symptoms of low blood pressure are dizziness, headache, and falls or fainting. In addition, your organs may receive less oxygen due to severe blood pressure reductions.

Other ED medicines

You should not combine Sildenafil with any other ED drugs because the combination can reduce blood pressure, leading to fainting, drowsiness, and heart palpitations in certain rare instances.

Alcohol

Together, Sildenafil plus alcohol may result in an excessive drop in blood pressure, so when using Sildenafil, stay away from alcohol.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are the only foods that interact with generic Viagra. These items can increase your body’s sildenafil levels while delaying until the medication starts to work.

P450 Cytochrome

Like grapefruit, cytochrome P450 (CP450) inhibitors and substrates can lengthen the time Sildenafil takes to act and raise your risk of side effects. If used concurrently, Sildenafil’s effects are lessened by CP450 inducers like modafinil.

CP450 drugs consist of cimetidine, clopidogrel, chloramphenicol, fluvoxamine, omeprazole, modafinil.

Conclusion

The medication sildenafil, sometimes known as generic Viagra, is identical to Viagra. Because misuse of certain prescription medications can harm a person’s Health, people should exercise caution when buying and taking them. For example, people can acquire generic Viagra and obtain prescriptions from numerous internet pharmacies and medical facilities. , It’s vital to look for licensed businesses with American addresses to avoid buying Viagra from fraudulent stores. For prescriptions, suggestions, and instructions on using generic Viagra, consult a physician or a telemedicine provider. They may also offer suggestions for other choices.