Viagra is more widely available in America than ever, and with the rise of telehealth platforms that allow a man to easily and discretely receive a prescription for the little blue pill online – younger men are also using the drug more than ever.
The drug, which has been manufactured by pharma-giant since it first hit the market in 1998, was initially for older men dealing with erectile dysfunction. It’s use among young men has grown in recent years as well, though, as rates of mild to moderate erectile dysfunction have reached up to 20 percent among men in their 20s and 30 percent among those in their 30s, according to
Younger men may feel reservations about approaching their doctor about the issue, though.
This has led to the rise of companies like Hims, Lemonaid and Roman, which allow a person to quickly get a prescription for the drug after an online consultation.
While the drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration () and deemed ok for proper use by regulators it – like all drugs – can be dangerous if misused.
It can cause a priapism, where a person has a erection that lasts for hours and causes permanent damage to the penis. It also has a few dangerous interactions with drugs for high cholesterol.
Here is everything you need to know about the drug:
The ‘little blue pill’ is growing in popularity in the U.S., especially among younger people for which the drug was not designed for.
Up to one-in-five American men in their 20s suffer from mild or moderate erectile dysfunction (file photo)
The drug was approved in the US and EU in 1998, branded as Viagra, and became one of the fastest selling drugs of all time
WHAT IS IT?
Most men occasionally struggle to get or keep an erection due to stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol.
The National Institutes of Health reports that around 30 million men have erectile dysfunction, with it being most common among the elderly. It can be caused by high blood pressure or cholesterol, hormone problems or side effects from medication.
Some younger men also suffer from ‘performance anxiety’, where mental distractions and other issues have give them trouble getting or maintaining an erection.
Medicines containing sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, are often used to treat the condition. It expands blood vessels and boosts blood flow to the genitals.
Viagra was originally developed by Covid vaccine manufacturer Pfizer in 1989, with hopes that sildenafil citrate could treat high blood pressure.
But clinical trials in Wales a few years later saw men report an unusual side effect —they got more erections while taking the medication.
The drug was approved in the US and EU in 1998, branded as Viagra, and became one of the fastest selling drugs of all time.
Hims, Roman and Lemonaid are among a spate of companies that has risen in recent years to allow for easier access to ED drugs
WHERE CAN YOU GET IT?
The drug is available in the U.S.
via prescription. Usually, a script will be written by a man’s primary care physician that they can then fill at a pharmacy.
Online pharmacies and telehealth providers have allowed many to circumvent part of the process, though. Men can get prescription Viagra, or competitors like Cialis and Stendra from online providers.
These include Hims, Menang189 Lemonaid and Roman among others.
While the companies are operating totally legally, some are asking for more regulation.
Firms like Hims allow for a person to access the prescription drugs easily, with physicians often willing to write a prescription after a quick online consultation.
‘These are lifestyle drugs, and they have potentially serious adverse effects, and this seems like too casual a way to be obtaining them,’ Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman, a pharmacology professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
told the Associated Press in 2019.
The UK’s National Health System (NHS) also warns against obtaining the drugs through online pharmacies.
‘[Online medicines] are not always regulated and the ingredients in them can vary from one pack to another.
They can cause unpleasant side effects or may not be suitable for you,’ the agency writes.
‘It’s best to see your doctor before buying medicines online. They know your medical history and can discuss whether you might benefit from treatment.’
Viagra was originally cooked up by Covid vaccine manufacturer Pfizer in 1989, with hopes that sildenafil citrate could treat high blood pressure
WHO CAN USE IT?
Most men over 18 may take the drug to treat erectile dysfunction, but adults and children (one year old and over) may also take the drug for pulmonary hypertension.
However, experts advise that it is not suitable for everyone, including individuals with serious heart or liver problems, recent stroke or heart attack victims and people with low blood pressure.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
Common side effects may include headaches, hot flushes, nausea, indigestion, dizziness and a stuffy nose.
More serious possible side effects are painful erections (especially if they last for more than two hours), seizures and chest pain.
An allergic reaction is also possible, alongside any listed in the leaflet which comes with your medicine.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox health floatRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-a99efad0-14e8-11ed-8758-b94cf6519ee5" website Viagra use has grown in men under 30!
