Every day of every week I open my email client and there are upwards of 20 spam emails trying to sell me Viagra Cialis or Levitra in one way or another.
What are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra and what do they do?
I don’t know any man that has ever needed, thought of or used any of these drugs and it made me wonder why spammers believe every man on the planet either wants or needs them.
What are they and what miracle effect do they promise to convey that makes them the number one spam subject on the planet.
There’s no escaping spam these days.
Even with the best Bayesian filters, updated blacklists and other protection techniques, most of us are still plagued with an endless stream of invitations to buy all sorts of weird and wonderful products.
One of the most common spam subjects is pharmacological products and the most notorious is Viagra or Sildenafil citrate.
Originally designed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are the best drugs available to treat this specifically male problem.
Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are all similar in function but there are differences in each, aside from the simple fact they are produced by different manufacturers.
Viagra – what is it and what is it for?
Viagra was the first and is the brand name for sildenafil citrate, it is made by Pfizer and was approved by the FDA for the treatment of Erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in 1998.
It has been used safely for a number of years and produces good results. Millions of men use it and they take it in tablet form.
Viagra helps a man achieve an erection by stimulating a process that may be inhibited by physicological or biological problems. Viagra does so by blocking a chemical that allows blood to flow out of penile tissues.
A male erection occurs when sexual stimulation causes nerve signals to release hormones that cause the smooth muscle tissue in the penis to relax and engorge with blood. The male erection is sustained when this increased blood flow is retained and the more blood retained then the greater degree of stiffening.
Clinical studies show that nearly 90% of males using Viagra report an improved ability to achieve and sustain erection. For most men Viagra begins working in about half an hour and can continue to be effective for 2-4 hours.
Given that the average male-female sexual encounter lasts around 30 minutes Viagra provides plenty of time for most couples, this according to surveys carried out by the National Opinion Research Center.
Sildenafil has also shown positive results when used for the prevention and treatment of high-altitude pulmonary edema. A condition associated with altitude sickness, which mountain climbers sometimes suffer from.
Viagra tablets are diamond-shaped and blue in color with the name ‘Pfizer’ imprinted on one side, and the dosage, ‘VGR 25’, ‘VGR 50’ or ‘VGR 100’ on the opposite side.
Cialis – what is it and what is it for?
Cialis is manufactured by the Eli Lilly company, and is the brand name for tadalafil. It works in a similar way to Viagra, but the dosage is different.
Prescribed dosages vary from patient to patient, with most taking either 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg. The average Viagra dosage is 50 mg, although 25 mg and 100 mg are available.
Cialis is also marketed as Adcirca for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Like Viagra, Cialis works in about half an hour, but the effects can last for as long as 36 hours after taking the pill. Clinical studies report that the drug is effective for about 78% of those who try it.
Common side effects of tadalafil use are headache, back pain, indigestion, aching muscle, and a stuffy or runny nose.
It is commonly referred to as ‘The Weekend Pill‘ and those who prefer Cialis over Viagra are probably trading slightly lower effectiveness for longer lasting effects.
Levitra – what is it and what is it for?
Levitra is manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and is marketed by Glaxo Smith Kline and Schering-Plough. It is a brand name for the drug vardenafil. Bayer sells vardenafil as Levitra and GSK sells it as Vivanza.
Levitra (vardenafil) is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg doses and is presented as round orange tablets. The normal starting dose is 10 mg which is equivalent to about 50mg of sildenafil.
Vardenafil is intended to be taken 1 to 2 hours before sexual activity and only once a day.
As with Viagra and Cialis, it works by minimizing blood flow away from penile tissues and is intended to be used by men suffering from some form of erectile dysfunction. It has also been shown to be effective in treating premature ejaculation.
Various studies show that Levitra tablets are around 80% effective and effects become apparent within about an hour and like Viagra, it works for about four hours.
Heart attack is a rare but potentially serious side effect of using vardenafil and in rare cases vardenafil may cause priapism, a very painful condition that may lead to impotence.
How do Viagra, Cialis and Levitra Work?
All three of these drugs work in a similar way, and determining which one is best suited to any individual will depend on their personal circumstances.
These will include medical history, erectile dysfunction symptoms and diagnosis for the underlying cause of ED. Their age, general health and other related factors.
Depending on the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction, using Viagra, Cialis or Levitra may require caution.
Men that have recently undergone surgical treatment for prostate cancer will require different treatment to someone who suffers from hypertension. A professional consultation with a health physician is an essential requirement.
Men taking other medications, such as nitrate-based heart medications, should avoid Viagra completely.
- Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all have a long list of potential drug interactions that should be investigated on a case-by-case basis. All three can have side effects, such as interfering with blood pressure.
- Tadalafil, sildenafil, and vardenafil all act by inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme. These drugs also inhibit other PDE enzymes. Sildenafil and vardenafil inhibit PDE6, an enzyme found in the eye. Some sildenafil users see a bluish tinge and have a heightened sensitivity to light because of PDE6 inhibition.
- Sildenafil and vardenafil also inhibit PDE1 which is found in the brain, heart, and vascular smooth muscle. It is thought that the inhibition of PDE1 by sildenafil and vardenafil leads to vasodilation, flushing, and tachycardia.
- Tadalafil inhibits PDE11 which is expressed in skeletal muscle, the prostate, the liver, the kidney, the pituitary gland, and the testes. The effects of PDE11 inhibition are unknown.
Recreational Use and Abuse of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra
As with anything associated with sexual performance various myths surround these drugs and pervade popular culture.
Viagra is widely used for recreational purposes due to the pervading belief that it increases libido, improves sexual performance and can permanently increase penis size.
This wasn’t helped when Viagra was advertised on American TV and endorsed by former United States Senator Bob Dole and the soccer star Pele.
However, studies have shown sexual performance effects are largely placebo effects in users who do not suffer from erectile problems.
Even though sildenafil is only available by prescription from a qualified prescribing doctor, several websites offer Viagra for sale after the simplest online consultation. And, some herbal aphrodisiacs also contain variations or analogs of sildenafil. However none of these has been proven to work and some have been banned.
- Herbal Viagra is often presented as blue tablets imitating the shape and colour of the original Pfizer product and Viagra can also be incorrectly referred to as Vitamin V.
- Other nicknames include ‘the Blue Pill’ and ‘the Blue Diamond’.
Professional athletes have been documented as using sildenafil, believing the opening of blood vessels will enrich their muscles and this will enhance performance.
Prescribed Erectile Dysfunction Solutions and Viagra