Sildenafil and Erectile Dysfunction
Sildenafil (more widely known as the active ingredient in Viagra™) is a drug used to treat men who have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a common condition that affects 1/3 of men worldwide and over half of the men above the age of 40. We describe it as the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity.
The pharmaceutical company Pfizer created Viagra™ in 1998. Until 2013, they were the only company allowed to produce Sildenafil medications for the purpose of treating ED, legally. After their patent expired in 2013, other companies began to distribute their generic version.
Sildenafil belongs to a category of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, also used to treat pulmonary hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It works by relaxing the blood vessels’ muscles and improving the blood flow to the penis following sexual stimulation.
In other words, Sildenafil can increase your chances of having a harder and longer-lasting erection but won’t cause an erection unless you’re sexually aroused.
The chewable tablets prescribed through the BlueChew.com portal use the same active ingredient (Sildenafil) used in the FDA-approved prescription drug Viagra™, which is sold in a pill form.
