Long-Term Perspectives of Extended Viagra Use
Being invented accidently, it has become the leader in the market in all countries of the world. In some countries, it is the leader of the entire medical market and not only amongst ED treatments. This is a powerful preparation, which brings positive alterations for all men who experience problems with their erection. Undoubtedly, such strong affection may possibly induce some health complications. One of the most popular questions about the uses of Generic Viagra is its stability and safety while a long-termed usage.
Actually, this is a very complicated question and no physician would tell you a one hundred percent sure answer. Though this popular preparation is in usage for more than 18 years, there is no experience of really durable implementation. This makes the answer to this vital question practically impossible. The experts can only assume the possible outcomes of extended Viagra use.
Definitely, the very first thing that should be taken into account is safety of implementation of Viagra. There is no secret that there are reports about adverse effects from Generic Viagra. Of course, in most cases they are not serious and lasting. Severe adverse effects occur only if using this preparation inappropriately. Nevertheless, such possibility does exist. Consequently, it is necessary to figure out which consequences will happen after prolonged usage of this product. Most experts believe that there may take place really dangerous effects. Such thought is so popular due to the fact that the drug is supposed to affect the entire organism for long time.
In addition, one should make allowances for causes that lead to harmful events. There may be different factors that also play their role in causing damage to the organism. Some of the effects will be immediate. In the meanwhile, some other may develop very slowly and appear in some months or even years after the implementation of the drug. The examinees may even not know that the cause of all their health problems is prolonged usage of Viagra. It is necessary to consider all other factors, which can lead to undesired effects. This makes such usage really complex and hazardous.
The experts think that among the most serious adverse effects induced by extended usage of Viagra may be pains and inflammation processes in joints, bone loss, problems with hearing (that can lead to complete loss of hearing), visionary complications and anemia. Additionally, there will be a double risk for all examinees who have already had complications with cardiovascular system.
There is also a possibility of harm to the reproductive system. Though this drug was initiated to overcome problems exactly in this system, prolonged affection of Viagra may decrease libido levels and even cause genital shrinkage.
Another essential point in this issue is effectuality of treatment. It goes without saying that many men wish to maintain their potency as long as they can. Nevertheless, there are no guarantees that the effectuality of prolonged treatment would not lose its power within durable and constant usage. It may do more harm than good.
Under condition, some men would not be afraid to undergo such dangerous experiment they must be continuously supervised by an expert. There should be made allowances of all possible risk factors and the examinees must undergo regular checkups at hospital.
The officials have to regulate this process as well. If anyone wishes to try such implementation, the officials have to be aware of this experiment and take control. Notwithstanding, there are no reports about such lasting usage of Viagra. Accordingly, no expert would ever advice you using it for extended treatment.
Special Investigation
Wayne J. G. Hellstrom, MD, FACS has answered this question from his point of view. Erectile dysfunction is the inability for having and holding healthy and strong erection. The reasons for this disease are different. However, since the implementation of Viagra, this problem does not seem so problematic. Thanks to its effects, there is no need surgical implantation, different painful injections, transurethral insertions of vasoactive agents, or usage of vacuum tumescence devices. In accordance to the studies of ED treatment with Sildenafil (the main ingredient of Viagra). Regardless of various etiologies, one year controlled studies proved the dependability of this active substance.
However, the question about long-termed usage was left unanswered. El-Galley and colleagues published a report in the year 2001. About 17% of examinees discontinued the treatment with this inhibitor after 2 years due to obvious lack of effectuality. Nevertheless, the investigated cases were few. Approximately 50% of all participants did not answer the calls about the effectuality of the treatment.
Afterwards, the scientists conducted a 3-year-termed study. The results were pretty promising. About 71% of all examinees still had an excellent response to the treatment. They required the same dose with which they have started. The rest 29% stopped the usage of Sildenafil thanks to lack of effectuality or due to the return of spontaneous erections. Most experts believe that loss of effectiveness of Viagra treatment is not associated with tachyphylaxis, but with the development of organic ailments from associated comorbidities and process of aging.
More recent research used the cultured rat cavernosal smooth muscle cells. There was a sufficient improvement. There have been given high dosages of Sildenafil for not less than 7 days. In such way, the scientists agreed that this active substance is really safe and efficacious. Nevertheless, it is necessary to intake only normal clinical dosages and appropriate frequency of administration.
The researchers are going to conduct another clinical trial concerning the tachyphylaxis effect for chronic implementation of PDE5 inhibitors. Special attention will be paid to the agents with lasting half-lives.
Novel Research
The scholars have conducted another trial, which involved Viagra. Its objective was to figure out safety and effectiveness of Sildenafil, as well as the post-treatment effects after withdrawal of the drug in examinees with erectile dysfunction. There has been conducted an open-label treatment, which had flexible dosages. Thus, the scholars changed the given doses depending on definite factors. These were age of the participants, health conditions, tolerance to the influence of the inhibitor, severity of the disease and other cases.
The tested substance | Sildenafil citrate |
Problems that led to ED | Psychogenic or combination of organic and psychogenic aetiology |
The duration of the trial | 16 weeks |
Method of dosage | Open-label |
The number of participants | 233 men |
Given doses | From 10 to 100 mg |
Frequency of usage | Once per day, about an hour before sexual intercourse |
Positive response to the treatment | 93% of all participants |
Discontinuation of the treatment due to lack of efficacy in the course of trial | 12% of all participants |
There has been also conducted the double-blind phase. It also showed great improvements in men erectile functioning. The results were even greater than while the previous phase. Nonetheless, the scholars returned to the previous method of treatment. More intensive and high dosing showed some adverse reactions.
The common adverse reactions were flushing in 7%, headaches in 6%, and dyspepsia in 5% of all cases. There were 192 participants. 90% completed the study and were pretty satisfied with the received outcomes. Only 1% of all participants stopped the administration of Sildenafil due to absence of effectuality. The final outcomes showed that both aetiology groups slightly endure the affection of Sildenafil while brief and prolonged course of treatment. This gives great hopes for really lasting usage of this preparation.
Nevertheless, the most durable period of taking Viagra was 3 years. This is still not enough to build some firm conclusions. There is a possibility that treatment that is more lasting will lose effectiveness and will even increase potential risks. The future conductions will find that out.