V.Med Viagra 100

In eliciting its mechanism of action, sildenafil ultimately prevents or minimizes the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by inhibiting cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) 11,12,13,14,15,16,8,9. The result of doing so allows cGMP present in both the penis and pulmonary vasculature to elicit smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation that subsequently facilitates relief in pulmonary arterial hypertension and the increased flow of blood into the spongy erectile tissue of the penis that consequently allows it to grow in size and become erect and rigid 11,12,13,14,15,16,8,9.

Interestingly enough, it is precisely via this mechanism why sildenafil was at first researched as a potential treatment for angina – or chest pain associated with inadequate blood flow to the heart – before being serendipitously indicated for treating erectile dysfunction in the late 1980s 7. Nevertheless, it is because of this mechanism that sildenafil is also indicated for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension but is also additionally notorious for interacting with various anti-anginal or anti-hypertensive agents to develop potentially rapid, excessive, and/or fatal hypotensive crises 4,5,6.

Regardless, sildenafil, among a variety of other similar or related PDE5 inhibitors, has become a common and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction and since its formal approval for medical use in the public in 1998 7, continues to see millions of prescriptions written for it internationally. Although the medication has historically been most popularly recognized as Pfizer’s brand name Viagra, sildenafil is currently available generically and even as a non-prescription over the counter medication in some countries 10.

Molecular Structure