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What are the efficacy, effects, and side effects of Viagra (Sildenafil)?

Mar 09, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Bai Hongmei
Introduction
In general, Viagra refers to sildenafil citrate tablets. The effects and uses of sildenafil citrate tablets include assisting erection, enhancing rigidity, prolonging erection duration, treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, and improving lower urinary tract symptoms. Side effects may include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, and palpitations. When taking sildenafil citrate tablets, it is essential to strictly follow the physician's instructions.

Generally speaking, Viagra refers to sildenafil citrate tablets. The effects and functions of sildenafil citrate tablets include assisting erection, enhancing hardness, prolonging erection duration, treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, and improving lower urinary tract symptoms. Side effects include headache, facial flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, palpitations, etc. A detailed analysis is as follows:

I. The Effects and Functions of Sildenafil Citrate Tablets

1. Assisting Erection

This medication works by inhibiting PDE5, increasing the level of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, promoting relaxation of smooth muscles in the corpus cavernosum, allowing more blood to flow into the penis, thus helping men achieve an erection under sexual stimulation and resolving difficulties in achieving erection.

2. Enhancing Hardness

The medication enables the penis to achieve greater hardness during erection, allowing full engorgement of the corpus cavernosum, improving erection quality, and facilitating satisfactory sexual intercourse.

3. Prolonging Erection Duration

The medication can maintain an erect state for a longer period, making sexual intercourse smoother, preventing premature detumescence, and improving the duration and quality of sexual activity.

4. Treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Sildenafil citrate tablets can also be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. It can dilate the pulmonary arteries, reduce pulmonary arterial pressure, increase cardiac output, improve patients' exercise capacity and quality of life, and alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath.

5. Improving Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

To some extent, sildenafil citrate tablets may benefit patients with lower urinary tract symptoms accompanied by erectile dysfunction, improving symptoms such as difficulty urinating, possibly related to its effects on smooth muscles in the urethra, bladder, and other areas.

II. Side Effects of Sildenafil Citrate Tablets

1. Headache

Due to the vasodilatory effect of the drug, cerebral blood vessels may dilate, causing changes in intracranial pressure, thus leading to headache, with varying intensity among individuals.

2. Facial Flushing

Sildenafil citrate has a vasodilatory effect throughout the body, not only affecting the blood vessels in the corpus cavernosum but also possibly causing dilation of certain superficial blood vessels, especially the rich capillaries in the face, making flushing more likely.

3. Indigestion

The drug may affect the smooth muscles or nerves of the gastrointestinal tract, interfering with normal digestive and peristaltic functions, possibly causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea.

4. Nasal Congestion

The medication may cause vasodilation within the nasal cavity, leading to nasal mucosal congestion, resulting in nasal obstruction, affecting normal breathing, and causing discomfort to the patient.

5. Palpitations

The drug may cause increased heart rate or abnormal heart rhythm, producing a sensation of palpitations. This is due to the drug's effects on the cardiovascular system, altering cardiac load or electrical activity, which may lead to increased heart rate or irregular rhythm. The severity varies; mild cases may only occasionally feel a rapid heartbeat, while severe cases may require medical intervention.

When taking sildenafil citrate tablets, it is essential to strictly follow medical instructions, adhering to the prescribed dosage and treatment course, and not to adjust the dose or prolong the treatment duration on your own.

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