Is Viagra a Stimulant?
Common Misconceptions About Erectile Dysfunction Medications Busted
Viagra, Cialis, and other erectile dysfunction pills are under a class of medications called PDE-5 inhibitors.
These erectile medications work by relaxing the muscles inside the penis and providing better flow within the arteries. This process helps more blood reach the penis so you’re more likely to get a sustained erection when aroused. These medications use the combination of increased blood flow and the relaxation of the area to help fill the penis with blood, which is why they only work in conjunctions with arousal.
Taking the medication on an empty stomach is recommended so that it starts to work within an hour. However, people can take it anywhere from 1–4 hours before sexual activity (in some cases, 30 minutes is enough). The effects can last anywhere between 4–8 hours, but this is often a misunderstood biological process. Since the medication works along with your arousal, it doesn’t mean you’ll have a sustained erection for hours on end. In fact, if you do have an erection lasting more than a few hours it’s considered a medical emergency (priapism) and can even cause damage in some cases. Underlying medical conditions may also be risk factors for priapism, which is why talking to a doctor and taking these medications as prescribed is essential. There are also potential side effects, like with any medication, which is why I don’t recommend taking these medications without a healthcare professional’s input.
People often are under the misconception that Viagra is a stimulant, or that it will immediately cause a sustained erection. These misconceptions can lead to people believing that we can stimulate our bodies enough for an erection to be sustained- or that recreational drugs can replace them. However, many recreational drugs are actually vasoconstrictors- meaning they’ll do the opposite of Viagra and restrict blood flow to the penis.
PDE5 stands for “phosphodiesterase type-5”, an enzyme created by the body that affects erectile function. By inhibiting or slowing down PDE-5 another compound that relaxes muscles and widens blood vessels can do its job, resulting in erections.
Viagra might not work for you if you have underlying conditions, but also if you’re too tired or under the influence of other drugs or alcohol. Certain stimulants or alcohol might even make the side effects worse and might also make your erectile dysfunction worse. Mixing viagra or any PDE-5 inhibitor with other drugs can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, and some antiviral medications may lead to drug toxicity.
There is another common misconception that only older people deal with erectile dysfunction, but that isn’t the case. Many people are faced with the challenge of erectile dysfunction due to depression or anxiety, pelvic tightness, overactive enzymes, or other medications. Healthcare professionals will ask you a few questions to see if a PDE inhibitor is right for you, as this is such a common experience for a variety of ages and circumstances, you can work together to find a solution that works for you.
Purchasing Viagra or other ED drugs online or outside of a pharmacy can be quite dangerous, it’s one of the most commonly counterfeited drugs! These fake ED pills can contain compounds like amphetamines or antibiotics that could make your ED worse. Bottom line: if you’re embarrassed to ask your doctor about erectile dysfunction medication, consider that it could be even more embarrassing to end up in the emergency room due to ingesting a counterfeit medication and putting yourself in danger when the desired outcome was a sustained erection.
As previously mentioned, there could also be psychological reasons for erectile dysfunction. If a PDE-5 inhibitor isn’t working, check out resources for sex therapy. For some people, pelvic tightness or injury is the main issue for decreased blood flow to the penis, so pelvic floor physical therapy or massage might work great in conjunction with your doctor’s recommendations.
