Original and generic Viagra: What Is the Difference?
Viagra! How many emotions, from hopes to ridicule, are associated with this word… By Viagra, the general public mainly understands the widely advertised branded drug against erectile dysfunction produced by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which appeared on the pharmaceutical market back in 1998. Then what is generic Viagra? A few years ago, no one heard about Viagra generics, but don’t think that the problem is your inattention. They simply didn’t exist. The fact is that generics are, in other words, analogues of the original (branded) drug. Pharmaceutical companies received the right to produce them only in 2018, since before that the drug formula of Viagra was under patent protection, and the appearance on the global pharmaceutical market of a drug with an identical composition would be considered a violation of the law. Now, patent protection is no longer valid, and various drug manufacturers from many countries around the world are releasing their own versions of Viagra generics. Some skeptics can’t stop wondering: does generic Viagra work? The answer is very simple: yes, and the vast majority of patients would not be able to determine what kind of pill they are taking: branded Viagra or generic, if they did not see which box it comes from – from an expensive and elegant box with the Pfizer logo, inside which one pill can be found, or from a modest Indian box, inside which there are ten or twenty cherished pills.
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The reason for this is that both the original medicine and any of its generics are based on the same active ingredient – Sildenafil citrate. This chemical compound was artificially synthesized by Pfizer specialists, it was originally planned to be used as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The reason for this was that Sildenafil belongs to the category of selective PDE-5 inhibitors, the main property of which is vasodilation. Sildenafil has indeed been shown to be effective against PAH, but it has a much more significant effect on the circulatory system of the penis, dilating its vessels, which allows the cavernous bodies to fill with blood more efficiently. Thus, there comes a long and strong erection.
Despite the fact that today the main field of application of Viagra is the treatment of erectile dysfunction, drugs based on Sildenafil are also used in the treatment of PAH. In the US, a branded drug with an optimal dosage for PAH patients (20 mg of Sildenafil) is called Revatio, it is also produced by Pfizer. This drug can be used with equal success against ED, but it is not as popular as Viagra, and there are practically no generics of it.
Sildenafil, as a selective PDE-5 inhibitor, realizes its vasodilating effect by increasing the content of cGMP in vascular smooth muscle cells – mainly the vessels of the penis and lungs. This causes them to relax. In patients with pulmonary hypertension, Sildenafil leads to vasodilatation of blood vessels in the lungs and, to a lesser extent, other vessels. If the patient has no problems with pulmonary arterial pressure, then the main effect is on the vessels in the cavernous bodies of the penis.
It doesn’t matter what exactly you choose to take against the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED): Viagra, Revatio or any of their generics. The indications, contraindications, side effects and compatibility with other medications are the same for all these options.
Generic Viagra Dosage
Branded Viagra is available to consumers in dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg. Meanwhile, generics of this drug are also produced in 20 and 200 mg versions (the latter option must be divided into two doses). Traditional pills are taken orally. Orally dispersible softgels can be taken with or without water by placing the tablet on the tongue, whereupon it dissolves quickly and can be swallowed. The tablet should be taken immediately after opening the blister.
It should be borne in mind that the absorption of sildenafil when taken in the form of conventional tablets is significantly slowed down when it is used in combination with fatty foods. However, the absorption of soft tablets is practically not affected by food and its quantity.
For most patients, the recommended dose is 50 mg approximately 1 hour before sexual activity. Based on efficacy and tolerability, the dose may be increased to 100 mg or reduced to 25 mg.
The maximum recommended dose is 100 mg. The maximum recommended frequency of use is once a day.
Generic Viagra Side Effects
Side effects of Viagra generics are mainly caused by the ability of Sildenafil to initiate a small and transient decrease in blood pressure. In some patients, this is not accompanied by clinical symptoms. After taking sildenafil orally at a dose of 100 mg, the maximum decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the supine position averages 8.3 mm Hg. Art. and 5.3 mm Hg. Art. respectively. In patients with systemic arterial hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreases somewhat more pronouncedly. In some patients, approximately an hour after taking sildenafil, mainly at a dosage of 100 mg, a mild and transient impairment of color perception (blue/green) is detected. In most cases, these changes disappear approximately 3 hours after taking the drug. It is believed that color vision impairment is caused by inhibition of PDE-6, which is involved in the process of light transmission in the retina of the eye. Although Sildenafil is a selective PDE-5 inhibitor, it also has some effect on PDE-6, which is involved in the process of light transmission in the retina of the eye. It should be borne in mind that Sildenafil does not affect visual acuity, contrast perception, electroretinography data, intraocular pressure or pupil diameter. In patients with confirmed initial age-related macular degeneration, sildenafil, when taken at a dose of 100 mg, does not cause significant changes in visual functions, in particular, visual acuity. Viagra is contraindicated in patients with anterior non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy and hereditary degenerative diseases of the retina (retinitis pigmentosa). The most common and non-threatening side effects of taking Sildenafil include headache, insomnia, dizziness, tremor of the fingers, redness of the skin of the face, diarrhea, nasal congestion. These adverse reactions usually decrease from the first to subsequent episodes of the drug. Warning side effects include tachycardia, chest pain, and fainting. In such cases, stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor.
Cheap Generic Viagra
As it can be seen, the list is large and very diverse, and almost every one of us is faced with at least one adverse factor. Therefore, it is better not to take it to extremes and start treatment on time so that later there are no deplorable and irreparable consequences.
To date, the safest and most effective way to treat erectile dysfunction of various etiologies is the use of oral PDE-5 inhibitors, the most common of which and the best proven is Viagra. Most urologists recommend starting treatment exactly with this drug. However, it has one significant drawback – it has a high price. Given that in most cases Viagra needs to be taken regularly for quite a long time, the cost of treatment is more than frustrating for the patient’s wallet. It is in connection with this that more and more men are wondering if it is better to buy cheap generic Viagra. This is a well-thought-out solution that will save a significant amount of money without compromising the quality of treatment, because generics are at least two times cheaper than the original medicine. In some cases, you can save up to 90% of the cost compared to branded Viagra!
But why is generic Viagra cost so low? First of all, generic manufacturers use a ready-made drug formula, in the development and testing of which they did not invest their own money, but used a ready-made solution from Pfizer. Secondly, they do not spend money on advertising, and these expenses make up the main share of the costs that the pharmaceutical companies bear. Generic manufacturers, if it can be said so, use the reputation of Viagra that was created before them. Finally, many manufacturers rely on the sale of generics online, entering into mutually beneficial contracts with online pharmacies, which allows increasing sales volumes and reducing the cost of medicines for the end user. Some men are distrustful of generics precisely because of their low price, as if only expensive drugs can be of high quality and safe. However, generic Viagra is safe and reliable exactly to the same extent as its branded prototype from Pfizer. Although generic manufacturers are not required to conduct large-scale clinical trials of their products, no branded drug analogues can enter the pharmaceutical market that have not been certified in accordance with the more than stringent requirements of international and national pharmaceutical regulatory authorities.
Where Can I Buy Generic Viagra?
Viagra generics are the real creations of the XXI century. The most convenient and profitable way to buy them is by placing an order in one or another online pharmacy. The last decade has been marked by an explosive growth in the popularity of online pharmacies of various sizes: from those operating within one city or even part of it to international ones, which carry out deliveries across the oceans. It is important to note that when you decide to buy generic Viagra online, you get access to a much larger range of generics of this drug than what regular pharmacies have.
Buying generic Viagra online, as well as any other means to restore potency from the group of PDE-5 inhibitors, has another advantage that is not always mentioned in the first place. This is an opportunity to buy generic Viagra over the counter without any major obstacles that you may encounter when purchasing this drug in conventional pharmacies. In the United States, any Sildenafil-based drugs are prescription drugs, and a man has to consult an urologist before purchasing them at a regular pharmacy. Often this is not covered by insurance, moreover, more than 80% of men experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction are not ready to talk about it even with unfamiliar specialized doctors. As a result, the patient, instead of being treated and improving the quality of his sexual life, worsens his condition by inaction. If a man knows that he does not have serious concomitant diseases, for example, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, then there is no need to visit a doctor. When ordering online, in most cases, no one is interested in whether you have a coveted prescription or not, especially given the fact that most men prefer to buy Viagra generics in foreign online pharmacies, mainly international ones, where the prescription status of Sildenafil citrate is purely informative. For example, if one is going to buy generic Viagra in a Canadian pharmacy, then after adding the product to the basket, you will need to click on the pop-up window that you are informed about the prescription status of the drug and that you have a prescription. On this, the formalities are considered completed. Some pharmacies require you to provide a scan of your prescription, but this mostly applies to UK pharmacies, which are not very popular with Americans because of their rather high prices. Canadian and Indian generics of Viagra are leading in popularity due to their optimal price-quality ratio.
