Title: 
Viagra: Worth The Risks?

Word Count:
563

Summary:
Viagra is among the most commonly used remedies for sexual impotence, even though there are several possible side effects. Most of these effects are rare and are only a problem if the recommended dose is exceeded. However, there is yet no data on the long-term, latent effects the drug has.


Keywords:
sexual impotence, psychological impotence, side effects


Article Body:
When one speaks of a medical solution for the problem of sexual impotence, most people think of the “wonder drug” called Viagra. Originally intended to help people with heart ailments, the drug has rapidly become the stereotypical “poison of choice” for men who experience erectile dysfunction, whether due to physiological or psychological impotence. Viagra has proven itself to be the most popular and most effective drug for men who wish to fight sexual impotence. This is despite all the negative stereotypes and cultural biases against men who need “outside interference” to achieve a proper, lasting erection.  However, as with all medications,Viagra can have some unwanted side effects when used.

For various reasons, it can be difficult to ascertain just how many men are taking Viagra. Culture, social expectations, and the fragility of the male ego all play a part in making it difficult to ascertain just how large a percentage of the male population experiences sexual or psychological impotence. However, there are statistics already out for the part of the population that has opened up about this problem. After all, there are cases when sexual impotence is merely an outcrop of a larger problem. For that part of the equation, the latest numbers show that a variable percentage of all known Viagra users suffer from side effects. A test was conducted to see the most likely problems connected with the drug, and the results have recently been recognized as valid.

According to the study, about 3% of all Viagra users are likely to develop some sort of urinary tract infection. Due to the combined excretory and sexual functions of male genitalia, this is an understandable problem. Headaches and feeling lightheaded were more frequent, coming in at about 16% of the total population of known users. This was presumably due to the increased flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which may cause some circulatory systems to decrease blood flow to the brain. The same people who reported this also occasionally reported a general sense of instability in the lower extremities, though these subsided as the effects of the drug wore off. A few also reported nasal congestion being a problem. Note that these results are all short-term. No studies have been put underway to determine if there are any long-term effects to continued use of Viagra.

The size of the dose also appears to play a role in what side effects manifest. Small doses (100mg or less) caused only minor problems, according to the study. For that size of dosage, the most common effects were dyspepsia and minor vision problems. It should be noted that these minor problems occur only within the recommended dosage range. All other effects manifested once the recommended dose was exceeded. Of course, this is not all that unusual, as all medications cause adverse effects if a person takes more than the recommended or prescribed dosage.

According to recent clinical trials, some of the negative effects attributed to Viagra are of an uncertain origin. The clinical trials could not effectively eliminate all other medications from the possible factors and lacked the sufficient evidence to completely disprove that Viagra caused the problem. The current consensus is that Viagra is a safe drug to use but, like most other medications on the market, some people may have a personal biochemistry that is not compatible with the drug's components or effects.