Viagra: Simple & Fast to Potency Medication

For an erection to occur, blood vessels in the penis must expand so that more blood can flow in. Sildenafil belongs to the group of so-called PDE-5 inhibitors: It supports the widening of blood vessels in the penis when sexual arousal is present. Without arousal, Viagra does not cause an erection.

How quickly does Viagra work?

• The effect usually begins after about 30–60 minutes.
• The effect typically lasts several hours, which does not mean a „permanent erection“. It means: within this time window, an erection can occur more easily with arousal.

The original preparation is called Viagra. The central active ingredient is sildenafil (usually as sildenafil citrate). In addition to the original, there are generics with the same active ingredient sildenafil. These generally work comparably, but may differ in excipients, tablet size, or price. Depending on medical suitability, we also prescribe other active ingredients from the same drug class, such as vardenafil, avanafil, and tadalafil.

Erectile dysfunction usually does not have „the one“ cause. Often, several factors interact. Typical triggers for erectile dysfunction are:

Physical Factors

• Circulatory problems (e.g., high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis)
• Diabetes
• Obesity, lack of exercise
• Smoking, high alcohol consumption
• Hormonal causes (e.g., testosterone deficiency)

Medications

• Certain blood pressure medications
• Diuretic medications
• Antidepressants (depending on the preparation)

Psychological Factors

• Stress, overwork, lack of sleep
• Performance anxiety, fear of „failing“
• Relationship conflicts, lack of communication

Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of cardiovascular problems. Therefore, a medical assessment is often useful even if you „only“ want a prescription.

With increasing age, blood circulation, hormone balance, and recovery capacity change. Therefore, it can be more common for erections to be less spontaneous or less stable.

Nevertheless, „it's just old age“ is not automatically the best explanation.

You should see a doctor particularly if:

• the problems occur regularly over several months,
• you have pain,
• additional symptoms appear (e.g., shortness of breath, chest pain during exertion),
• you have relevant pre-existing conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes),
• you are taking medications that could have an influence.

Precisely because Viagra and similar agents are not safe for everyone, a thorough medical clarification is crucial.

Medications can help with erectile dysfunction. However, the effect is often significantly better if you simultaneously adjust a few simple things in everyday life. Below you will find quick and simple measures that help many men:

• Prioritize sleep: Little sleep lowers stress tolerance and can affect libido and erection.
• Reduce alcohol: Small amounts can disinhibit, too much often has a clearly negative effect.
• Reduce or stop nicotine: Smoking worsens vascular function.
• More exercise: Even regular walks and 2–3 short training sessions per week can have a positive effect.
• Take off pressure: The more „it has to work now“, the harder it becomes.
• Talk to your partner: An open conversation often removes enormous pressure.

These points do not replace a medical assessment, but they often improve the starting situation within a few weeks.

A doctor usually issues a prescription if:

• erectile dysfunction is likely,
• there are no medical reasons against it,
• taking it is considered safe given your pre-existing conditions and medications.

Possible exclusion criteria and risks are particularly important. For example, Viagra must not be taken together with nitrates or other so-called NO donors (including „poppers“). Nitrates are medications often used for chest pain (angina pectoris) (e.g., nitroglycerin). NO donors are active ingredients or substances that release nitric oxide (NO) and thus widen blood vessels. In combination with Viagra, blood pressure can drop dangerously low, leading to a life-threatening situation.

Even with certain cardiovascular diseases, sexual activity itself may not be medically recommended. In such cases, Viagra is also not suitable and should only be used after medical clarification.

The costs mainly depend on whether you use the original Viagra preparation or a generic with sildenafil, which dosage and package size you need, and the conditions under which the pharmacy sells it. As a rough guide, Viagra often costs between approximately CHF 90 and CHF 200, depending on the package. Sildenafil generics are in many cases significantly cheaper and can start at around CHF 35 depending on the package. If the price is important to you, a suitable generic can be a sensible option to save costs.

In Switzerland, Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra for erectile dysfunction generally require a prescription, but are usually not covered by basic health insurance because they are not on the specialty list. This means: in most cases, you pay for Viagra or sildenafil yourself.

Whether supplementary insurance covers part of the costs depends on the respective contract. Often, no reimbursement is provided there either. If you are unsure, it is worth a quick look at your policy or a direct inquiry with your insurance company.

Viagra is not the only option. Commonly used active ingredients are:

• Sildenafil (Viagra and generics)
• Tadalafil (Cialis and generics)
• Vardenafil (Levitra and generics)
• Avanafil (e.g., Spedra)

These medications mainly differ in duration of action and onset of action. Which option is suitable depends heavily on your daily life, your expectations (e.g., „planability“ vs. longer window of effect), and your health.

If PDE-5 inhibitors are not suitable or not sufficiently effective, there are other forms of therapy (e.g., local active ingredients such as alprostadil or mechanical aids). However, this must be individually medically clarified.

Like any medication, Viagra can have side effects. Common ones include:

• Headaches
• Facial flushing/feeling of warmth
• Blocked nose
• Digestive problems
• Dizziness
• Temporary visual disturbances (e.g., altered color perception)

Important warning signs for which you should seek immediate medical help:

• Chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath
• Sudden (partial) vision loss or hearing loss
• A painful erection or an erection lasting longer than 4 hours

Very important: Do not take Viagra together with nitrates/NO donors (incl. „poppers“).

Always honestly state which medications you take regularly, whether you have cardiovascular diseases, or whether you have ever had problems with blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, or eye problems.

Many myths circulate around the „blue pill“.

Myth 1

Many expect Viagra to automatically increase libido. This is not the case: Viagra does not increase libido, but only supports erection when sexual arousal is present.

Myth 2

Also on the topic of dosage: More is not better. A dose that is too high usually does not make the effect „stronger“, but increases the risk of side effects. The appropriate dosage should therefore be individually determined by a doctor.

Myth 3

Ordering potency medication online without a prescription sounds convenient, but is often risky. Illegal offers can contain counterfeit preparations, be incorrectly dosed, or contain undeclared active ingredients.

Important: You should only take Viagra after medical clarification, have the appropriate dosage determined by a doctor, consistently avoid dangerous combinations (e.g., with nitrates), and obtain the medication exclusively through a reputable channel with a prescription from the pharmacy.

These articles are for informational purposes only and may not be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. They are not a substitute for personal medical advice and treatment. Medgate has carefully compiled the information, but cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the information. Medgate assumes no liability for damages that may arise from the use of this information. Are you sick and need help? Our doctors are available to you around the clock via the Medgate App.