Viagra Hazards

Viagra hazards have been widely discussed since this drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998. However, the controversy began since its development two years before, when Pfizer's chemists developed the compound UK-92,480, a synthesized form of Sildenafil.

A medication that formerly was intended to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), suddenly was found to induce penile erections. However, Viagra's active ingredient was never associated to PAH or ischaemic cardiovascular disease, since the drug was introduced and marketed as a treatment for male erectile dysfunction (ED).

Today, further studies on the biological mechanism of Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient of Viagra, have revealed a number of problems that men should be aware of. Viagra hazards are increased for those men who are taking medicines containing nitrates, such as nitroglycerin for chest pain, but many try to anyway obtain the drug after the doctor advices them to discontinue this medication.

Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor for the PDE5 enzyme produced in the penis during sexual activity. This enzyme promotes longer erections, but may cause discomfort during sex, including nausea or chest pain. As a prescription drug, only your doctor can recommend dosage and frequency of every intake, usually once a day, every 24 hours.

Citrate salt of sildenafil is also a compound that grew hazard concerns after its increasing popularity that lead to inadequate controls over distribution in the United States, and later around the world. Viagra came to be sold has over-the-counter medication in online pharmaceuticals, mailing catalogs or phony drugstores.

Unscrupulous wholesalers make no difference between healthy patients and those whose cardiovascular problems make them at risk with the use of Viagra. More Viagra hazards have been occurring since 2003, when New York police agents seized more than 25,000 fake Viagra pills made in India and China. Other Viagra cargo was found legit but expired and repackaged with fake labels reprinted with new expiration dates. Every year, more and more scams on Viagra have be found, including generic drugs which are sold rebranded under Pfizer's name.

Adulterated drugs from Canada and Mexico are overtaking the markets, while the Food and Drug Administration just declared that "If you buy drugs from outside the U.S., the FDA does not know what you are getting, and your safety cannot be assured."

And if you dig deeper into Viagra hazards, you will find terrorism involved as well. The FBI found that terrorist organizations located in the Middle East sold this and other drugs over the Internet, usually undercover as Canadian pharmacies.