Generic Viagra History

While many pharmaceutical products are developed in a sterile laboratory environment with little surprises, generic Viagra has a much more storied history. The development and subsequent rise of this erectile dysfunction drug has changed the way scientists and doctors think about medication as a whole and the general condition of erectile dysfunction. Prior to the year of 1983, most experts concluded that ED was largely a mental disorder and that the only way to correct the issue was through cognitive therapy that addressed the patient’s thought patterns and the possible reasons behind the condition. However, these ideas would soon be changed by the appearance of generic Viagra.

At the American Urological Association convention of 1983 in Las Vegas, Dr. Giles Brindley had a surprise prepared for the attendees. He presented a novel way to achieve an erection, much to the astonishment of the crowd at hand. His following discourse explained the difference between different types of muscle in the body and that the flow of blood to smooth muscle is an involuntary response. The drug, phentolamine, which would later be the stepping stone for generic Viagra, relaxed these smooth muscles and allowed improved blood flow. At this time, the injections became the only medical option for ED sufferers until another breakthrough happened.

During the clinical trials for the medication, it failed to produce stellar results. However, there was one unexpected benefit – men with ED who participated in the study found that they were able to achieve erections after taking the medication. Further investigation found that generic Viagra responded to a specific enzyme found in the penis of a man. The PDE5 enzyme was inhibited, thus leaving cGMP to release tension in the smooth muscles, with the direct result that more blood flowed into the penis. This discovery was quite dramatic and developers immediately shifted the course of generic Viagra to be aimed at ED patients.

With the introduction of generic Viagra into the market in 1998, success happened almost overnight. An aggressive marketing campaign raised public awareness that ED was a treatable condition and demand for generic Viagra grew at a tremendous rate. Men began touting the results and the stigma of ED began to vanish. Even presidential candidate Bob Dole endorsed use of generic Viagra. With so much praise, generic Viagra became a worldwide sensation. Because of this success, many other pharmaceutical companies decided that they wanted a piece of the pie and began introducing generic forms.

Cialis and Levitra were the next two ED medications to hit the market and while they were successful, Viagra continued to remain at the top of the list for ED patients, with only one major problem. The price of branded Viagra was quite high, meaning that the financial viability of the product was an obstacle for many potential patients and insurance companies frequently denied reimbursement for the drug. To combat the high prices, internet pharmacies began to offer generic Viagra at significantly reduced prices. Marketed under various names, such as Zenegra, Edegra, and Silagra, the internet pharmacies began receiving orders from across the world.

The history of generic Viagra continues to expand as more and more uses have been found for the medication. In addition to erectile dysfunction, generic Viagra is also currently being used to treat chronic pulmonary hypertension as well as aiding in altitude sickness. Studies are also being done to evaluate how generic Viagra can be used to reduce jet-lag recovery times and even to encourage breeding in rare animal species.