Viagra - the versatile erectile pill

Viagra is arguably the most popular, best selling pharmaceutical drug of all time and one that is not just used for what it was intended. Viagra was initially developed as an angina treatment, a condition affecting the heart whereby the blood vessels restrict. It had simply been named; UK92480.

The manufacturer of the drug; Pfizer had originally been searching for a medication that would serve to relax the blood vessels although initial trials had proven fruitless.

The drugs giant had been about to throw in the towel when researchers observed a series of extraordinary side effects, namely harder, larger erections. The senior Scientist; Chris Wayman, then began to conduct a series of tests, using a replica of the male body.

The tests involved a number of test tubes, containing an inert solution. A sample of penile tissue, was added to each. The tissue was extracted from an impotent male. Each tissue sample was then tested using a box, designed to send electrical impulses through the issue. The electric current served to replicate the process of sexual arousal. The initial tests appeared to show no results, although once he added Viagra to the tissue, the blood vessels in the penis seemingly relaxed, much in the same way an erection would occur.

“What was amazing about this study was that we saw a restoration of the erectile response. Now we were on to something which could only be described as special" says Wayman.

Viagra, making bold moves

Previous to 1998, there had been no oral solution for erectile dysfunction and the revolutionary treatment quickly led the way for impotence treatments. The previous options had included injections, and intrusive surgical procedures. However, to date, Viagra is now one of the most prescribed ED treatments in history.