The number of young men turning to Viagra, otherwise known as the blue pill, for sexual performance aid has increased alarmingly. Initially used for treating angina and high blood pressure, Viagra quickly became a household name after its unopposed benefits in solving erectile dysfunction (ED), especially for older males.
Unfortunately, more young males have turned to this pharmaceutical solution, even without age-related erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction in young men isn’t primarily rooted in medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart diseases, which cause the same in old men.
Young men often experience ED due to performance anxiety and lifestyle factors, such as inactivity, excessive alcoholism, gambling and porn addiction.
Easy Access to Over-the-Counter Viagra
One of the many baffling questions for those wondering the reason behind increasing Viagra use among young men is, “Is Viagra sold over the counter?” Essentially, patients should get a prescription to buy Viagra for their use. However, even with these restrictions, there are several consumer-ready over-the-counter formulations.
Should Young Men Take Viagra?
Despite FDA approval, you may wonder if it’s safe for young men to take Viagra in their 20s. Most young men are pressured into taking Viagra because of perceived expectations during sex, which can lead to embarrassment if unmet. Unfortunately, short-term ED can worsen if it stems from psychological issues.
Men can quickly lose an erection if they start having doubts about their performance. As such, young men currently turn to Viagra for assurance and can even take the pills before a night out in anticipation of sex. However, this doesn’t guarantee a stress-free life as such usage tendencies can lead to undesired effects on their health.
What are the Potential Dangers?
Using Viagra at a young age has its fair share of side effects. Among them include:
- Interference with other drugs – Viagra can interfere with other medications, especially those containing nitrates like nitroglycerin, which are used to treat chest pain and hypertension. Interestingly, “poppers” drug, commonly used by gay people to enhance sexual pleasure, also contains nitrates.
- Risk for dependence – Young men risk becoming dependent on Viagra if they start using them early. Such dependence is often not physical. It occurs psychologically and is difficult to overcome. Dependence on Viagra also potentially worsens ED symptoms.
- Fake Viagra pills – Viagra is among the most counterfeited drugs globally. Pfizer estimates that 80% of Viagra pills sold over the counter are counterfeit. These counterfeit drugs contain harmful ingredients, such as boric acid, amphetamines, and blue ink.
- Priapism – is a situation where an erection lasts more than four hours. This occurs when most blood remains in the penis during the erection, limiting the oxygen supply. While priapism isn’t a serious issue, delayed erection (over six hours) can cause necrosis of smooth penis muscles, which affects future erections.
Endnote
Viagra is a safe and effective sexual performance enhancer if used responsibly and sourced legally. However, it can cause complications if used continuously by young men. As such, young men should avoid relying on Viagra and seek alternative treatment options for erectile dysfunction.
