The Discovery that Changed Men’s Lives: How Viagra was Discovered

You probably know what the little blue pill does, but do you know what it was originally meant for and how Viagra was actually discovered?

The main compound in Viagra is sildenafil.  Sildenafil was originally developed as a treatment for angina pectoris (heart-related chest pain) and for pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).  It was during the clinical trials for the use of the medication as a heart medication that it was discovered that sildenafil was actually more effective at inducing erections in male patients.

Approved by the FDA in 1998, Viagra was then the first phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor ever to be approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). 

Learn more about erectile dysfunction and medications to treat it.

• Diagnosis and medications to treat erectile dysfunction.
• What is the difference between Viagra and generic sildenafil?
• What is the difference between Levitra and generic vardenafil?
• What is the difference between prescription Cialis and generic tadalafil?