PRINTViagra turns 10
The big day for out favorite ED pill
May 15, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Some of the world’s greatest inventions were unintentional. Frisbees. Post-its. Oh, and Viagra. In testing a drug that might lower blood pressure, Pfizer researchers discovered an eyebrow-raising side effect: Test subjects reported longer-lasting erections. Voila: Viagra. This year, the blue pill celebrates its 10th birthday.
Until Viagra came along, not many alternative treatments existed, says Columbia urologist Stephen Weinstein. Before oral medications, many men with erectile dysfunction (ED) turned to either medications directly injected into the penis or surgery.
But when Viagra first hit the market on March 27, 1998, it was sometimes a hard sell. In the months after its release, some people were skeptical and made claims of dangerous side effects.
One BBC article published in March 1999 reported that 200 people died after taking Viagra; the supposed causes ranging from strokes to heart attacks. (As it turns out, the patients had previous health conditions that caused the deaths). Meanwhile, others were overzealous about its abilities.
But as they say, only time will tell. And time did. According to Pfizer, men in 26 studies reported a 104 percent increase in their ability to maintain an erection. Plus, Weinstein says it’s generally safe — even for those who take the pill recreationally. As for those recreational users, it’s tougher, but not impossible, to get their hands on the drug. “Some people can go on the Internet and get it in an illegal way,” says Dr. Rick Holm, a doctor of internal medicine in South Dakota, “but primarily it is a prescription that is provided by physicians.”
Another not-so-minor issue has plagued the penis-pumping drug. When Viagra was first flying off the shelves, insurance companies were pretty quick to cover the drug. This is in stark contrast to the lack of coverage for female contraceptives. This double standard left women, well, screwed.
According to Michelle Trupiano, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood in Missouri, there are companies across the country that cover Viagra but refuse to cover birth control. “Fortunately, here in Missouri we do have the Contraceptive Equity Law,” Trupiano says. “If they cover a medication, they have to cover contraception.”
Today, Viagra is bigger than ever. Since its birth, 35 million men in 120 countries have taken the pill. One article says about six Viagra tablets are taken each second. But Viagra is facing some tough competitors like Cialis and Levitra, which Weinstein says are slightly more effective, though more expensive.
Needless to say, Viagra has proved its lasting ability. But while Pfizer has explored the idea of a little pink pill for the ladies, there are no official reports yet of a female version. “Sexuality is something to be enjoyed when done in a healthy, safe manner,” says Trupiano. “I feel like both men and women should deserve equal pleasure. Viagra’s done its job in the past 10 years, but it still has some work to do.”
