Viagra medications are used for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) problems in men. These pills are composed of Sildenafil, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Viagra is the first-of-its-kind medicine that was approved by the FDA for use in treating erectile dysfunction or impotence issues in men.
They are effective medicines and because it has acquired approval from the FDA, these are branded pills. Viagra is a brand-name version of Sildenafil. Due to their promising effects, these pills are very expensive and not affordable to all. This is why, people wonder whether Viagra is covered by insurance.
To answer that, most insurance companies do not cover Viagra or other erectile dysfunction medications. Viagra pills are too pricey and healthcare insurers do not have such costly drugs on their list. When it comes to medical treatment, diagnostic evaluation tests, medications, etc. are covered under different policies that too under different circumstances.
Some insurers might be providing coverage on Viagra along with certain urology medications. They might cover certain prescription medications including Viagra. To confirm this, you must speak to your insurance service provider. However, most insurance companies do not provide coverage for Viagra and similar drugs. During such cases, one can switch to Viagra alternatives or a generic version of Viagra, which can be easily affordable by all.
Viagra generics
Viagra is a brand-name version of Sildenafil, which is classified under the category of PDE5 inhibitors. Sildenafil is a clinically proven component, which produces the same effects as Viagra. It works by increasing the blood flow to the penile organ. It triggers the release of nitric oxide (NO) in the endothelial walls of the penile blood vessels and blocks the action of PDE5 enzymes that prevent the blood flow in the penile by constricting the blood vessels.
PDE5 inhibition stimulates NO release, which expands the blood vessels by causing vasodilation, which overcomes constrictions and allows more blood to flow inside the penile blood vessels. An increase in the blood flow inside the penile improves the erection function.
Sildenafil drugs are the cheaper alternative to Viagra. They also produce identical results as Viagra, because Viagra contains sildenafil as its active component. The only difference is that Viagra is a brand-name version of sildenafil and is regulated, while Sildenafil is unregulated and hence not considered trustworthy.
Viagra effectiveness
The effects of a Viagra and Sildenafil pill may last for around 3 to 4 hours after intake. After 4 hours, the effectiveness of the medicine starts declining and after a few hours, the medicinal residue gets completely eliminated and flushed out by the body.
Side effects of Viagra
ED medications are the most effective remedy for impotence issues, but it is necessary to become aware of their side effects too. The component Sildenafil might cause some side effects in the mild to serious category. Some mild side effects include nausea, headaches, flushing, insomnia, vomiting, rashes, sore throat, nasal congestion, stomachache, back pain, blurred vision, diarrhea, and dizziness. These minor effects are common and tend to disappear after a short time.
Apart from these, these pills might also give rise to some serious side effects like priapism (prolonged and painful erections), low blood pressure, vision loss in one or both eyes, hearing impairment, etc. In addition, their interaction with certain drugs and alcohol can also contribute to side effects. Therefore, before using such pills, you must get yourself acquainted with their negative consequences.
Where can you buy Viagra?
There are various generic versions of Sildenafil out there. They can be easily bought from a local drugstore without the need for any prescription. They can also be bought from online pharmacies, wherein the medicines get delivered to your doorstep. However, you cannot buy Viagra from your local drugstore or from online pharmacies without a prescription.
It requires your doctor’s prescription. For that, you need to consult your doctor and discuss the symptoms and difficulties that you are experiencing. They will perform your diagnosis to confirm you are experiencing ED. But you need to be careful, as there are many companies that manufacture fake or counterfeit ED medicines and sell them across drugstores and online pharmacies.
Such counterfeit drugs might contain hidden ingredients that can be extremely toxic and harmful to your health. Therefore, it is necessary to buy genuine medicines that are manufactured by reputed companies from trusted and licensed sources only.
The lowdown
Viagra medicine effectively unclogs the penile arteries by causing vasodilation. It expands the blood vessels in the penile shaft and helps in relaxing the clogging arteries. It further increases the blood flow in the penile shaft, which helps get and maintain stronger erections. They do cause side effects and are usually excluded from the insurance plan by most insurance companies.