Magic Blue Blog

Make it numb to last forever?

2009-11-19T15:53:38Z

As we've talked about many times, some men report that Viagra helps with premature ejaculation. It can decrease sensation, and it can also help in "rebound time," getting you back in the action very quickly even if you jump the gun a bit.

Also as we've mentioned, a new drug, Priligy (dapoxetine) has come out. Designed initially as an antidepressant, it promises to help with premature ejaculation. It's available now in parts of Europe but it failed to gain US approval a few years ago and it's not clear if it will ever hit the US market.

These two solutions are pills you pop. However, a new study just came out showing that a spray-on anesthetic is effective as well:

The first U.S. trials of a spray-on anesthetic for the penis showed that it increased the time to ejaculation nearly five-fold, providing the first good solution for premature ejaculation, researchers reported today.

There's really nothing new here. Ejaculation delay creams and even condoms have been available over-the-counter for years. Time will tell whether men will find this spray-on worth the trouble - the study reports that it increases average time from .6 minutes to 2.6 minutes. No reports on how it feels to have a slightly numbed penis, though...

It's worth noting that premature ejaculation is often treatable through exercises where men can learn to delay ejaculation themselves. It's quite different from erectile dysfunction which, in many men, has a physical basis and can only be treated with medication.

Avanafil: Do we need another PDE5 inhibitor?

2009-11-19T15:31:06Z

We already have Levitra, Cialis, and, of course, Viagra. Do we really need another PDE5 inhibitor? The company Vivus thinks we do. Their new drug Avanafil appears to work, and they are hoping to push it as a drug that works faster than the competitors:

"Patients want on-demand therapy because when the mood is right, the mood is right," Wilson said in a telephone interview. "We've shown efficacy in 30 minutes, and no one else has done that."

The company hopes to bring the product to market in 2011. With generic Viagra looming large in this market as Pfizer's drug goes off-patent, it's hard to imagine this new drug achieving too much success. They'll need a stronger selling point than fast action, since Levitra is supposed to work fast, and many users report to us that Viagra works for them within half an hour too, especially on an empty stomach.

Pfizer's new logo

2009-11-05T05:55:23Z

According to the good people at Brand New, Pfizer has a new logo:

This is what some might call a subtle change. Please note, each and every Viagra pill has a Pfizer logo on one side. I wonder how long it will take for the pills to reflect this change. I also have to wonder if the old pills, with the old logo, will become collectors' items. Thanks to pharmagossip for the heads up.

Viagra Candy Pez Dispenser

2009-10-28T03:03:52Z

Halloween's almost here, so we figured we'd get crafty a bit and put together a new project for you all to try. The result? Doctor and nurse pez dispensers with Viagra-shaped candy:

Viagra really does work, apparently

2009-10-21T15:38:38Z

Detailed new study shows that Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra do, in fact, work better than hormone treatments for treating erectile dysfunction:

Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the new clinical practice guideline finds that for most men who complain of erectile dysfunction, one of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors -- sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil -- is a more effective treatment than pills, creams, gels or patches containing testosterone.

This isn't very surprising, of course. These drugs (so-called PDE5 inhibitors) really work at the plumbing level. They enhance the mechanism the body uses to produce an erection, and so are very effective in producing that result.

Juice spiked with VIagra

2009-09-15T18:08:43Z

Another case of beverages super-powered with Viagra has been uncovered in Malaysia. First it was coffee and now it's fruit juice.

The motivation behind this is obvious. "Generic Viagra" is cheap and easy to produce. Mix it with whatever, and you have a tonic of undeniable effectiveness - a veritable potion of youth. Similarly, "Herbal Viagra" is often nothing more than a few traditional herbs spiked with real Vitamin V.

The main problem with all these concoctions, of course, is that you don't know precisely what dose you're getting. That's why it's best to go with the pharmaceutical-grade varieties. It's important to know exactly what you're taking so you can minimize side effects and maximize effectiveness.

Does grapefruit juice make Viagra work better?

2009-09-03T17:51:34Z

How does grapefruit juice affect how Viagra works? Is it safe to take them together?

There is a well-known effect where grapefruit juice can interact with medications. It may increase the "bioavailability" of Viagra, increasing its effectiveness.

In effect, what you are doing is mixing drugs, which can have unpredictable effects. When you drink the grapefruit juice (or eat the grapefruit), how much you drink or eat, what type it is, etc. can all play a factor. What else you've eaten, your weight, etc. can also have an effect. So there's just no way to predict how your body will react.

So, generally, it's not recommended to mix the two.

If you are determined to try this combination, we recommend trying it at home, in a safe environment, with a very low dose of Viagra at first - at most 25mg, and perhaps even less. That way you can test the drug interaction. You may experience better effectiveness, but you also may experience increased side effects like headache, stuffiness, etc.

Note: if you are taking any other medications, or have any other serious health issues, you should consult with your doctor before even considering this. The grapefruit juice could interact with some other medication you are taking, with truly unpredictable, and perhaps dangerous, results.

Can Viagra actually make me bigger?

2009-08-28T03:51:42Z

I've heard that Viagra can actually increase penis size. Is that true?

First, let's be clear. Viagra is not a penis enlargement pill. It is an erection-inducing pill.

However, for years we've received reports from readers that they felt like Viagra made them longer or thicker than usual. Here are just a few of the dozens of reports we've received:

"My wife said that the Viagra made my dick bigger than it has ever been."
"She noticed I was both longer and thicker."
"I am bigger and harder than ever before, and i shoot my load farther than I have ever seen."
"Lasted much,much longer than usual. Bigger and longer in size also."

What is going on here? Could Viagra actually be increasing penis size?

We think there are two things going on. A full erection is likely to be larger than the partial erection many men get without Viagra; in this case, men may actually be bigger on Viagra. They probably aren't bigger than they were when they didn't have erectile difficulties, but they may in fact be bigger than the have been since suffering from ED.

Another factor is that Viagra does make men harder than usual, often even harder than they were before they had ED. Being so hard can feel to their partner like they are bigger. In other words, they may be making a bigger impression, even though the actual size may not be increased.

We don't know of any clinical studies of this issue, so we're left with this anecdotal evidence and our best guesses. But these consistent reports should not be ignored.

"Viagra Effect" or same old same old?

2009-08-25T18:40:44Z

The blogosphere is abuzz with talk of a "Viagra effect" in Brazil, where older men are marrying much younger woman. This is a problem for the pension system, since the women continue receiving benefits after the man dies.

Of course, as the all of the news articles about this issue make plain, this trend started way before the advent of Viagra.

Fact is, a very young woman looking for sex is going to look to someone about her age. Viagra doesn't turn a 50 year-old man into a 19 year-old man; it only gives him a strong erection. That's a benefit, to be sure, but it isn't some magical love potion. Women marrying much older men are doing so for economic reasons, not carnal ones.

Viagra isn't likely to have demographic effects in this way. Its effects are more small-scale. They are psychological, giving men confidence and removing strain from marriages.

Is it more difficult to ejaculate when taking Viagra?

2009-08-24T15:43:12Z

Is it harder to cum when taking VIagra?

Some men do find it more difficult to ejaculate when taking Viagra. They can maintain an erection, but find that their sensitivity is decreased, and so it is difficult to reach climax. For men who suffer from premature ejaculation, of course, this can be a godsend. For other men, however, it can be a problem.

The main thing we recommend in this kind of situation is taking a lower dose of the drug. Too high of a dose can make you feel "too hard" which decreases sensitivity. Try halving the dose, even if you're only taking 25mg. You may find this works better.

The other thing you can try is masturbating by yourself with Viagra. That way, you can get used to the sensations and learn how to bring yourself to orgasm on the drug without the pressure of performing with someone else. This may help things go easier when you are later with a partner.

Why Has Viagra Stopped Working?

2009-08-16T05:57:42Z

I've been taking Viagra for two years but recently it's stopped working. What can I do?

In a situation like this, the first thing we'd recommend is going to see your doctor, Whatever is the underlying cause of your ED may be getting worse, or some new problem may have developed, so you want to get a full physical to make sure everything is OK.

If that doesn't turn up anything, try to figure out if anything else has changed. If you are taking Viagra at a different time of day, after different foods or alcohol, etc. that may have an effect. Try taking it on an empty stomach and without any alcohol to see if that is more effective.

You can always try increasing your dose; 100mg is the maximum dose per day. The downside of a higher dose is that you're likely to experience more side effects.

The other option is to try another drug like Levitra or Cialis; those may be more effective.

It's important to remember, though, that all of these drugs require sufficient stimulation. If for some reason you aren't being excited like you were before, that could be the culprit. It could be a psychological or emotional issue and have nothing to do with the drug at all.

NIH Halts Sickle Cell Sildenafil Treatment

2009-07-29T15:31:47Z

Health officials have called off a promising trial that used Viagra to treat a complication of sickle cell anemia. The study, known as "walk-PHaSST" (Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension and Sickle Cell Disease with Sildenafil Treatment), was stopped dead in its tracks this month. The drug was making some patients worse instead of better; 38 percent of the subjects experienced serious side effects, compared to 8 percent of those taking the placebo.

The study seemed like a good idea on paper. Sildenafil is approved under the name Revatio to treat pulmonary hypertension, one of the major killers of sickle cell patients.

However, a high number of the patients on Revatio experienced painful "sickle cell crises", in which sickle-shaped blood cells become backed up in blood vessels.

Interestingly, Viagra has had mixed results with regard to another sickle cell complication: priapism. While Viagra has been known to precipitate priapism in men with sickle cell anemia, the drug has also been shown to relieve the condition in other sickle cell patients when given in a steady low dose.

Ultimately, Viagra may prove to have some benefit for certain patients with sickle cell anemia, perhaps when combined with other treatments, but the failure of this study is a major setback.

Cialis set to overtake Viagra?

2009-07-23T16:56:05Z

Interestingly, Cialis sales appear to be growing much faster than Viagra:

One bright spot: Cialis sales in the U.S. were up 16 percent to $149.4 million. Pfizer's Viagra was up only 4 percent at $207 million. Looks like that once-a-day positioning is starting to pay off.

Viagra's been around much longer and has the name recognition, but Cialis has some advantages that shouldn't be overlooked. For one thing, it's much longer-lasting than Viagra (the Cialis folks claim 36 hours). You don't have to time taking the drug so closely to when you expect to have sex; that makes Cialis much more convenient for many men.

As the article alludes to, they are also suggesting that people take a lower dose of Cialis on a daily basis. That way, you'll be ready for whatever comes whenever.

Picking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra depends on a lot of factors. First of all, some drugs may work better for some men than others. Secondly, how you use the drug, whether you take it with alcohol or how spontaneous your sex life is likely to be, can make a difference. Someone who has sex once a week on a regular schedule might be better off with a dose of Viagra as needed, while someone more active might find daily Cialis a better fit.

Myth #6: "Herbal Viagra" is Safer or Better

2009-07-17T16:13:09Z

We live in a strange time. For thousands of years, people have been making and selling concoctions they claimed would cure erectile dysfunction. Dozens of herbs have been touted as a remedy, like yohimbine, ginseng, and even cocaine.

The simple fact is that the results of these attempts were probably, in most cases, little better than a placebo effect. That might very well have been enough to help some men, but most were just wasting their money.

Things are different now. We have three relatively safe FDA-approved pharmaceuticals that treat erectile dysfunction. They don't work sometimes on a hope and a prayer; they actually affect the body's physiology to produce strong, last erections.

In the face of this new, quite revolutionary, change, how do the pushers of potions and tonics react? They co-opt the name "Viagra" and relabel their stuff "Herbal Viagra". Untested, unregulated, uncontrolled; how is this an improvement over a drug used by millions of men worldwide?

The most incredible fact is that many "Herbal Viagra" products actually contain Viagra! The makers sneak in a generic version of sildenafil citrate. So if your "Herbal Viagra" actually works, you're probably just ingesting knock-off Viagra, of unknown dose and quality.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction and don't want to take drugs, you can try healthy living, exercise, and a good diet. But it's self-deluding to think that an herbal concoction is going to be safer or more effective than Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.

What if I take Viagra and don't have intercourse?

2009-07-14T05:34:17Z

What will happen if I plan on having intercourse, take Viagra and then end up not having intercourse due to some unfortunate reason? Would I have any problems?

No, you shouldn't have any problem at all. Some men even take a low dose of Viagra every day and have no difficulties.

In a situation like that, where your plans are foiled, the worst you might experience is an erection that is embarrassingly easy to get and hard to lose. You definitely won't feel any compulsion to have sex, however, since Viagra works only on the plumbing and doesn't create or enhance sexual desire.

Unfortunately, there's no way to remove the Viagra from your system. The best you can do is keep your mind off of sex in order to keep yourself in a relaxed state.

Since you should take Viagra 30-90 minutes before sex, situations like this are probably going to be unavoidable for many men. This is another reason why we recommend you try the drug by yourself first so you get a sense of how it affects you and how long it takes to act.