Sildenafil (Viagra) is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition in which men are unable to get or sustain an erection.
The drug is approved for men diagnosed with ED, and who are 18 and above. Sildenafil is available in the dosages 25 mg to 100 mg, which is to be taken at least an hour before sexual activity.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of sildenafil for ED in 1998. The drug was initially approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) – high blood pressure in the lungs. However, during the trials, it was found that the drug helped men to achieve and maintain an erection.
So, Is Sildenafil a Steroid?
Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. And by no means, PDE5 inhibitors are considered steroids. The drug works by inhibiting the enzyme PDE5 in order to stop the degradation of another enzyme called cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate.
With the pharmacological action, sildenafil allows the body to release nitric oxide during sexual stimulation, boosting blood flow throughout the body, including the penile organ. When this happens, the organ receives enough blood to achieve and sustain an erection. Sildenafil only works if you are sexually aroused.
The action mechanism of sildenafil suggests that Viagra is not a steroid.
It is important to understand that both Viagra and steroids are completely different from each other. Also, there is no evidence that sildenafil is a steroid.
Steroids and Viagra have totally different pharmacological actions. Steroids do not help men to achieve or sustain an erection. However, short-term anabolic steroids are advised to boost sex drive in men.
Anabolic steroids are known to have anabolic as well as androgenic properties, which help build sexual characteristics and muscle growth. They are particularly designed to boost muscle growth but are associated with some side effects such as shrinking of the testicles, baldness, acne, and low sperm count.
The Bottom Line
Sildenafil is not a steroid. Instead, it is a PDE5 inhibitor like tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), or avanafil (Stendra). There are different types of steroids. Anabolic steroids are used to boost muscle growth and sexual characteristics, while corticosteroids are advised for a variety of diseases, including inflammatory conditions.
Viagra does not work like a steroid. It simply boosts blood supply to the penile organ during sexual stimulation so you can have and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. For more information on Viagra and steroids, check with your doctor.
