What does Viagra look like, and how can you tell apart the fake from the real one?
Men take Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction. It’s one of the only four FDA-approved first-line treatments in the United States (1).
Erectile dysfunction is a condition marked by the inability to get or maintain an erection. About 2 in every ten men aged 20 and above are affected by erectile dysfunction (2).
The older a man gets, the more it’s likely to affect him (3). Erectile dysfunction can cause severe psychological damage to sufferers, with effects ranging from anxiety to full-blown depression (4).
How Does Viagra Work?
Viagra works by relaxing the corpus cavernosum (the muscle tissues that make up the bulk of the penis) and increasing the blood flow to the penis. This results in an increased pressure around the base of the penis, helping it to get and stay rigid to allow penetration (5).
What Viagra Is and What It Isn’t
Viagra is a treatment. It’s not a cure. Though it does wonders for most men who have erectile dysfunction, it does not work for everybody (6). It’s not a miracle drug.
Viagra does not make you horny (7). The increased blood flow to the penis is needed for an erection, but it does not cause an erection on its own.
You can take Viagra in anticipation of sexual activity, but it will not cause sexual arousal. It won’t make you more sexually aggressive.
What Does Viagra Look Like?
Genuine Viagra
There are three available dosages of Viagra: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. All of them are blue and are a rounded diamond in shape. One side of each tablet has the brand “Pfizer” imprinted on it.
The following are the differences between each dosage:
- Viagra 25mg measures 9mm and has a “VGR 25” imprint.
- Viagra 50mg measures 11mm and has a “VGR 50” imprint.
- Viagra 100mg measures 14mm and has a “VGR 100” imprint.
What does it look like in the market? It’s relatively easy to tell apart the real Viagra from most fake ones.
For one, genuine Viagra comes in clear blister packs. They are arranged in a diamond, and the blister pack has the dosage information in Braille.
There are also single packs for the 50mg and 100mg dosages, and bottles containing 30 tablets each.
Aside from all these visual differences, genuine Viagra is film-coated. This means you won’t be able to taste it unless you bite into it or put it in your mouth for a prolonged period, dissolving the film coating.
There is also an orodispersible (fast-dissolving or dissolves in the mouth) version of the 50 mg dose. This comes in a white, rectangular blister pack.
Fake Viagra
Now that you know what Viagra looks like, it’s time to look at how the fake ones fare.
Real Viagra tablets only come in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg dosages. Any other dosages than these are fakes.
It should not come in any other shape or color aside from rounded diamond and blue, respectively.
Fake Viagra may also leave a bitter taste as soon as you put it in your mouth.
More than 80% of online sources selling Viagra are fakes, and around 10% of all counterfeit medicine looks like the real deal. They might even have the same composition, and may also have the same effects (8).
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Fake Viagra
Fake Viagra may come cheaper than the real Viagra because most counterfeit medicine doesn’t have dosages as accurate as of the latter.
A physician must consider your medical history, your medications, and even your habits before giving you a prescription for Viagra. This drug can have serious side effects when combined with other medicines (9).
Viagra: What Does It Look Like?
Viagra is one of the most effective treatments for erectile dysfunction, but buying it without a prescription can be dangerous (10). Also, as much as 80% of online sources of Viagra sell counterfeit versions of the drug.
Learning the answer to the question “What does Viagra look like?” can help you figure out if you’re paying for the real deal. Knowing what it is and what it does, on the other hand, can help you manage your expectations.
If you have a question in mind regarding this drug, feel free to leave a comment, and we’ll get back to you soonest!