Hi, Connie!

I personally don't know anyone who takes Viagra but I think these are great questions. I'm sure our medical experts will get back to you on this with the latest in info on the drug.

Kristin Davis
http://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com

Excellent questions. I don't know anyone who personally uses Viagra either, but was able to find some info about the drug. The National Institutes of Health says Viagra (or Sildenafil) is used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence -- the inability to get or keep an erection in men. No mention is made of the drug's ability to enhance libido but inability to have an erection and decrease libido seem to go hand in hand.

Apparently, there's a big difference in correcting sexual dysfunction and arousal, but more on that a little later.

And you heard right -- the NIH lists numerous precautions before taking the pill as well as a number of side effects.

Special precautions include telling your doctor about the use of nitrates and other prescription drugs as well as herbal products. And that's just the beginning. For more, visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi....

And the side effects of the drug include:
headache
heartburn
diarrhea
flushing (feeling of warmth)
nosebleeds
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
muscle aches
changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
sensitivity to light

Some side effects can be serious such as:

sudden severe loss of vision (see below for more information)
blurred vision
sudden decrease or loss of hearing
ringing in ears
erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours
dizziness or lightheadedness
fainting
chest pain
worsening shortness of breath
itching or burning during urination
rash

And now on to loss of libido ...
Loss of libido for men could be linked to stress, illness, medications, emotional problems, and reduced levels of male sex hormones. Also, uneven sexual desire, at times, between you and your partner is normal and inevitable in long-term relationships. It is how you handle these challenges that makes the difference.

For more info on the male libido (and the female libido, as well) the Mayo Clinic has a great article on sex after 50. Check it out at ....
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sexual-....

Also, EmpowHer's founder, Michelle King Robson has written about Viagra and sexual health on numerous occasions: To read more, visit:

Sexual Dysfunction, Viagra, and 4-hour Erections—Oh No! The Story of the "Little Blue Pill" ;

More About Viagra, Its Side Effects, and Hey—Why Isn’t There Something Like This For Women?;

Let’s Talk About Sex…Well, Maybe Not. Why Are So Many Of Us Reluctant to Talk About Such an Important Part of Our Lives

My husband has used both.

These do not increase desire, they only will help keep an erection hard.

Viagra is supposed to be fast working and only lasts about 4 hours. He doesn't like Viagra because the timing is limited.

Cialis lasts for up to 36 hours and we like it much better. It works extremely well to help him maintain a hard erection.

The desire comes from testosterone production. As men age, they produce less testosterone and therefore desire and sex drive goes down.

Men can get testosterone replacement just as women can.

You should keep in mind that Viagra is a prescription drug. That means you should see your doctor before taking this drug, and only use Viagra if it's prescribed to you. However, many people buy generic Viagra with no prescription and take it hoping for more action in bed! That may involve health risks because Viagra isn't for fun.
Also, keep in mind that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not approved any generic version of Viagra which makes it more risky to buy and take any over-the-counter (generic) Viagra.
The same applies to Cialis and Levitra.

When you want to buy Viagra online make sure that you only buy best-seller Viagra and not any generic forms of Viagra or Cialis tablets.