The compound Sildenafil Citrate was originally developed by a leading pharmaceutical group as a possible treatment for hypertension and other heart and circulatory problems.

During clinical tests the drug showed disappointing results on selected pulmonary conditions but exhibited an unexpected side-effect that could be useful: penile erections.

The pharmaceutical company behind the original compound started to look at Sildenafil as a treatment for Erectile Dysfunction.  The patent followed in 1996 and once the FDA approved its use for Erectile Dysfunction in 1998, Sildenafil became the first approved medical compound for ED.

The patents held on Sildenafil have been a cause of much legal wrangling across the world.  In some countries Sildenafil is manufactured without license due to the local government's policies.

This is especially the case in India where the thriving copy-cat medication industry manufactures their own-brand versions of Sildenafil for a fraction of the pharmaceutical-giant's retail pricing.  Never-the-less Sildenafil is a prescription medicine in all major countries due in no small part to the side-effects and possible dangers if combined with some other medicines or medical ailments.

Information on contra-indications etc will be convered in other posts on this blog.