Manforce

Manforce is a PDE5 inhibitor that helps treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow through the penile blood vessels.

This article will discuss the uses, benefits, side effects, and drug interactions of Manforce in detail. We’ll also provide a list of natural alternatives for those who want to avoid a prescription.

What is Manforce?

Manforce is a white, oval pill used to treat erectile dysfunction in men over 18 years.

The medication’s generic name is sildenafil, which is a PDE5 inhibitor. It increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure in the penile blood vessels.

Manforce is manufactured by Mankind Pharmaceuticals Ltd and inhibits the enzyme PDE5 found in the smooth muscle cells in the walls of all blood vessels in the body. This enzyme mainly constricts or reduces the size of the blood vessels, hence only allowing a small amount of blood to flow through them.

In erectile dysfunction, an erection cannot occur because of decreased blood flow through penile blood vessels. This may occur due to a wide range of reasons which activate the PDE5 enzyme.

Inhibition of the enzyme by Manforce results in increased blood flow through the penile vessels, producing an erection.

Manforce is a prescription-only medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a urinary disorder producing symptoms such as painful urination. The enlarged prostate gland blocks the flow of urine. Manforce works on reducing the size of this gland by targeting certain receptors and compounds.

Manforce can also be used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), but it is not commonly taken for it. The mechanism by which it works for PAH is the same as erectile dysfunction. Manforce increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure through pulmonary arteries.

What’s the Dose of Manforce?

Manforce is available in three doses:

25 mg
50 mg
100 mg

Usually, your doctor will prescribe you the lowest dose possible 25 mg, to start with, and then either increase it or maintain the same dosage. This can vary based on individual cases and the extent of your erectile dysfunction.

For ED, you should only take Manforce when needed and not take it more than once in 24 hours.

If you have missed a dose, you should not take a double dose, which can do more harm than good. But for ED treatment, the risk of a missed dose is nearly non-existent as the medication only needs to be taken once and when needed.

Overdosing on Manforce, either by mistake or intentionally, can result in prolonged and painful erections that require immediate medical care.

Manforce, if taken for pulmonary artery hypertension, needs to be taken daily, at least three times. You should discuss with your doctor the appropriate dosage to ensure maximal benefits from the drug.

How Long Does it Take for Manforce to Kick in?

Manforce takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to kick in. The medication should be taken at least an hour before sexual intercourse for it to be able to produce an erection.

However, Manforce cannot produce an erection on its own and needs sexual stimulation.

How Long Does Manforce Last?

Manforce is virtually untraceable in your system after 24 hours. It is effective for 3 to 4 hours after taking it. This does not equate to you having a 4-hour long erection but rather means that with proper sexual stimulation, you can still have an erection in the 3 to 4 hours following the ingestion of the drug.

How Much Does Manforce Cost?

Manforce is an affordable drug with the unit price differing for different dosages and quantities. Generally, a strip of Manforce that contains four pills costs $3.13.The price may reduce if you buy huge amounts of the drug at once.

The History of Manforce & Current Research

Sildenafil, the active ingredient of Manforce, was initially studied by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as a potential drug for the treatment of angina, a type of chest pain caused by decreased blood flow and hence, decreased oxygen supply to the chest muscles. It was also hypothesized to help control and manage high blood pressure.

However, soon after the clinical trials were started, it was found that the compound had zero positive effects on hypertension and angina. It had none of the hypothesized benefits or uses.

This led to the project being completely scrapped, and when the results were reviewed to ensure the failure of the project, it was found that sildenafil use in male participants of the study caused erections when combined with proper sexual arousal [1].

The new findings led to further studies into the compound and its eventual sale as a sex stimulant drug to treat erectile dysfunction in men.

Sildenafil, although not recommended amongst patients with cardiac disorders, is currently being studied to test its efficacy in preventing acute kidney injury in patients who have just undergone cardiac surgery [2]. The study’s initial results have shown promising results; however, further research is required before it can become the new standard of treatment.

One of the studies focuses on assessing the efficiency and benefits of sildenafil in treating another sexual disorder, namely, premature ejaculation [3]. No concrete evidence yet supports the use of sildenafil for premature ejaculation.

Who Should Take Manforce?

Manforce is prescribed to men over 18 years who struggle with initiating or maintaining an erection.

You should only take this medication as per your doctor’s orders and not self-medicate.

Is Manforce Safe?

Manforce is safe for human consumption and has been approved by both the FDA and Indian Health Authorities to be sold commercially to patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.

The drug’s safety can be further ensured by sharing your current and past medical history with your doctor.

Common Side Effects of Manforce

Manforce has certain side effects and complications associated with it, but most of them resolve spontaneously without medical intervention.

Some common side effects of Manforce include:

Anxiety
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Frequent, severe headaches
Hearing loss
Indigestion
Loss of vision
Nausea
Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
Stuffy Nose
Sweating
Tinnitus
Visual disturbances

Drug Interactions With Manforce

Manforce can interact with other medications in your system and create life-threatening complications that require immediate medical help. Some of the common drug interactions are mentioned below. If you take any of these drugs, it is highly recommended that you inform your doctor to reduce the risk of fatal complications.

Antacids

These are commonly found in most medicine cabinets, but it is important to know that they can easily interact with sildenafil in Manforce, resulting in decreased efficiency of the PDE5 inhibitors.

Nitrates

Nitrates and Manforce should not be used together as they have a similar blood pressure-lowering effect. When taken together, they amplify the effects of each other, resulting in dangerously low blood pressure levels that, if not treated, can result in death.

Guanylate Cyclase Stimulators

These medications are used to lower pulmonary arterial hypertension, an effect that they share with sildenafil, the active ingredient of Manforce. Taking them together can lower pulmonary artery blood pressure to fatal levels.

CYP3A4 Inhibitors

CYP3A4 inhibitors decrease the metabolism of Manforce and allow it to stay in the system for a long duration, resulting in unwanted effects.

CYP3A4 Inducers

These medications decrease the efficacy of Manforce. This is because they enhance their metabolism and accelerate their removal from the system before they can produce the desired effects.

Who Should Not Take Manforce?

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, you should avoid Manforce:

Blood disorders like hemophilia
Cardiac disorders
Kidney disease
Recent surgery
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Stroke

Medical Alternatives to Manforce

Manforce belongs to the class of PDE5 inhibitor drugs and hence can be substituted with any drug belonging to the same class. However, you should never make the switch yourself and always consult your doctor before deciding to change your medications.

Some pharmaceutical alternatives to Manforce are:

Alprostadil Injections
Avanafil (Avaforce, Stendra, Avana)
Mirodenafil (Mvix)
Sildenafil (Viagra, Fildena, P-Force, Vygex)
Tadalafil (Cialis, Tadagra, Tadovas, Tadact,Tadacip, Tadalip)
Udenafil (Zydena)
Vardenafil (Levitra, Vilitra, Savitra)

Natural Alternatives to Manforce

Several herbs and roots have been used as natural treatments for sexual disorders, including erectile dysfunction. However, there is limited scientific evidence to back the use of these herbs to treat erectile dysfunction.

Some natural alternatives to Manforce are:

Yohimbe

This is used to treat anxiety-induced sexual disorders and is often used as an aphrodisiac [4].

Horny Goat Weed

The active compound of this plant, namely icariin, has a similar effect on penile blood vessel walls as sildenafil [5].

L-arginine

The vasodilatory effect of this amino acid may help treat erectile dysfunction. A meta-analysis has shown that it may be able to treat mild to moderate ED [6].

Where to Buy Manforce

Manforce is an affordable medication you can buy in local pharmacies or online. Most people prefer to buy it online due to privacy concerns. But you will still need a doctor’s prescription to buy Manforce online.

While Manforcec is safe, many people prefer natural methods since these often have fewer side effects and are more easily tolerated. If you want to try this route, make sure you talk to your doctor about possible drug interactions.

References

Goldstein, I., Burnett, A. L., Rosen, R. C., Park, P. W., & Stecher, V. J. (2019). The Serendipitous Story of Sildenafil: An Unexpected Oral Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction. Sexual medicine reviews, 7(1), 115–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.06.005
Kumar, T., Aujla, H., Woźniak, M., Dott, W., Sullo, N., Joel-David, L., Pais, P., Smallwood, D., Miller, D., Eagle-Hemming, B., Di Paola, A. S., Barber, S., Brookes, C., Brunskill, N. J., & Murphy, G. J. (2020). Intravenous sildenafil citrate and post-cardiac surgery acute kidney injury: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. British journal of anaesthesia, 124(6), 693–701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.01.030
Krishnappa, P., Fernandez-Pascual, E., Carballido, J., & Martinez-Salamanca, J. I. (2019). Sildenafil/Viagra in the treatment of premature ejaculation. International journal of impotence research, 31(2), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0099-2
Pyke R. E. (2020). Sexual Performance Anxiety. Sexual medicine reviews, 8(2), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.07.001
Jin, J., Wang, H., Hua, X., Chen, D., Huang, C., & Chen, Z. (2019). An outline for the pharmacological effect of icariin in the nervous system. European journal of pharmacology, 842, 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.10.006
Rhim, H. C., Kim, M. S., Park, Y. J., Choi, W. S., Park, H. K., Kim, H. G., Kim, A., & Paick, S. H. (2019). The Potential Role of Arginine Supplements on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis. The journal of sexual medicine, 16(2), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.12.002