The Success Of Viagra

Viagra became a smashing success almost immediately upon
its release. The success of Viagra was quickly evident in
the level of popular interest it generated, and then in the
big profits it brought in. The initial profit margin for
Viagra was millions of dollars. Move forward a few years,
and Viagra is now a billion dollar profit seller.

Viagra's success is rather a surprise, because Viagra is
only available to one part of the population -- men -- and
is a treatment for what was thought to be a fairly limited
condition: erectile dysfunction. Compare this profile to a
drug for depression, for example: a depression drug is
available to an entire population and treats a condition
that's fairly common. How does Viagra's limited profile
generate so much profit?

Viagra's profit success may be attributed to one of two
things. The first explanation is that erectile dysfunction
affects a considerable percentage of the male population.
Erectile dysfunction was often linked to men who were older
and/or sickly, what would have to be just a small section
of the male population. But Viagra's broad sales numbers
imply that more than just older, sickly men have erectile
dysfunction. Perhaps erectile dysfunction is epidemic?

The other possible explanation for Viagra's sales success
is that men who don't have erectile dysfunction are using
Viagra. Why? Viagra has developed a reputation for being a
male aphrodisiac, and a section of men could be using
Viagra for male enhancement. While Viagra is a prescription
drug (at least in the US), could a man who goes to his
doctor with a claim of erectile dysfunction be disproved in
some way? Possibly. Possibly not.

The open secret about Viagra, and some other drugs, is that
it's available without having to go to one's personal
physician for a prescription. Online sources, often
referring to themselves as pharmacies, will either arrange
for an online prescription to be obtained, or will sell
Viagra without a prescription outright. There is a
crackdown in place against these online drug dispensers,
however, so this option for obtaining Viagra may not be the
convenience it once was.

As would be expected, Viagra's enormous success has
produced competitors. There are now two other prescription
drug alternatives to Viagra: Cialis and Levitra. Both of
these drugs -- and Viagra -- have massive marketing
campaigns that include prime time television commercials.
(The fact that treatments for erectile dysfunction are now
advertised on prime time television in the United States is
a story in itself.)

Viagra's success has also produced competition from
nonprescription products, products different from Viagra in
they are designed specifically for intimacy enhancement and
not erectile dysfunction. These latest competitors to
Viagra are becoming increasingly popular and a new niche --
nonprescription enhancers -- is developing as a result.

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Zinn Jeremiah is an online author. Read more of Zinn's work
at http://www.hubonline.biz/website-content.htm . Find
nonprescription male enhancers at
http://www.hubonline.biz/more-satisfaction.htm .