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Viagra
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Viagra
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Key People:
Robert F. Furchgott
Related Topics:
PDE-5 inhibitor
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Viagra
Viagra A packet of Viagra tablets.

Viagra

drug
Also known as: sildenafil citrate
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

News •

Recall: Viagra ingredients found in supplements sold since 2017 • Nov. 2, 2026, 5:22 AM ET (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Supplements distributed since 2017 recalled over hidden Viagra ingredients • Oct. 27, 2026, 4:03 PM ET (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Viagra's cousin could help muscle cells stay primed for regeneration • Oct. 26, 2026, 3:40 PM ET (Medical Xpress)

Viagra, trade name of the first oral drug for male impotence, introduced by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc., in 1998. Also known by the chemical name sildenafil citrate, it is one of a category of drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. See also PDE-5 inhibitor.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.