New 'super-Viagra' is 10 times stronger than famous little blue pill and could have fewer side effects, scientists say
The experimental drug simenafil was tested on 706 men by a team at Peking University First Hospital in China.
And the results were staggering.
The tests showed that after 12 weeks, the course of pills improved erectile function by more than 12 per cent.
Scientists found that the original Viagra, known as sildenafil, only caused an approximately 11.8 per cent improvement compared to super-Viagra's 12.3 per cent results, and it found other brands were even less effective.
And the dose is considerably smaller, with improvements seen using just 5mg compared to the standard 50mg dose of Viagra, according to The Sun.
Erectile dysfunction is very common and often affects men over 40 years old.
Symptoms usually include an inability to get an erection or an inability to maintain one.
Most men struggle to get or keep an erection at some point, this can usually be caused by stress, tiredness or drinking too much alcohol.
However if it is a common occurrence it may be a result of high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, depression or anxiety and hormones problems and is something that can be discussed with a GP.
Drugs on offer include traditional Viagra which is part of a drug group called PDE5 inhibitors.
They work by blocking an enzyme that restricts blood flow to the penis, by blocking it, the normal function can resume and the penis can be become erect.
Side effects can include headaches, sickness, hot flushes, indigestion, a stuffy nose or feeling dizzy.
Writing in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, study author Dr Hui Jiang said: 'Owing to these adverse events, novel and alternative therapies are needed for patients with erectile dysfunction.
'The results so far show oral simenafil was effective and well-tolerated in male patients.
'Therefore, we believe that it will provide an additional reliable treatment option.
'Overall, the evaluation indicated that simenafil was as effective as other PDE5 inhibitors even at very low doses.
'It showed that intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction increased.'
The development comes as GPs warn of a staggering rise in erectile problems in young men.
According to doctors, watching pornography is driving a wave of erectile dysfunction.
Dr Babak Ashrafi, a family medic with Superdrug Online Doctor, said there had been an 46 per cent increase in men under the age of 30 currently seeking help from its erectile dysfunction service compared to last year.
But Dr Babak said a spike in younger men experiencing the problem could be linked to the 'exponential' consumption of explicit online material.
'Despite men between the ages of 45 and 54 being the most likely to suffer from erectile difficulties, younger male audiences are increasingly requesting treatment,' he said.
Dr Babak explained that while occasional pornography viewing was harmless, frequent or marathon sessions could re-train men's brains and prevent them from becoming aroused normally.
'Repeated overexposure to graphic content can over time make it harder for individuals to become aroused by real-life sexual experiences,' he said.
The family doctor added that porn could be giving men unrealistic perceptions about their manhood, or how long they should last in bed.
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Medical News Today
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