Final answer:
Sildenafil, marketed as Viagra®, is a peripheral vasodilator specifically targeting arteries and is a PDE5 inhibitor. Its primary use is for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) by enhancing the vasodilatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) in smooth muscle tissue. However, it can interact with nitrates and is not suitable for all patients, particularly those with certain cardiac conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A drug that is a peripheral vasodilator and acts on arteries is sildenafil, also known as Viagra®. Initially investigated for treating heart conditions like hypertension and angina pectoris, sildenafil was found to induce vasodilation but was not particularly effective for these conditions. Instead, its ability to relax smooth muscle tissue and dilate blood vessels led to its approval for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) by the FDA in 1998.
Sildenafil functions as a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, a class of drugs that inhibits PDE enzymes and amplifies the effects of nitric oxide (NO). NO acts as a vasodilator, which means it helps to widen blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. It should be noted that sildenafil can have serious interactions with other medications, especially nitrates used for treating cardiac conditions, and its use should be approved by a physician for men with such health issues.