One Major Side Effect of Taking Viagra, Study Says
Viagra, containing the drug sildenafil, is one of the most talked-about prescription medications on the planet. Patented in 1996 and hitting the market in 1998, its primary purpose is to help men achieve an erection. "Viagra is indicated for erectile dysfunction, pulmonary artery hypertension, and off label for Reynauds," Dr. Darren Mareiniss, MD, FACEP, Emergency Medicine Physician at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, explains to Eat This, Not That! Health. "If you don't have one of these issues, probably should not take it."
According to the National Institutes of Health, the drug, available as a tablet or liquid suspension, should be taken anywhere from four hours to 30 minutes prior to sexual activity. "Sildenafil usually should not be taken more than once every 24 hours," they note. So what can happen if you take viagra daily? Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
It Might Prevent Heart Attacks, Says Study
Can Viagra protect your heart? It looks promising. "Men with stable coronary artery disease who are on Viagra due to impotence seem to live longer and have a lower risk of experiencing a new heart attack, a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports," according to the press release. "Impotence can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease in healthy men and is treated either locally with alprostadil, which dilates the blood vessels so that the penis stiffens, or with so-called PDE5 inhibitors, such as Viagra or Cialis, which are taken in tablet form orally before sex, inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase5 (PDE5) in the penis to increase the blood flow."
"Potency problems are common in older men and now our study also shows that PDE5 inhibitors may protect against heart attack and prolong life," said study lead author Martin Holzmann.
It Will Improve Blood Flow to Your Penis
Viagra improves blood flow to the penis, stimulating an erection. However, it doesn't work on its own. You still need to be sexually aroused in order to get an erection.
It Should Improve Your Sex Life
Viagra is famous for helping men get an erection — which obviously can improve their sex life.
It Can Help Boost Your Mental Health
Multiple studies have found that regular sex has several mental health benefits. One of them? It can help reduce stress.
It Can Help You Get Regular Erections Back
There is scientific evidence that men who suffer from ED who take Viagra nightly — versus on an as-needed basis — found that normal erections returned. "If you would like to be sexually active in five years' time, take a quarter of a pill a night—we have data to show that will facilitate and prolong nocturnal erections," Professor Irwin Goldstein of Boston University, Massachusetts said in 2004.
It Might Impact Your Blood Pressure
Dr. Mareiniss says that Viagra can cause dangerously low blood pressure in a certain subset of patients. "It should not be given to patients who may take nitroglycerin," he points out.
It Can Cause Mild Side Effects
According to Dr. Mareiniss, the most common are flushing (feeling of warmth), headaches, dyspepsia (that's indigestion), and transient visual change. The NIH notes other side effects can include heartburn, diarrhea, nosebleeds, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs, muscle aches, changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green), or sensitivity to light. It's important to note that all medications have side effects; be sure to talk with your doctor before starting any.
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It Can Cause Severe Side Effects
The NIH warns that Viagra can cause severe side effects including sudden decrease or loss of hearing, ringing in ears, dizziness or lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain, blurred vision, worsening shortness of breath, erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours, itching or burning during urination, or rash. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
It Has Caused Vision Loss—in Very Rare Cases
Sudden severe loss of vision may be a rare but serious side effect. "Some patients experienced a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after they took sildenafil or other medications that are similar to sildenafil," explains the NIH. "The vision loss was permanent in some cases. It is not known if the vision loss was caused by the medication."
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Be Careful if You Have Pre-Existing Conditions
The NIH reveals that there have been reports of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, bleeding in the brain or lungs, high blood pressure, and sudden death in men who took sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. "Most, but not all, of these people had heart problems before taking sildenafil," they explain. "It is not known whether these events were caused by sildenafil, sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these and other causes. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking sildenafil."
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Read the Fine Print
Before you take Viagra or any drug, make sure to read the fine print. Pfizer includes all the potential side effects, drug interactions, and information about who should and shouldn't take Viagra on their website. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
