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Viagra is the most popular drug used today in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, also known as ED or impotence in the old fashioned way. Millions of men around the world occasionally or regularly resort to taking this drug to normalize their sex life. Viagra is chosen because it is distinguished by its excellent efficiency and helps to cope with problems with potency caused by both physiological and psychological reasons, as well as their combination. However, there is quite an active controversy about the impact of Viagra on the health of a man taking it, in addition to the reproductive system. We are talking about the cardiovascular system, kidneys and liver, the effect of Viagra on the course of chronic concomitant diseases.
Is Viagra Bad for Your Heart?
The most common question from men thinking about the need to take Viagra is whether Viagra is bad for the heart.
Men’s concerns about the effects of Viagra’s active ingredient Sildenafil quote on the cardiovascular system are understandable, because among the contraindications to taking Viagra are primarily diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as heart failure and high blood pressure. However, the issue of Viagra’s safety for the heart is much more complicated.
This drug really cannot be taken without consulting a specialist, especially if a man has heart problems. This is because Viagra’s side effects may include effects such as increased heart rate, an increase or a sharp decrease in blood pressure. However, the myths that circulated in the early years of Viagra’s existence that this drug could allegedly have a strong negative effect on the heart have long been debunked. Moreover, one large study, the results of which were recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, shows that taking PDE5 inhibitors generally reduces the risk of developing serious adverse cardiovascular events and total cardiac mortality among men taking them. The study included both men who were completely healthy in terms of cardiovascular system and patients with cardiovascular risk factors. If you follow the dosage recommended by your doctor and use common sense when taking the medicine, paying close attention to your health, it should not harm the heart.
Can Viagra Cause a Heart Attack?
Many people, however, wonder whether Viagra can cause a heart attack. Sometimes the tabloids publish articles about celebrities dying of heart disease after taking Viagra. However, as a rule, such news doesn’t take into account that such deaths, although they do happen from time to time, are associated not so much with taking the drug itself, but with a violation of safety technology when using it. The vast majority of men who have experienced a myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death after taking Viagra had strict contraindications to its use, and also combined this drug with large amounts of alcohol or even drugs. Of course, in such a situation, the cardiovascular system simply cannot cope with the additional load in the form of some effect exerted by Sildenafil. If Viagra was approved for use by a doctor and the man did not violate the instructions, did not take this medicine together with drugs with which it is better not to combine it, and didn’t exceed the recommended dosage, it is most likely possible to say with confidence that he is not at risk of a heart attack.
Why Is Viagra Bad for The Heart?
If Viagra was approved for use by a doctor and the man did not violate the instructions, did not take this medicine together with drugs with which it is better not to combine it, and did not exceed the recommended dosage, it is most likely possible to say with confidence that he is not at risk of a heart attack.
If taken together with anti-angina drugs, especially nitrates, blood pressure may drop sharply and the risk of heart attack may increase. Too sharp, strong dilation of blood vessels and subsequent sudden drop in blood pressure is dangerous for the patient. It should be remembered that men with coronary heart disease, angina, low cardiovascular endurance should avoid this drug or take it in small doses under strict medical supervision.
In general, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction symptoms and resort to taking Viagra to treat them should be aware of some warning signs that may indicate that it is advisable to reduce the dosage of the drug or consult a doctor about the advisability of its continued use or switching to another drug. These include, first of all, chest pain after taking Viagra, as well as a feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart, when it seems to skip a beat. This is similar to the situation when you expected to feel a step under your foot, but there was none. Severe tachycardia should also be alarming, especially if you begin to choke or if you experience chest pain that radiates to the back or left shoulder. In such cases, it is better to spend time and money on a consultation with a specialist than to cause serious harm to the health of your cardiovascular system.
Can You Take Viagra with AFIB?
AFIB is a fast, irregular heartbeat. Symptoms include irregular heartbeats, sometimes weakness, decreased exercise tolerance, and anxiety. Although this condition is quite unpleasant and requires treatment, Viagra doesn’t cause it. In fact, this medication even tends to suppress arrhythmia by protecting heart muscle cells from excess calcium, which is often the cause of arrhythmia. That’s the answer to the question if Viagra triggers AFIB. It is interesting that scientists have been coming to these conclusions for more than two decades, and only recently these data were confirmed by specialists from the University of Manchester, and information about this study was published in the journal Circulation research.
Arterial Pressure and Corresponding Drugs
Each man reacts individually to taking Viagra and its generics. This is due to the fact that all organisms have individual sensitivity to Sildenafil Citrate. For some, taking this medicine causes a drop in blood pressure, for others, a decrease. If you generally tolerate Viagra well, and its use is not accompanied by a sharp increase in blood pressure, mild to moderate arterial hypertension is not a contraindication to taking Viagra.
Can You Take Viagra if on High Blood Pressure Medication?
As a rule, Viagra can be taken together with drugs used to lower blood pressure, with the exception of nitrates and alpha-blockers such as doxazosin or terazosin. The fact is that taking Viagra in combination with alpha-blockers or nitrates can lead to serious consequences, including fainting, or even death due to a sharp drop in blood pressure. At least 24 hours should pass between taking Viagra and similar drugs. As for other drugs, for example, beta-blockers, diuretics or drugs used to thin the blood, their use in combination with Viagra is not contraindicated.
Kidneys and Diabetes
Is Viagra Safe for Diabetics?
Diabetes mellitus is a severe systemic disease, due to which many medications that are well tolerated by people without diabetes are not available to patients. However, diabetes and Viagra go well together. Diabetes mellitus, whether type 1 or type 2, is not a contraindication to taking Viagra. Viagra is completely safe for men with diabetes. Moreover, if diabetics take Viagra, they demonstrate a reduced risk of heart attack and increased survival after a heart attack.
It should be noted that Viagra is in high demand among patients with diabetes. This is explained by the fact that this disease often provokes a disruption in the functioning of blood vessels. Their degradation occurs, and in addition to problems with the vessels of the lower extremities and the retina, which all diabetics are aware of, the vessels of the genitals can also suffer to a significant extent, causing erectile dysfunction. This is especially true, especially if diabetes compensation is insufficiently effective.
Is Viagra Bad for Kidneys?
Viagra is excreted from the body mainly by the intestines and to a lesser extent by the kidneys. In mild to moderate renal failure, the pharmacokinetic parameters of Sildenafil after a single oral dose of 50 mg do not change. In severe renal failure, the clearance of Sildenafil decreases, and this leads to a twofold increase in the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood. In mild to moderate renal failure (CC 30-80 ml/min), dose adjustment is not required, in severe renal failure (CC <30 ml/min), the dose of sildenafil should be reduced to 25 mg.
| Renal Failure Severity | Creatinine Clearance (ml/min) | Recommended Viagra Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Mild to Moderate | 30–80 | No dose adjustment required |
| Severe | <30 | Initial dose of 25 mg |
Does Viagra Affect Kidney Function?
In general, Viagra is considered a drug with a high safety profile for the kidneys and urinary system. Even if a man is on dialysis, it is not a contraindication for taking Viagra. However, you should be careful if you know that you have kidney problems and are still going to take Viagra or its generics.
Can You Take Viagra If You Have Kidney Disease?
Sildenafil should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease, because an inappropriate dosage of Sildenafil in such patients can cause quite serious complications. This applies not only to men with kidney failure, but also to those with other kidney diseases. It is also important to remember that the maximum daily dosage of Sildenafil is 100 mg. It should not be exceeded. There are even reports of cases of acute tubular necrosis in men with kidney inflammation who took large doses of Sildenafil. This condition is irreversible and directly threatens the patient’s life.
In order to minimize the impact of Viagra on the body’s excretory system, you should drink more water. This will help reduce the degree of impact of Sildenafil on the kidneys, especially if a man has kidney failure. If you are taking this drug, please note that in case of kidney disease it is better not to do this on an empty stomach or at least you should wash down the tablet with at least a whole glass of water, and preferably more.
