Is Viagra Dangerous?
Viagra by Pfizer is a prescription medication that helps men with erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence), to achieve and maintain an erection. It is taken as an oral pill, usually one hour before engaging in sexual activity. The overwhelming demand for Viagra, coupled with its easy availability online, has led many to wonder - “Is Viagra Dangerous?”.
While Viagra is generally considered to be a relatively easy to use and has a proven safety record, as with any prescription drugs there are precautions involved.
Precautions to take
You should not take Viagra, unless it has been prescribed by a doctor, be it face to face or through an online consultation. Tell your doctor of all non-prescription and prescription medication you may use, especially any nitrate medications (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate), or high blood pressure medicines. Viagra is dangerous if mixed with these medications. It should also be borne in mind that Viagra is not an aphrodisiac and also that its use does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B, gonorrhea).
Side Effects of Viagra
As is the case with all medications, Viagra can cause some side effects. These effects are usually mild to moderate and usually don’t last longer than a few hours. Some of these side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses.
The most common side effects of Viagra are:
- Headache
- Flushing of the face
- Upset stomach.
Less common side effects that may occur are temporary changes in color vision (such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a blue color tinge to them), eyes being more sensitive to light, or blurred vision. In rare instances, men have reported an erection that lasts many hours. You should call a doctor immediately if you ever have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours. If not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis could occur.
Heart attack, stroke, irregular heart beats, and death have been reported rarely in men taking Viagra. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to Viagra.