Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that impacts approximately 10 to 30 million men in the United States. The drug called Viagra is often prescribed by doctors as a treatment for males who suffer with ED. The medication contains sildenafil citrate, which has proven to be an effective treatment for healthy men with the medical condition. On the other hand, in small incidences, it is thought to have caused serious cardiovascular complications, including significant hypotension, in patients who have heart disease.
The highest risks are with people who are taking organic nitrates and Viagra at the same time. Organic nitrate pills are frequently prescribed to help relieve and prevent the symptoms of angina pectoris. When sildenafil citrate and nitrates are both administered to a patient, it greatly intensifies the risk of causing dangerous hypotension. With this said, Viagra should never be prescribed to individuals who are on any form of nitrate treatment.
Viagra can be Potentially Hazardous to Patients Diagnosed with:
Active coronary ischemia
Borderline low blood volume
Congestive heart failure
Low blood pressure
Patients who are taking any type of prescription that may interfere with the metabolic support of Viagra
There have been random studies done on people who are on complex, multidrug antihypertensive therapy regiments, including hypertensive patients. In many cases, the patients were managed with prescriptions of one to three antihypertensive agents. Nevertheless, pending further studies, patients on multidrug antihypertensive therapy programs should be prescribed Viagra with great caution.
Sildenafil citrate acts as an incisive inhibitor of cyclic GMP or phosphodiesterase type 5. It results in a smooth muscle relaxation and widening of blood vessels, which creates an enhanced penile erection. The issue is that this drug can have an effect on all arteries in the body, not just the blood vessels in the penis. Sildenafil citrate generates nitric oxide, which causes the blood pressure to provisionally drop by 5-8 mmHg.
Even though the cardiovascular effects of Viagra conveyed in previous organized clinical trials were comparatively insignificant, patients with heart disease have made up a relatively small fraction of the individuals who were studied. Furthermore, conclusive studies have never been done on patients with uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction or people who have suffered a recent stroke.
