You wake up one morning and decide to throw away your nighttime medication – perhaps you’ve had a rough night with sleep apnea or you’re just trying to cut back on your pill intake – and before you know it, you’re reading the drug’s package insert looking for the safest dose for your particular body type and lifestyle.
Viagra, the popular brand-name drug for male erectile dysfunction, is one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. Introduced in the 1990s, the drug is now a multibillion-dollar business, selling for as little as $4 a pill when bought in bulk. Its popularity stems from the fact that in many cases, it’s a safe and effective alternative to other ED treatments such as psychotherapy and injection therapy (which, in some cases, can be life-saving).
What you may not know is that while Viagra is generally considered to be a safe and effective treatment for ED, it’s not entirely without risks. There are several possible side effects and safety concerns that you should be aware of, and the medication’s package insert contains a list of them. Here, we’ll review some of the more serious ones and how you can still benefit from the drug without risking your health.
Heart Attack And Stroke
One of the most serious risks associated with Viagra is sudden cardiac death (SCD). This is caused by abnormal heart rhythms and can be triggered by a number of factors, including stress, anxiety, and depression. For this reason, Viagra should be avoided by patients with pre-existing heart conditions and by those who are at a higher risk of heart disease. If you have a history of heart problems in your family, you should also know that taking Viagra increases your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Luckily, these are extremely rare side effects; only about 1 in 100,000 people suffer from any sort of cardiovascular side effect due to Viagra intake. Nevertheless, since the drug was introduced in the 1990s, many case reports of people having a heart attack or stroke while taking Viagra have emerged.
Dizziness, Headache, And Drowsiness
Another potential side effect of Viagra is severe dizziness, nausea, and headache. While these are relatively rare, they can be very unpleasant side effects. You should also know that drowsiness is another side effect of the drug and, in some cases, has been known to be severe enough to cause car accidents. Fortunately, these were also relatively rare side effects and had only been observed in a small number of people taking the drug. Still, since the risks associated with Viagra were first made public, many doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug and instead recommended alternative treatments for ED. As a result, the number of prescriptions written for Viagra has steadily decreased over the years.
Vision Changes And Loss Of Consciousness
A third potential side effect of Viagra is a change in a person’s vision. In some cases, men taking Viagra have reported an increase in their myopia (nearsightedness), while in others, it’s caused an either increase or decrease in the size of their pupils. Although the research is inconclusive at this point, it’s quite possible that these changes in vision are directly linked to an increased risk of blindness. This is particularly concerning since many people with ED are already at a higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Still, since these risks were first made public, many doctors have been unwilling to prescribe Viagra to their patients. Instead, they’ve recommended alternative treatments for ED, which have fewer risks.
Memory Loss And Trouble With Concentration
It’s also worth noting that while some people taking Viagra have not experienced any serious side effects, others have reported significant memory loss and trouble with concentration. These adverse effects seem to be more prevalent in people with a history of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in their family. Although the medication has been around for nearly 20 years and has a relatively good safety record, these risks were so serious that in 2017, the FDA required additional warnings be placed on the drug’s label. Since then, reports of memory loss and confusion have continued to appear in the medical literature. For these reasons, doctors should exercise extreme caution when prescribing Viagra to patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Alternative treatments that do not carry these risks should be considered first.
Blood In The Urine
Another risk associated with Viagra is the possibility of blood in the urine. In rare cases, men taking the drug have reported blood in their urine, as well as in their stools, following an erection. Although this is fairly uncommon, it’s still a possible side effect that you should know about. Checking for blood in the urine is as easy as looking in the mirror before you go to the bathroom. If you need to tell if your urine is free of blood, you can use a reagent-based test at home or in a pharmacy. Fortunately, this side effect was found to be incredibly rare and most cases go unreported. Still, since the risks associated with Viagra were first made public, many doctors have been reluctant to prescribe the drug and have instead recommended alternative treatments for ED. As a result, the number of prescriptions written for the medication has steadily decreased over the years.
Longer Or Irregular Hormone Break
Some men taking Viagra have also reported that the drug causes long or irregular hormone breaks. Although these breaks are not harmful, they are certainly an inconvenience. If you’re taking the drug and experience a long break in your hormones, it may be an indication that your body is not producing enough of the reproductive hormones needed for sexual function. In that case, you may need to supplement your hormones or consider alternative prescriptions for ED. Still, since the risks associated with Viagra were first made public, many doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug and have instead recommended alternative treatments for ED. As a result, the number of prescriptions written for the medication has steadily decreased over the years.
Fortunately, the risks associated with Viagra are relatively mild and the benefits of the medication clearly outweigh the risks. Still, as previously stated, since the medication is relatively new, little research has been done on exactly how safe it is, and more studies are needed to find the exact long-term effects.
Is 100mg of Viagra Safe?
In general, the side effects and risks associated with Viagra seem to be relatively mild and acceptable. Still, since these risks were first made public, many doctors have been unwilling to prescribe the drug and have instead recommended alternative treatments for ED. As a result, the number of prescriptions written for the medication has steadily decreased over the years. If you follow the right diet and lifestyle, the potential risks and side effects of Viagra are not something to worry about. But, as with any new medication or treatment, more studies are needed to determine the long-term safety of this drug.