Viagra and Lisinopril are often used together in treating high blood pressure or hypertension. They are both ACE inhibitors, which are vasodilators. By relaxing blood vessels, they help lower blood pressure and prevent the formation of blood clots. In some people, taking these medications together may cause a dangerous situation where the ACE inhibitors seem to cancel out the benefits of the Viagra. Is this a dangerous situation or can these medications be taken together safely? Let’s take a look.
Combining The Treatments Does Not Increase The Effect
Some individuals might have experienced a dangerous situation where taking Viagra and Lisinopril together increased the hypotensive effect of the medications. While it is true that these medications work independently, it is often the case that taking them together does not show any additional effect above and beyond what either one alone can accomplish. In other words, there is no synergistic effect when combining these treatments. This does not mean that the medications are ineffective when administered together, but it simply means that their effects are not enhanced when combined with one another. For example, if you are taking 1 mg of Viagra and 20 mg of Lisinopril, you will experience the same hypotensive effect as if you were taking 20 mg of Lisinopril or 1 mg of Viagra alone. This is commonly referred to as an additive effect. The following chart illustrates the additive effect of combining Lisinopril with Viagra in lowering blood pressure:
So, if you are taking one of these medications and notice an additive effect when combined with the other, it would be best to continue taking them independently of one another. In some cases, people have had a positive response where taking both medications at the same time produced a greater effect than either one administered alone. However, this is very rare and often depends on each person’s specific medical history. It is also important to note that in most cases, taking each medication at the same time will not increase the effect of the medications, it will simply just combine their effects on your body.
Alcohol & Smoking Prevent A Dangerous Situation
Alcohol and tobacco are often used together in recreational settings such as bars and clubs. While many people consume alcohol socially, there is a population of individuals who use it as a means of self-medication. For example, if you have a high blood pressure or a history of heart disease, you should not consume alcohol. Similarly, people who are actively smoking should not take any form of medication, including Viagra. This is because tobacco hinders the actions of many medications, which means that the effects of these medications might be canceled out by the actions of the tobacco. One such example is Procter & Pfizer’s Dictate. Dictate is an antihypertensive medication and, as discussed above, alcohol has been shown to decrease the effects of many medications. If you are drinking alcohol and taking Dictate, the hypotensive effects of the medicine could be hindered, leading to a dangerous situation where the systolic blood pressure dips below 90 mm Hg.
Other Dangerous Combinations
There are many other combinations of medications that are known to be dangerous. For example, if you are taking an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and a blood thinner, the risk of bleeding increases. An NSAID suppresses the stomach’s ability to produce and secrete acids and, therefore, can interfere with the action of medication that promotes the digestion of proteins. Ingesting food while taking an NSAID can also cause ulcers because the medication interferes with the healing process. In addition, if you are taking an NSDI (nasal steroid drug) and an antidepressant, there is an increased risk of seizures because the combined effect of these two medications can be serotonergic in nature (i.e., they both interact with serotonin receptors). If you are taking an NSDI and a blood thinner, there is also an increased risk of bleeding because the medication can interfere with the clotting process. If you are taking an NSDI and an anti-diabetic medication, there is a risk of low blood sugar because the medication can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food. So, while all medications have risks and side effects, it is always best to consult with your doctor to determine the safest course of treatments for you.
In summary, it is often the case that medications, especially prescription medications, are not safe when taken together with one another. This is especially true for individuals whose health conditions put them at risk for adverse reactions to certain medications. In these cases, a doctor should be consulted to determine the safest course of treatments.