With all the recent attention on the legalization of recreational cannabis, the side effects of Viagra and alcohol have been brought back into the public eye. While the two substances have similar effects, there are some important differences that you should know about.
Alcohol’s More Direct Affect On The Brain
Alcohol is more directly and immediately toxic to the brain than Viagra is. This is important to keep in mind when comparing the two drugs’ side effects. The effects of alcohol do not manifest as slowly as those of Viagra and can be more severe. The toxicity of alcohol to the brain varies from person to person and can cause a wide array of symptoms, ranging from drowsiness and lightheadedness to headaches, confusion and memory loss. It is important to note that even at low levels, alcohol can cause serious damage to the human brain.
On the other hand, the effects of Viagra usually appear much more slowly in the body. For this reason, it is more commonly associated with indirect effects such as heightened senses and sexual stimulation. While not all individuals experience these effects at the same time, they are usually most notable with chronic use. The side effects of Viagra (such as headaches, disorientation and dizziness) can be more severe than those of alcohol and often lead to addiction if not properly managed. Fortunately, Viagra is much more readily available than alcohol and is almost always prescribed for the treatment of impotence.
Different Ways They Are Appraised
Another important difference between the two substances is how their side effects are generally assessed and perceived. To begin with, while alcohol is often considered a ‘social’ drug, Viagra is more often presented in medical journals as a ‘medical’ drug. This distinction can be somewhat confusing, as both substances affect the body’s endocannabinoid system, which in turn impacts a person’s social behavior. However, the medical community generally tends to assess the side effects of Viagra more thoroughly and in a more clinical manner than that of alcohol, which may explain why the former is more often mentioned in relation to addiction and overdose (among other things).
Additionally, since most people are more familiar with the side effects of alcohol than those of Viagra, it is often assumed that the two are comparable when it comes to their risks. This is not the case, as alcohol is more readily available and thus more likely to be abused than Viagra. Finally, while both substances have similar effects on the body, they can be used in different ways, which may impact how their side effects are perceived. For example, while a person could certainly drink alcohol to alleviate the effects of Viagra, the two do not complement each other in this manner. Thus, the side effects of the combination of the two are likely to be more severe than either substance would alone.
Overall, the differences between the side effects of Viagra and alcohol are significant and should not be treated as coincidences. Instead, it is important to carefully consider the risks associated with each drug individually before combining them in any manner. This is especially important for people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, who are more likely to experience adverse effects from the combination of the two substances.