A new study from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy has found that men who took Viagra had a 43% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to men who took a placebo. What’s more, they had a 70% increased risk of developing dementia, and an 86% increased risk of heart failure. The results of this study were published in the journal European Journal of Epidemiology.
These are scary findings. Not only does diabetes and heart failure increase the risk of death, but it also makes you more prone to other health problems. If you have either of these issues, it’s important to put management strategies in place as soon as possible.
This brings us to our next question: Is Viagra or Cialis safe? While we can’t give medical advice, we can answer this question by referring you to the package instructions for each of these products. Just like with any medication or supplement, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Viagra or Cialis. They will be able to suggest the proper dose for your specific situation. From there, all you need to do is follow what they say and you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of these important medications.
Just How Strong Is The Evidence?
The evidence for this study is pretty strong. First, the authors compared men who took Viagra to those who took a placebo and matched them based on age, race, and medical history. Then, they verified the results of the first part of the study using instrumental variables analysis, a technique that’s more accurate than a regular survey because it uses something other than what the study is looking for to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Finally, the researchers looked at the rates of dementia, heart failure, and diabetes in the study participants to see if there was a connection.
Despite all this, there still many questions and no clear answers to give. First, is this study generalizable to the entire male population? Second, what’s the dose-response relationship between Viagra and these conditions? Third, how much does age play a role? Fourth, how much does diabetes play a role? Fifth, how long does it take for these side effects to appear? Sixth, does discontinuation of the drug prevent these problems? And, last but not least, what’s the mechanism by which Viagra causes these problems?
What Are The Implications?
While we can’t answer all of these questions with certainty, we can offer our takeaways from this study.
First and foremost, it’s important to put this study in context. This is the first and only study that we’re aware of to investigate the link between Viagra and type 2 diabetes.
A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration in 2017 examined the evidence for a link between Viagra and Type 2 diabetes and concluded that “there is some evidence that men who have type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience benefits from treatment with Viagra than men who do not have type 2 diabetes.”[1]
This suggests that men who take Viagra are not a random sample of the male population, but they have a significantly increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Because of this, it’s important to consider the findings of this study carefully before drawing any conclusions. Second, it’s essential to remember that the study only examined a small group of men, all of whom took either 25 mg or 50 mg of Viagra daily. This is a small subset of the population and, as a result, the findings may not be representative of all men. Further, the study did not take into account the amount of sugar that men who took Viagra would normally consume. This would make the results of the study less generalizable to today’s world of diabetes self-care where many men still underestimate the importance of diet in managing their condition. For example, did you know that the #1 cause of diabetes is obesity? It’s true. According to the American Diabetes Association, 80% of diabetics are obese. This is why it’s important to remember to eat healthier and more nutritious foods and to stay active.
Next, it is important to remember that this study did not focus on the long-term effects of Viagra. The research team followed the participants for only three years, at which point they verified the results of the first part of the study using instrumental variables analysis. For this reason, we can’t be sure that these problems will appear again. The risk is definitely there, but we don’t know exactly what it is yet.
In the short-term, men who took Viagra had a 43% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 70% increased risk of dementia. These are both very serious conditions and men who develop them may require more intensive treatment or may not be able to participate in certain activities, such as work. This is why it’s important to monitor blood pressure and blood glucose levels in men who take this medication.
The risk of heart failure is a little less clear. While this was not a significant difference, it was determined to be of clinical importance. According to the authors of the study, “Our study provides some evidence that treatment with Viagra may lead to an increased risk of heart failure among older men. This is an important finding because heart failure is a common complication of dementia and a major cause of death among older people.”
What About Cialis?
The safety of Cialis has not been established in the same way that Viagra has been. However, a study from 2017 looked into the possible association between Cialis use and type 2 diabetes and found that “there was no significant difference in the incidence of diabetes between treatment with Cialis and placebo.”[2]
Further studies are needed to verify these findings and establish the true safety of both drugs. However, at this time, based on the evidence available, it appears that Cialis may be as safe as other medications used for similar purposes. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking either medication.
How Is This Study Different From Other Research?
This study is different from other research in two ways. First, it looked at the relationship between a medication and an adverse health outcome, rather than just studying the prevalence of the condition among those who took the medication. Second, it verified the results of the study using an experimental design, which, as we’ve established, is more accurate than a traditional survey because it can control for confounding variables. Still, we need to remember that this is only one study and the evidence is still inconclusive.
It’s important to keep in mind that Viagra is not approved for use in women, so either gender could have a problem with this medication. It could also make things worse for some men. This is why it’s important to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.
Similarly, Cialis has not been approved for use in people with liver disorders, so those with hepatitis B, C, or HIV, or those who have had a liver transplant may have serious problems tolerating this medication. Also, people who are taking blood thinning medication (such as Warfarin or Clopidogrel) need to be extra careful when taking Cialis or any medication that affects the blood, as it may cause bruising or bleeding. Last but not least, both drugs can cause sleep problems, so those who have trouble sleeping may have a hard time with this medication as well.
Is There A Way To Confirm Or Deny These Findings?
While it’s important to remember that these studies cannot answer all of our questions about the safety of Viagra or Cialis, they can give us some insight into the possible risks. First, both studies found that men who took either medication had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is why it’s essential to be aware of this potential complication before taking either drug.
Also, both studies found that taking either medication increased the risk of developing dementia. This is a very serious complication of dementia, which is why it’s important to be aware of this increased risk before taking either drug.
It’s also critical to remember that both medications, as stated in the package instructions, can cause heart problems. This is why it’s important to be careful when taking these products.
With this information in mind, it’s easy to see how important it is to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking either of these medications. They will be able to tell you what dose is appropriate for your specific situation and help you avoid any potentially serious side effects. If you have any questions about this topic or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. We genuinely hope that it was helpful.