The latest drug craze to hit the news headlines involves a popular erectile dysfunction medication called Viagra, which is sometimes paired with another drug, Nitroglycerin.
Viagra and Nitroglycerin are both prescription medications used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence). They work by increasing blood flow to the penis, causing it to become rigid and erect for sexual activity. However, these drugs come with some dangerous interactions, so it’s important to be aware of them before you start taking them together. Here are just a few of the reasons why you shouldn’t take Viagra with Nitroglycerin:
They Have Different Effects
One of the main reasons why you shouldn’t take Viagra with Nitroglycerin is because their effects are not additive. That is, the effects of taking one will not be the same as taking both. The reason for this is that Viagra is a competitive inhibitor of certain blood platelets, while Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, or vasodilating agent.
As a result of this, taking Viagra with Nitroglycerin can lead to dangerous and/or unpleasant interactions for the patients who are using them. For instance, if you’re taking Viagra to treat your erectile dysfunction, the best thing you can do for your health is avoid taking Nitroglycerin. And vice versa. You should not take one drug to treat your erectile dysfunction and then the other drug to relieve angina.
They Have Different Side Effects
Besides having different effects, Viagra and Nitroglycerin also have different side effects. While Viagra can cause mild side effects like headache and flushing, Nitroglycerin can cause severe complications, including headache, diarrhea, and in some cases, even heart failure. Some also experience visual disturbances and dizziness when taking Nitroglycerin. These are just some of the more common side effects of these medications, and there are also some more rare side effects that occur with both of them. It’s best to avoid these drugs if you have any health problems or are taking any other medications.
They Have Different Interactions
As mentioned above, Viagra and Nitroglycerin have different effects. This means that they can have different interactions when taken together. For example, Viagra can inhibit the effects of Nitroglycerin in the heart, and Nitroglycerin can antagonize the effects of Viagra in the blood vessels. This is why it’s important to always consult your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking any medications, particularly those that are prescribed for different reasons.
They Have Different Availability/Restrictions
Another important consideration is the availability of these medications. Viagra is a generic drug and is widely available in most drugstores. Nitroglycerin, on the other hand, is a prescription-only drug which means that it’s not always easy to find. This is why if you’re taking either one of these medications, it’s essential to make sure that your doctor knows you are doing so. Otherwise, you could end up with some unpleasant surprises when it comes time to renew your prescription.
They Have Different Dosage
Viagra and Nitroglycerin also have different dosages. At least, they do in most cases. Viagra comes with a dosage of 25 mg per day as a starting point. However, if you have problems with sexual functioning, your doctor may adjust this dosage, or suggest an alternative treatment, like injections or a penis pump. Nitroglycerin, on the other hand, usually comes with a dosage of 2.5 mg per day as a starting point. This is usually given once, or twice daily, depending on the medication, or once a day if it’s the transdermal form. In cases of severe angina, or chest pain caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), the dosage can be increased to 10 mg per day. This is to relieve the chest pain and improve blood flow to the heart. The only problem is that if you have too high of a dosage, you can experience some of the side effects mentioned above.
They Have Different Absorption Rates
Yet another important consideration when it comes to medications, particularly those taken orally, is the rate at which they are absorbed by the body. Because antibiotics are more effective when they are absorbed faster, medications which are poorly absorbed have the potential to be less effective, or even cause trouble, when used in combination with other medications. One of the best examples of this is Viagra and Nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin is highly absorbed by the body, and because of this, it’s often combined with other medications or supplements which have a similar effect, like vitamins C and E. While the absorption rate for Viagra varies from person to person, it has an absorption rate of approximately 75%, which means that it’s quickly and effectively absorbed by the body. If you’re taking Viagra for erectile dysfunction, you should not take Nitroglycerin at the same time, as it can cause unpleasant interactions which may be harmful to your health.
They Have Different Established Uses/Routes Of Action
In most cases, Viagra and Nitroglycerin have different uses and/or routes of action. This means that they can be used for treating different conditions. Because of this, it is imperative to always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication, even if it’s ostensibly for the same purpose as another medication you’ve taken in the past. This is particularly important if you’re on some other medication which your doctor or pharmacist recommends you avoid, or vice versa.
They Have Different Strengths
Some medications have stronger effects than others, and Viagra and Nitroglycerin are no exception. As a result of this, it’s important to note that the effects of one drug can sometimes mask the effects of another, similar drug. This is why it’s always a good idea to read the ingredients in any given medication before you start taking it, to make sure that you know exactly what it is you’re putting in your body. It would be best to avoid any medications with opioid (narcotic) compounds in them, because these can cause dangerous overdose effects if you take too much.
They Are Not Always Appropriate
As mentioned above, not all patients will be able to benefit from the combination of Viagra and Nitroglycerin. This is because not all conditions will be alleviated by this treatment. Some examples of this are patients with heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease. In these cases, or in cases where the patient is already taking some medications to treat their conditions, the doctor may decide that some other treatment is more appropriate. In most cases, this will involve increasing the dose of the existing medication, or switching to another medication which has fewer side effects.
They Are Not Always Necessary
Sometimes, it’s not necessary to take medications to treat certain conditions. This is usually the case where there are healthier, and often more natural, alternatives which can be used to treat the same condition. An example of this would be Viagra and Nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction. While there are some proven benefits to medication, there are also many cases where alternative methods of treatment have been shown to work just as well or even better. In these cases, it’s generally not necessary to take medication, as the condition can be treated effectively through diet and exercise alone. In cases like this, it’s sometimes said that you don’t need medication, you just need to believe you can achieve the results you’re looking for.
They Can Be Harmful In Some Situations
Nowadays, there are many medications available which can be potentially dangerous when taken in combination with each other. This is particularly true in cases where one of the medications is a statin (a drug which lowers cholesterol), and the other is a drug which raises cholesterol. In cases like this, it is often recommended that the two medications be taken at separate times, so as to avoid any unpleasant interactions. One of the best examples of this is the combination of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Colesevelam (Winstrol), where the patient should not take them at the same time. To avoid any problems, it’s often recommended that you consult with your doctor, or pharmacist, so that they can advise you on what medication combination would be safest for you to take. In some situations, this may mean changing one of the medications, or finding an alternative that doesn’t interact with the other one.