Last month, the FDA warned a manufacturer of a popular erectile-dysfunction drug that it had received complaints of people having visual hallucinations while on the medication. Reports indicated that these side effects may be caused by the interaction of sildenafil with alcohol or certain medications. Since then, the label for Viagra has been changed to alert doctors and patients about the possible risks of the drug.
Why Is This Important?
The label on a drug or supplement is one of the most important parts of the package. It provides vital information about the product and helps ensure that patients and doctors know what they are dealing with. Unfortunately, the label on the erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra, as well as several others we’ve seen lately, has serious flaws that lack essential information. This makes it difficult to know what you’re really getting if you buy Viagra online or at a retail pharmacy. Luckily, we’ve been able to piece together some of the information from different sources to figure out what is really going on.
What Do We Know So Far?
So far, the information we know indicates that Viagra may, in fact, be a scam. The medication seems to work as advertised, but reports from users who’ve attempted to recreate the effect in others and what is known as self-experimentation all point to problems with the compound. First, there’s the issue of how the drug is manufactured. Most likely, it is crushed and purified at a lab before being packaged and shipped. This makes it easy for unscrupulous people to tamper with the drug and, thus, create either a counterfeit or a substandard bottle.
Then there’s the problem of how the drug is stored. Most likely, it is stored in a refrigerator at a retail pharmacy or in the freezer at a medical clinic. Since the medication is a potent vasodilator and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, it is highly susceptible to either being damaged or degraded by exposure to high temperatures. What this means is that the effects of the medication can be significantly lowered or, even worse, completely inhibited.
A report in The New England Journal of Medicine detailed one of the problems patients were having while taking Viagra. The report states that patients using the drug for erectile dysfunction began, in some cases, having suicidal thoughts or committing other, more dangerous, acts. The majority of these patients were also taking medications for depression or heart disease. It seems that having a serious medical condition may increase a person’s chances of having suicidal thoughts or committing other dangerous acts while on or after taking Viagra. This is something the FDA and other regulatory agencies should take into consideration.
Why Are People Indulging In Self-Experimentation?
In the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people trying to self-experiment with drugs they’ve purchased online or from a retail pharmacy. Sometimes, these people, particularly those who’ve purchased counterfeit or substandard versions of popular medications, will try to ‘recreate the effect’ they’ve seen in others or seen depicted in ads. Sometimes, this means taking large doses of the medication or, more dangerously, combining it with other substances to see what happens. It’s a form of experimentation that, in some cases, has led to very serious complications. This is something that doctors and pharmacists need to be on the lookout for as well as the public-safety regulators who are tasked with keeping an eye on the medication’s manufacturers.
Self-Experimentation And Suicidal Thoughts
Anecdotal evidence indicates that Viagra can cause suicidal thoughts and other adverse reactions in some patients. In other words, just because a drug or supplement seems to work for others does not mean it is safe or effective for you. Remember: You are unique and have a different biological makeup than those for whom the drug was initially designed. Therefore, you may be more susceptible to its harmful effects.
What Is The Proper Way To Take Viagra?
Whether you’re buying Viagra online or at a retail pharmacy, the proper way to take the medication is the same: Follow the instructions that come with the package. If you notice, even the questionable and counterfeit bottles of Viagra have the same warnings and precautions on their labels as the original: ‘Take this medication only as directed by your physician’ and ‘Do not take this medication if you are already taking nitrates’. Nitrates are found in some medications and foods, including vegetables, and act as vasodilators. They can cause adverse effects, especially when taken in excessive amounts. Patients who are at risk for heart disease should not take nitrates at all, while those who are not at risk may take it intermittently. It’s usually recommended that you not take nitrates unless you have a medical need, and even then, your physician should decide whether you need them or not.
Final Takeaway
So far, the evidence seems to point to a bad drug with an unclear safety profile. Since the medication is so widely used, it is likely that many people are already in harm’s way. Unless and until we know more about this compound, we should seriously consider avoiding it.