Viagra Does Not Increase Risk of Heart Attack Symptoms in Men
May 19, 2001
Three new studies on Pfizer's wonder drug Viagra show that men who have heart conditions may still use the medication. After the Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra in 1998, it received several reports that men who used the drug had experienced heart attacks. Cardiologists believed that this was due to the fact that many of these men were not physically fit enough to have sex, thus putting their heart at risk.
Now a new study of 5,600 men conducted in England shows that those patients who took Viagra were at no greater risk of experiencing a heart attack than that those patients who did not take the drug. While this study was paid for by Pfizer, the company was in no way involved in the research. This study shows that sildenafil or Viagra, also known as sildenafil citrate, is safe for most patients, even those who have cardiovascular disease.
The second study showed that men who took the drug were actually able to exercise longer than those who took a placebo. The third study states that Viagra might decrease arterial stiffness, which may be the reason that men who take Viagra are able to exercise longer.
Most importantly, men who are using drugs that contain nitrates in any form should not take Viagra. Taking Viagra and nitrates concurrently could lead to low blood pressure (hypotension), and in some cases, extremely low blood pressure. Some doctors suggest that patients who take nitrates but would also like to use Viagra should first try taking Viagra without having sex. If after forty minutes, the blood pressure is not too low, then it may be safe to use Viagra for sexual purposes, doctors say. Doctors believe that patients should use caution when taking Viagra, regardless of medical conditions. Medical health professionals are of the opinion that men who would like to take the drug should speak with their doctors to discuss the best possible treatment options for their situation.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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