About
Viagra
This is a summary of the most important
information about Viagra. For details, talk to your healthcare
professional.
Usage
Viagra is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the
treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a
condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man
is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection.
Viagra may help a man with ED get and keep an
erection when he is sexually excited. Viagra must be used only
under a doctor’s care.
Viagra does not:
-
cure ED
-
increase a man’s sexual desire
-
protect a man or his partner from
sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to
your healthcare professional about ways to guard
against sexually transmitted diseases.
-
serve as a male form of birth
control
Viagra is only for men with ED. Viagra is not
for women or children. Viagra must be used only under a
healthcare professional’s care.
Precautions
Do not take Viagra if you:
-
take any medicines called
“nitrates”
-
use recreational drugs called “poppers”
like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate
-
have been told by your healthcare
professional to not have sexual activity because of
health problems
Side Effects
The following are the major possible
risks and side effects of Viagra therapy. This list is not
complete.
Viagra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an
unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines such
as nitrates and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that
contain nitrates called “poppers.” A sudden drop in your blood
pressure could cause you to become dizzy, faint, or have a
heart attack or stroke.
Tell all your healthcare professionals that you take Viagra. If
you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be
important for your healthcare professionals to know when you
last took Viagra.
Viagra may uncommonly cause:
-
an erection that won’t go away
(priapism)
-
vision changes, such as seeing a blue
tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the
difference between the colors blue and green
Some common side effects with Viagra
include:
-
headache
-
flushing
-
upset stomach
-
stuffy or runny nose
-
urinary tract infection
-
diarrhea
Consultation
Tell your healthcare professional if you:
-
have or had heart problems
-
have low blood pressure or have high
blood pressure that is not controlled
-
have had a stroke
-
have liver problems
-
have ever had severe vision loss
-
have kidney problems or require
dialysis
-
have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare
genetic (runs in families) eye disease
-
have stomach ulcers
-
have a bleeding problem
-
have a deformed penis shape or
Peyronie’s disease
-
have had an erection that lasted more
than 4 hours
-
have blood cell problems such as sickle
cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
-
are taking a medicine called a protease
inhibitor for the treatment of HIV
-
are taking medicines called alpha
blockers (alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for
prostate problems or high blood pressure)
Drug Interaction
Viagra and certain other medicines can
interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional
about all the medicines you take including prescription and
non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of
them with you to show your healthcare professional.
FDA ALERT [07/2005]: A
small number of men have lost eyesight in one eye some time
after taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. This type of vision
loss is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
(NAION). NAION causes a sudden loss of eyesight because blood
flow is blocked to the optic nerve.
We do not know at this time if Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra causes
NAION. NAION also happens in men who do not take these
medicines. People who have a higher chance for NAION include
those who:
FDA has approved new labels for Viagra, Cialis,
and Levitra to include information on possible eyesight loss
(NAION).
Stop using Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra if you have a loss in
your eyesight. Get medical help right away.
This information reflects FDA’s current analysis of data
available to FDA concerning this drug.
Reference for Viagra Article
U.S. Food and Drud
Administration
Health Related
Websites
The National Cancer
Institute
The National Eye Institute
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug
Abuse
National Institute of Mental
Health
National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke
| 
Medical Research