Beware of using Viagra® without medical advice

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Extract from the article: Viagra® (sildenafil) is prescribed by doctors to treat or improve erectile dysfunction. However, many people, including young people and adolescents, take sildenafil without medical advice. This is simply to increase their sexual performance, even if

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Viagra® (sildenafil) is prescribed by doctors to treat or improve erectile dysfunction. However, many people, including young people and adolescents, take sildenafil without medical advice. This is simply to increase their sexual performance, even if they are not suffering from erectile dysfunction.

The use of sildenafil has many negative health consequences, including reduced natural erection, low blood pressure, heart attack, loss of vision and prolonged erections. For those who make a habit of it, the side-effects on their health are manifold.

Reduced natural erection

The erection is a natural dynamic function that follows a given process. When a man takes erection-enhancing drugs without suffering from erectile dysfunction, the erection is no longer natural.  Instead of being a natural response, the erection becomes artificially induced, automatic, faster, harder and longer lasting. This can reduce self-confidence and lead to psychological erectile dysfunction. The more you use it, the less confidence you have in your ability to achieve and maintain an erection without medication. All this can lead to erectile dysfunction later on.

Sildenafil promotes hypotension

When sildenafil is combined with drugs used to treat angina pectoris, heart failure or heart attacks, it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. The best way to avoid this is never to combine them.

Prolonged erections

Taking sildenafil in the absence of any erectile dysfunction can lead to longer-lasting erections. This can lead to priapism, which is a painful, abnormal, involuntary erection lasting up to 2 hours, with the risk of causing irreversible damage to the penis.

Sildenafil dangerous for eyesight

Sildenafil can cause loss of vision in men with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare hereditary disease. Some men may think they have normal vision but unknowingly suffer from this disease.  Sildenafil can interrupt blood flow to the optic nerve and can lead to permanent vision loss, which is favoured by certain eye diseases.

However, sildenafil is not inadvisable for all people with sexual dysfunction and eye problems. It is important to talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.

Sildenafil and heart problems

Sildenafil is contraindicated for patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes because it can worsen their heart condition. Taking sildenafil may increase the risk of a heart attack during sex.

Warning

An overdose does not increase the efficacy of the product, but it does increase the adverse effects and their severity. In most cases, these include headaches, a feeling of heat in the face, blood pressure problems, nosebleeds and hearing problems.

Any use of sildenafil should ideally be preceded by a medical examination to assess its appropriateness and possible risks. Consult a doctor and strictly follow medical instructions to avoid overdosing.

William O.

Article validated by Dr Jean-Claude Bakpatina, General Practitioner at the Floréal Clinic in Lomé.