7 Side Effects Of Viagra That You Must Know Before Giving It A Try
The most widely used treatment for erectile dysfunction, Viagra, is generally effective and safe. However, less than two percent of men who use it may experience negative effects.
Most of these adverse effects subside within a few hours and are usually not severe. Men with erectile dysfunction can be treated with the oral drug Viagra.
When the penis receives more blood, it expands and becomes stiff, resulting in an erection. The corpora cavernosa, which are two lengthy chambers inside the penis contain spongy tissue that gathers blood streaming into the chambers providing the pressure that causes the penis to expand.
The majority of the often reported negative effects of Viagra are transient.
Since sildenafil, one of the most commonly used Viagra, has a half-life of roughly 4 hours, unpleasant side effects like upset stomachs, nausea, and headaches should subside within four to twelve hours.
In this article, we will be looking at some of the side effects associated with Viagra.
Following are some of the side effects of Viagra-
High Blood Pressure
The original purpose of Viagra was to reduce blood pressure in patients with excessive blood pressure or pulmonary arterial hypertension in the arteries.
The same company that makes Viagra, Pfizer, also sells a sildenafil medication known as Revatio that is only designed to treat pulmonary hypertension.
Viagra reduces blood pressure, so if it drops too low, it could be problematic.
Many of the typical Viagra or Sildenafil adverse effects include–
Drowsiness, fainting, unexpected falls, and feeling lightheaded when standing can be mildly brought on by low blood pressure.
However, clinically significant low blood pressure has only ever been documented in patients who also used other blood pressure drugs, most notably alpha-blockers in addition to Viagra.
Headaches
One of the most frequent adverse effects of Viagra is headaches, which afflict 24% of men who use the drug.
The headaches brought on by Viagra are often not severe and go away as the drug’s bloodstream concentration decreases.
All of these medications increase blood vessel size, which enhances blood flow to the penis’ erectile tissue.
Your blood vessel enlargement may cause headache discomfort by increasing blood flow to your brain, which in turn causes headaches in some people.
Any headaches you experience from Viagra should eventually lessen in intensity as the drug’s effects wear off and your blood vessels start to tighten.
You can most of the time address Viagra headaches by changing your dosage or utilizing over-the-counter painkillers.
Long-lasting Erection
Viagra increases blood flow to the penis, which is how it works.
These positive benefits can, however, occasionally linger longer than you’d like. If blood cannot properly drain back out, this occurs.
Even though it’s uncommon, priapism, an erection that lasts more than 4 hours can occur. It can also be excruciatingly uncomfortable.
Seek quick medical assistance if you have a prolonged erection.
You might be hesitant to seek medical attention in this situation, but it’s crucial. That’s because, if untreated, priapism can cause irreparable harm to your penis.
Dyspepsia
Because Viagra affects the smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, one of its frequent side effects is dyspepsia or indigestion.
The smooth muscular tissue in your penis begins to relax after you take Viagra, increasing blood flow.
The lower esophageal sphincter, a collection of muscles that separate your esophagus and stomach, is one example of smooth muscle tissue where this action also occurs.
Because of this, a small amount of stomach acid may enter your esophagus from your stomach.
Gaviscon, an over-the-counter antacid that forms a barrier on top of the contents of your stomach, can be used to relieve heartburn brought on by Viagra.
A glass of water may ease discomfort if you take Viagra and feel mild chest pain or heartburn connected to indigestion.
If you frequently get indigestion or heartburn after using Viagra, talk to your doctor about switching to lower drug dosage.
Additionally, it’s crucial to refrain from ingesting excessive amounts of alcohol when using Viagra because this can potentially worsen heartburn by further relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter.
Body Ache
Some persons who take Viagra experience generalized muscle aches and discomfort. Others have described having distinct lower back pain.
Backaches are one of the negative effects of Viagra, which may seem strange, but many men who experience erectile dysfunction also report experiencing lower back pain.
Age is one justification for this as with age, testosterone levels, and muscle mass decrease. Loss of muscle mass can lead to mobility restrictions and decreased bodily strength.
Over-the-counter pain relievers may be helpful if you experience these forms of pain while taking Viagra. However, you should discuss additional pain-related issues with your doctor.
Your doctor may assist you in selecting an over-the-counter drug that is acceptable to take alongside your viagra and any other medications you are taking.
Vision Changes
Viagra has the power to alter your perspective.
They may momentarily affect your eyesight and impair your vision.
If you have had the retinal condition retinitis pigmentosa or vision loss, Viagra pills are not advised.
A more serious problem with your Viagra pills may be indicated by persistent eyesight alterations or a total loss of eyesight.
If you encounter these symptoms, get emergency medical help.
Viagra pills can affect your eyesight in various ways. Some of the most common vision changes that men may experience include:
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty telling colors apart
- Decreased color vision
- Blue-green tinged vision
Flushed skin
Men who use Viagra pills frequently suffer from flushed skin. The skin becomes red at this point.
Some males get blotchy skin, while some may get rashes. Additionally, eating spicy food can make flushes worse.
When combined with the digestion issues mentioned above, having red skin may make a hot environment feel much hotter, which could cause dehydration.
Patches of redness, or flushes, that occur on the skin, are the most frequent adverse reaction to taking Viagra or any other erectile dysfunction medications.
Seek urgent medical assistance from a men’s clinic specializing if you are suffering flushes and are unsure of the effects on your health.
Conclusion
Viagra is often considered safe and only causes minor adverse effects.
The majority of the drugs function in the same way and aid in achieving an erection for sexual activity.
Viagra should not be used by women who are pregnant because it is designed for use by men.
However, it is unlikely that Viagra can harm a developing fetus.
If you intend to become pregnant while taking Viagra, let your doctor know.
If Viagra enters breast milk or if it could affect a nursing infant are unknown. Before breastfeeding, speak with your doctor.
If a person is taking alpha-blockers or nitrates, they should examine all of their medications with a doctor and talk about safe alternatives.
This is crucial since taking these medications together could result in a dangerous reduction in blood pressure.