Viagra Side Effects and Precautions

The major side effects of Viagra are:
• Headaches
• Flushing
• Indigestion (or dyspepsia)
• Rhinitis (or nasal congestion)
• Visual disturbances (a change in perception of color or brightness)

In the study, there were no cases of priapism (prolonged erections). Almost all the test subjects who experienced these side effects continued with the use of Viagra. Only 2.5 percent of the patients in all the clinical trials (3,700 men) dropped out because of various side effects. The side effects experienced by the men were described as "mild to moderate" and "generally transient," meaning they did not last very long. The clinical trials found that less than 2 percent of the 3,700 men in the Viagra clinical trials experienced side effects.

Most of the side effects recorded in the clinical trials got worse when the men took higher doses. In Dr. Irwin Goldstein's clinical trial for Viagra, for example, the percentages of the 532 men in the dose response group experiencing headaches were as follows:

* placebo: 6%
* 25 mg of Viagra: 14%
* 50 mg of Viagra: 21 %
* 100 mg of Viagra: 30%

On the other hand, flushing was experienced by the following percentages:
* placebo: 1 %
* 25 mg of Viagra: 13%
* 50 mg of Viagra: 27%
* 100 mg of Viagra: 20%

Considering the relatively small number of men in the study in comparison to the millions of men taking Viagra now, it is difficult to draw any final conclusions from these figures. However, they do indicate that if a man has side effects from Viagra, he may be helped by changing his dosage in most cases, switching to a lower dose.

But there is also the possibility that the pill will not give a man as effective an erection at a lower dose. In that case, he may decide to put up with the side effect in order to get a better result from Viagra. These decisions are best made by the man and his doctor together.

Safe Use of Viagra

For most patients, the most effective dosage of Viagra is 50 mg. The medication works for most men in about an hour. Some men find that its effects start in twenty or thirty minutes, while other men report that it takes two hours. The effects of Viagra can last up to four hours, although some men claim it lasts even longer.

The manufacturer recommends that Viagra be used no more than once a day. Patients should begin with the lowest dose, 25 mg, and then, if this dose does not work well for them, try higher doses, under the guidance of their doctor.

Some men may have increased levels of sildenafil in their systems due to certain characteristics, conditions, or specific medications they may be taking. They are therefore cautioned to begin Viagra at the lowest dose, 25 mg, and observe any side effects. These at risk men include:

• men over the age of fifty
• men with liver problems
• men with severe kidney problems
• men using erythromycin, ketoconazole or itraconazole

Precautions

Since Viagra is a new drug, there is a possibility that unforeseen problems could occur if it is not used properly. Here are a few things you should know:

Viagra will not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, or any others. Viagra users must take the same precautions, such as using condoms, as nonViagra users to protect themselves from these diseases. Men who use Viagra should not think that taking a larger dose will give them a harder, longer lasting, or better erection. No man should take more than the prescribed dose a maximum of once a day. Higher doses can cause severe side effects and could have serious health consequences in some men.

Viagra is not a recreational drug. It will not increase sexual desire or enhance orgasms.

Viagra should never be "borrowed" from friends. Every man using Viagra should first undergo a thorough medical examination. The effects of Viagra on a man with undiscovered health problems or a man who is taking drugs that interact adversely with the pill could be very serious or even fatal.

Men who have serious heart problems, who are over fifty, and/or who have not had sex for a while should be very cautious about using Viagra. A thorough discussion with your cardiologist should precede any use of this drug.

Men who suffer from psychogenic erectile dysfunction and use Viagra successfully should also seek help from a sex therapist. in many cases, the erectile problem can be solved through therapy and there will be no need to use a drug for a lifetime.

If you want to use Viagra, get it only through a licensed physician and a reputable pharmacy. Never buy Viagra on the street. It might easily be a counterfeit drug and could also be dangerous.

Do not think that any unauthorized copies of Viagra will have the same effect. Shortly after the introduction of Viagra, herbal formulas began appearing, claiming the same results. There is only one FDA approved Viagra.

A Final Word

Remember that Viagra is a new drug. The long term effects are not known. It will take several years of use by large numbers of men before we can have a more accurate picture of Viagra's safety and efficacy. Men who are taking this drug or considering its use should keep these facts in mind.