Common Side Effects of Viagra

Researchers initially developed Viagra to treat angina, a type of chest pain. Angina occurs when your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood and starts working harder to compensate. Now, Viagra didn’t exactly shine as a treatment for angina … but the stiffer erections the little blue pill caused certainly stood out as a side benefit.

2. Timing matters.

Let’s set the record straight with the help of urologist Drogo Montague, MD. Odds are you’ve seen a Viagra commercial and heard this warning: Seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting four or more hours. It’s an attention-grabbing piece of cautionary advice. But the situation that it addresses — a condition known as priapism — is a relatively uncommon side effect of the medication, says Dr. Montague.

IV Administration

A study published in 2020 categorized long-lasting erections from Viagra and other ED medications as a “rare event.” Researchers found 411 cases of drug-induced priapism while reviewing more than two decades worth of data. But your odds of problematic prolonged erections increase if you combine Viagra with certain penile injection therapies, notes Dr. Montague. “Combining the treatments has a cumulative effect — penile injection therapy makes your erections hard, and adding Viagra makes them harder and even more long-lasting,” he continues. “So stay on the safe side and don’t pair them.” Here’s a fun fact for you: Viagra was created to help your heart. Which brings us back to the question regarding Viagra and your heart. The erectile dysfunction generic viagra professional sildenafil 100mg medication isn’t harmful to your ticker when taken on its own. That’s an important caveat because Viagra should NOT be taken with heart medications that include nitrates. Like nitrates, Viagra helps dilate (or expand) blood vessels constricted by coronary artery disease.

Your blood pressure drops when this happens, as less force is needed to pump blood through your system. The worry if you take both Viagra and nitrates is that your blood pressure could drop too low, a condition known as hypotension.

Is Viagra an Option for Female Sexual Dysfunction?

Because the drug acts on liquid viagra arteries beyond the penis, it can produce various side effects. That means it should only be prescribed by a personal physician who really knows you. And it also means that scientists are investigating uses for the drug in patients with an array of vascular disorders having nothing to do with sexual function. They have nearly identical effects on ED as well as similar side effects. Because they are newer drugs, scientists are just beginning to study them for problems that don't involve sexuality.

Sildenafil: what you need to know

Sildenafil has already been licensed to treat men and women with pulmonary hypertension. Time will tell if any of these drugs will fill other potentials beyond promoting potency. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Abnormally low blood pressure increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Sildenafil (Generic Viagra®) FAQs

Still, a study of 29 climbers reported that tadalafil can also reduce pulmonary artery pressure at a high altitude. In affected individuals, exposure to the cold triggers spasm of the small arteries that supply blood to the fingers, toes, or both. Temporarily deprived of adequate blood flow, the involved digits become pale, cold, and very painful. It's a common condition, affecting up to 8% of men and 17% of women. In the vast majority, there are no underlying diseases (primary Raynaud's), and patients do well simply by minimizing their exposure to cold.

How should I store sildenafil?

But secondary Raynaud's can complicate collagen-vascular diseases or certain other conditions. It's not common, but secondary Raynaud's can be very painful and difficult to treat. Many medications have been used without consistent success. But a 2005 study of 16 patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon that had not responded to other medications reported benefit from sildenafil in a dose of 50 mg twice a day. And a 2006 study of 40 Raynaud's patients reported similar benefits from vardenafil in a dose of 10 mg twice a day. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Viagra with other medications. Taking Viagra to enhance your bedroom performance likely won’t make it more difficult for you to see your partner — unless you overdo it.

• Viagra can help improve the quality of your sexual relationship.
• People should inform their doctor about any allergies before use.
• Viagra is part of a broader class of medications called PDE5 inhibitors.
• Sexual desire is still necessary for Viagra to be effective.
• Regular health check-ups can monitor the effects of the medication.
• Some users report improved self-esteem with proper use.
• Proper hydration can help reduce side effects like headaches.

High doses of Viagra have been connected to temporary vision issues, reports the American Academy of Ophthalmology. But overall, the medication is considered low risk when it comes to eyesight. There’s a slight chance, though, that the pill may color your world blue for a bit. Chemicals in Viagra can temporarily change how light hits your eyes, giving everything you see a short-lived blue tint. This reaction is more likely if you take a maximum dose of Viagra (100 milligrams). “This side effect can happen with higher doses, but it’s uncommon,” says Dr.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Still, it's an interesting area of new research. A European study of 25 men who had erectile dysfunction but no other circulatory disorders found that blood vessels in the brain responded to stress better after a 50-mg dose of sildenafil. More interesting results were reported by scientists in Michigan, who produced ischemic strokes in rats by temporarily blocking blood vessels. During their recovery, the animals were divided into three groups. One received no treatment, another low-dose sildenafil, and the third high-dose sildenafil.

Raynaud's phenomenon

The animals who got sildenafil recovered better, with the highest doses producing the best results. The scientists concluded that the medication actually stimulated the growth of new nerve cells in the brain tissue next to the stroke damage. It's far too early to know whether sildenafil may someday help people with strokes. If you get your information about sildenafil from Super Bowl commercials or e-mail spam, you might dismiss it as a lifestyle drug of little real medical importance. In fact, it's a serious prescription medication that has helped millions of men who are distressed by an entirely legitimate medical problem. Montague. Viagra increases blood flow to your penis, which can help you get and maintain an erection for whatever activity you have in mind. But responsibility for the “in mind” part of the process is on you. The little blue pill isn’t designed to increase libido or sex drive, clarifies Dr. Montague.

In case of emergency/overdose

Sildenafil was discovered by scientists looking for a new medication to dilate coronary arteries. It does that, but because it widens healthy coronary arteries more than diseased vessels, it has not been successful in treating angina. But it may have other benefits for cardiac patients. In the first years of the Viagra era, research on sildenafil and the heart was devoted to making sure the drug was safe for the circulation. In most men with heart disease, it is.

Top How Young Can You Be for Viagra Related Articles

But several studies of patients with congestive heart failure also reported that the medication improves oxygen consumption, pulmonary artery pressure, and exercise capacity in these patients. Research shows that sildenafil helps the heart muscle relax properly, which could help patients with heart failure due to diastolic dysfunction. Another interesting property is sildenafil's ability to protect the heart from excessive stimulation by adrenaline. Clinical trials will be needed to see which patients might benefit. It's the most speculative use for sildenafil, and it's far from clinical application. Basically, think of Viagra as a performance enhancer as opposed to a mood setter. ED is more common with age, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an issue for the younger crowd.

How To Get Sildenafil

Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about ‘the little blue pill’ Image content: This image is available to view online. Physician's hand holding a blue pill in the palm of his hand, offering it to a patient. Those four words are all that’s required to identify Viagra®, the brand name for a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

What does Viagra do for ED?

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. The medication, officially known as sildenafil, debuted in 1998. Today, it’s used by millions of men around the world when they want to … well, rise to the occasion during an amorous moment. Yet myth-based questions continue to follow the little blue pill around. Can Viagra give you a never-ending erection? Studies show that nearly 40% of men are affected by ED by age 40. It can happen much, much earlier, too. Talking to your healthcare provider about ED and ED medications also may help you save your penis from injury. Having sex with an erection that’s barely “hard enough” can bend your penis and tear tissue that may scar while healing. As scar tissue isn’t elastic like healthy penile tissue, it can force your penis to bend with future erections. That can lead to a condition known as Peyronie’s disease. Taking Viagra or another ED medication can bring a firmness that prevents the issue. “If you’re having erectile dysfunction problems, you should feel confident going to your doctor no matter your age,” reassures Dr.

Montague. “Many men are embarrassed, but they shouldn’t be.

• Viagra is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.
• The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate.
• Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis during arousal.
• It is typically taken 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.
• Common side effects include headaches, flushing, and nasal congestion.
• Viagra should not be used with nitrates or certain medications.
• It is effective for about 4 to 6 hours after ingestion.

Help is available, and it’s worth a try.” Viagra is approved for use to treat ED after age 18. Sign up for our Health Essentials emails for expert guidance on nutrition, fitness, sleep, skin care and more. The steroid medication may raise your blood pressure and cause heart palpitations Lower your risk by sticking to the right dose and avoiding long-term use without medical guidance The little blue pill might help with physical arousal, but there are better treatments for low libido in women Authorized take-back programs, services and drop-off locations are the best, safest way to get rid of expired medicine These illegal supplements have negative impacts for vital organs and may cause psychosis, heart attacks and more Popular among teens, these inhalants give you a quick high, with serious harmful effects ‘Black box warnings’ on medications outline potential risks and important instructions These similar versions of brand-name drugs are safe, effective and often less expensive These tiny saltwater larvae can get trapped under your swimsuit and trigger an itchy reaction called seabather’s eruption Searching nature for edible items requires training and knowledge to avoid poisonous plants Yes, but you can protect yourself with hats, scarves or even hair sunblock Aging WellAllergiesCancer Care & PreventionChronic PainCold, Flu & Respiratory IllnessesDiabetes & EndocrinologyDigestiveEar, Nose & ThroatEye CareInfectious DiseaseLungOral HealthParentingPregnancy & ChildbirthRecipesRheumatology & ImmunologySenior HealthSex & RelationshipsSleepUrinary & Kidney HealthWeight Loss Rendered: Mon May 25 2026 20:22:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)