Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)

Is taking Viagra bad for your heart?

For the last years Viagra (sildenafil citrate) became of the most popular treatment of erectile dysfunction in men all over the world. However, some studies show that its use can be dangerous for some patients with heart problems.

Viagra possesses two actions that may be of consequence in men with cardiovascular diseases. Viagra decreases blood pressure and interacts with hypertensive medications and nitrates.

Being a PDE5 inhibitor Sildenafil lowers systolic blood pressure by an average 8-10mmHg. For the majority of patients it is not a problems, however, some men taking hypertensive medications may experience dizziness and fainting.

Vasodilating effects of Sildenafil citrate become extremely dangerous when Sildenafil citrate is used with nitrates. The following are examples of such group of medications:

• Nitroglycerin
• Isosorbide mononitrate
• Isosorbide dinitrate

Amyl Nitrate or Amyl Nitrite. These are recreational drugs known as "poppers".

Nitrates are used to treat coronary artery disease. Men taking nitrates and sildenafil citrate are prone to develop severe drop of blood pressure and syncope (fainting). Patients taking nitrates for coronary artery disease treatment should never take Viagra (sildenafil citrate) or other PDE5 inhibitors such as Levitra (vardenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil).

There are other groups of heart patients for whom sildenafil may be potentially dangerous. These include patients with unstable coronary artery disease or active coronary artery ischemia (i.e., patients whose coronary artery disease is not stable.) These patients, obviously, have an active medical problem that needs to be stabilized whether or not sildenafil is being considered. Once they are sufficiently treated, the use of sildenafil (as well as all other forms of routine, daily life such as exercise) can be entertained.

There are other groups of patients with heart problems for whom sildenafil citrate is contraindicated. These include patients with unstable coronary artery disease and active coronary artery ischemia. Patients with heart failure, accompanied by low blood pressure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should also avoid Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors.