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Many men – and some women – ask themselves whether Viagra is dangerous. The drug is not addictive, but there are side effects to be aware of
Is Viagra dangerous? No habituation effect, no addiction
Viagra has been on the market since the end of the 1990s. It was more by chance that Viagra was discovered to have a potency-enhancing effect. The drug was actually developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to treat high blood pressure and cardiac insufficiency.
- In the test series for the drug, however, a “side effect” was frequently observed that caused enthusiasm, especially among the male test subjects: Viagra led to more erections in the testers, which also lasted longer.
- The sexual enhancer Viagra was originally intended to be a heart medication. Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil, which blocks the enzyme PDE5 and thus stimulates blood flow. If the man is aroused, this increased blood flow promotes a (long-lasting) erection. However, Viagra does not work if the man is not aroused or if there are organic reasons behind the erection problems.
- Sildenafil is not addictive and has no habituation effect – even if some men describe such an effect. It has not been scientifically proven that frequent use of the active ingredient triggers a habituation in the body.
- Since Viagra is not physically addictive, there is no danger from the prescription drug, at least in this respect. A diminishing effect of Viagra is also not to be expected for the time being.
Serious side effects possible in rare cases
Like any medication, Viagra also has side effects that should be taken into account when taking it. As a rule, these are short-term side effects that do not pose a major risk.
- The most common side effects include headaches, nasal congestion, gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea and vomiting or hot flushes. Visual disturbances, in particular the perception of blue and green tones, can also occur temporarily.
- The reason: Sildenafil not only inhibits the enzyme PDE5, but also the closely related enzyme PDE6. The latter plays an important role in the eye. In very rare cases, blindness has occurred. Viagra can be particularly dangerous for men with a predisposition to the retinal disease retinitis pigmentosa and can lead to permanent visual damage.
- Overdosing can also be dangerous. This can result in painful permanent erections, circulatory problems and even a heart attack. According to the “Yellow List”, the risk of serious side effects such as heart failure increases with increasing dosage
- For this reason, you should only take Viagra after consulting a doctor and undergoing a thorough examination of your cardiovascular system. The medication is not suitable for self-medication
- Important: The active ingredient in Viagra can affect other medications. For example, sildenafil enhances the effect of many antibiotics and heart medications. In general, men with severe cardiovascular disease, unstable angina or severe heart failure should not take Viagra.
- By the way: the active ingredient also works in women, increases blood flow to the clitoris and can therefore also stimulate desire. Viagra also sometimes has positive “side effects”. For example, the drug helps against altitude sickness and jet lag
