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Many men – and some women – wonder 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 dependency
Viagra has been on the market since the late 1990s. It was more by coincidence that Viagra has a potency-enhancing effect. Actually, the drug was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer for high blood pressure and heart failure.
- In the test series for the drug, however, a “side effect” was often observed that was particularly well-received by the male subjects: Viagra led to more erections in the testers, which also lasted longer.
- The potency enhancer Viagra was originally intended to be a heart medication. Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil, which blocks the enzyme PDE5 and thus boosts 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 does not cause habituation – even if some men describe such an effect. Scientifically, it could not be proven that frequent use of the active ingredient causes habituation in the body.
- Since Viagra is not physically addictive, there is no danger from the prescription drug in this respect. Also, a decreasing effect of Viagra is not to be expected for the time being.
In rare cases severe side effects possible
Like every medication, however, Viagra also has side effects that should be taken into account when taking it. Usually, 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 flashes. Visual disturbances, especially the perception of blue and green tones, can also occur temporarily.
- The reason: Sildenafil inhibits not only the enzyme PDE5, but also the closely related enzyme PDE6. The latter plays an important role in the eye. In very rare cases, it has caused blindness. Viagra can be particularly dangerous for men with a predisposition for retinitis pigmentosa, a retinal disease, and can cause permanent vision loss.
- An overdose can also be dangerous. The consequences can be 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 having a thorough examination of the cardiovascular system. The drug is not suitable for self-medication.
- Important: The active ingredient in Viagra can affect other medications. Sildenafil increases the effect of many antibiotics and heart medications. In general, men with severe cardiovascular diseases, unstable angina pectoris or severe heart failure should not take Viagra.
- Incidentally, the active ingredient also works in women, increasing blood flow to the clitoris and thus also boosting desire. In addition, Viagra also has positive “side effects”. For example, the drug helps against altitude sickness and jet lag.
