Viagra treats erectile dysfunction, the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection of the penis that is adequate for sexual intercourse. Ten to fifteen million men in the United States suffer from ED, and by age 65, up to 25% of men have experienced impotence problems. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a number of physical and psychological conditions, including diabetes, depression, prostate cancer, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, artherosclerosis, and heart disease. Injuries to the penis that cause nerve, tissue, or vascular damage can trigger impotence. It is also a common side effect of some prescription medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, antihypertensives, antipsychotics, beta blockers, diuretics, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, cimetidine (Tagamet), and finasteride (Propecia).
Although not approved for use in women, clinical studies have shown that sildenafil citrate may be effective in relieving female sexual dysfunction for some women. In one study, both female and male study participants who suffered from sexual dysfunction related to their use of psychotropic medications such as benzodiazepines reported an increase in arousal and overall sexual satisfaction when they began taking Viagra. Several studies have also indicated the drug may be effective in improving libido and arousal in women taking selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Another investigational study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and published in the August 2000 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that Viagra may have additional clinical promise for people with diabetes beyond treating ED. In animal studies, Viagra was effective in relaxing the pyloric muscle of stomach, improving digestion and relieving the symptoms of gastroparesis. Up to 75% of people with diabetes suffer from gastroparesis, which causes bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Further human studies are needed to evaluate Viagra's effectiveness in treating this common diabetic complication.
Because of its capacity to enhance nitric oxide production, sildenafil has been investigated as a possible treatment for other disorders that are caused by impaired nitric oxide production. One such disorder is esophageal motility dysfunction (achalasia), in which the smooth muscles of the esophagus and the cardiac sphincter remain constricted, causing difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation of food, and chest pain when eating. A study published in 2000 in the journal Gastroenterology found that sildenafil temporarily improved the condition in some patients by relaxing the lower esophageal muscles.
Precautions
Viagra is not labeled or approved for use by women or children, or by men without erectile dysfunction. The medication may also be contraindicated (not recommended for use) in patients with certain medical conditions.
Because sexual activity can stress the heart, men who have heart problems should check with their physician to see if sexual activity is recommended. Viagra may trigger temporary hypotension (low blood pressure) and is known to increase cardiovascular nerve activity, so it is prescribed with caution in men with a history of heart attack, artherosclerosis, angina, arrhythmia, and chronic low blood pressure problems. However, a study published in the March 15, 2001, British Medical Journal found no evidence that the drug causes a higher incidence of heart attack. Further long-term studies are needed to determine the full implications of sildenafil citrate on heart disease.
Anyone experiencing cardiovascular symptoms such as dizziness, chest or arm pain, and nausea when participating in sexual activity after taking Viagra should stop the encounter. They should also not take Viagra again until they have discussed the episode with their healthcare provider.
It is recommended that men with kidney or liver impairments, and men over age 65, start at the lowest possible dosage of Viagra (25 mg). Clinical studies have shown that the drug builds up in the plasma of these patients to a concentration that is three to eight times higher than normal. Caution is also recommended in prescribing the drug to individuals with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic eye disorder. Viagra should not be taken more than once per day by anyone.
Viagra has not been studied for use on patients with stomach ulcers and bleeding disorders, and its safety in these individuals is unknown. Men who have either of these conditions should let their physician know before taking Viagra. It should also be used with caution in men with misshapen or deformed penises, such as those with Peyronie's disease, cavernosal fibrosis, or with angulation of the penis.
Men who take medications containing nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide dinitrate) should never take Viagra, as the interaction between the two drugs may cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure, and possibly trigger a heart attack or stroke. This includes illegal recreational drugs such as amyl nitrates (also known as poppers).
Viagra may also interact with other prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, either magnifying or diluting the intended therapeutic effects of one or both drugs. Some drugs that have a known interaction with Viagra include the protease inhibitorritonavir and the antibiotic erythromycin. For this reason, it is critical that men who are prescribed Viagra let their healthcare providers know all the medications they are taking.
Other medications and therapies for erectile dysfunction, including vacuum or pump devices, drug injections (Caverject), and urethral suppositories (MUSE), should never be used in conjunction with Viagra.
Description
Sildenafil citrate was originally developed in 1991 as a treatment for angina, or chest pain. The drug, marketed under the name Viagra, received FDA market clearance as a treatment for impotence in March 1998, and since that time it has been prescribed for over 10 million men worldwide. It is the first, and as of early 2001, only oral medication approved for ED treatment.
Viagra is a vasodilator, a drug that has the effect of dilating the blood vessels. It works by improving blood circulation to the penis, and by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, the agent that relaxes the smooth muscle of the penis and regulates blood vessels during sexual stimulation, allowing the penis to become engorged and achieve an erection.
The average recommended dose of Viagra is 50 mg. For men that do not respond adequately to this amount, the dosage may be increased up to 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg. The medication is taken approximately one hour before sexual activity is planned, and may remain effective for up to four hours.
Viagra does not increase sexual desire. Sexual stimulation and arousal are required for the medication to be effective. Despite its widespread use as a recreational drug, it is not an aphrodisiac and there is no clinical evidence that it improves sexual performance in men who are not suffering from ED.
Many insurance plans provide coverage or reimbursement for sildenafil citrate, provided it is prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. A 1999 report issued by a health insurance consulting group indicated that almost half of the men taking Viagra at least once weekly receive insurance reimbursement for the drug. The pills cost approximately $10 each, and insurers may limit coverage to a specific number of pills each month.
Preparation
Viagra requires time to be absorbed by the body and become effective. The average recommended time frame for taking the drug is one hour before initiating sexual activity, although depending on an individual's response to the drug, this time can vary from four hours to 30 minutes.
Men should always consult with their physician before beginning treatment with sildenafil citrate. The medication is not for everyone, and a healthcare professional needs to evaluate medical history and perform a thorough medical examination before prescribing the drug. In addition, erectile dysfunction may be a symptom of an undiagnosed condition (i.e., diabetes) for which treatment is critical, and may actually reverse the impotence problem.
Risks
The most commonly reported side effects of Viagra are headache, flushing of the face, upset stomach, and nasal congestion.
Other less common side effects include, but are not limited to:
vision problems, including sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and a color tinge to vision
Side effects may be reduced or eliminated through adjustments to dosage. Men who experience these symptoms should consult their physician.
Priapism, a painful and prolonged erection that lasts for two to six hours, is a rare, but potentially serious, side effect of Viagra. Because prolonged erection can permanently damage the tissues of the penis, anyone who experiences an erection lasting over four hours should call a healthcare professional immediately.
Men who are taking Viagra and inadvertently or intentionally take a medication containing nitrates may suffer from life-threatening hypotension—a severe drop in blood pressure.
The cardiovascular risks of sildenafil citrate are still under investigation. The drug is known to cause dips in blood pressure and to boost cardiovascular nerve activity. Some cardiovascular-related deaths have been reported in men who use Viagra, but it is unclear whether the fatalities were due to the drug itself or to the underlying heart disease. Further complicating the picture is the fact that the stress of sexual activity may have triggered the fatal cardiac event with or without the use of Viagra. The BMJ study, and a report published in the April 18, 2001 issue of the The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggest that the drug does not increase the risk of heart attack. However, JAMA also notes that further studies are necessary to confirm this finding.
Although it is a prescription drug, as of early 2001 there was still a thriving illicit market for Viagra via the internet. Aside from the health risks recreational use of the drug poses to individuals with heart conditions and other contraindicated disorders, any adverse effects caused by Viagra cannot be tracked by regulatory authorities if it has been illegally obtained.
Normal results
When used as directed, Viagra allows men with erectile dysfunction to achieve and maintain a penile erection when aroused during sexual activity. Double-blind, randomized clinical trials of sildenafil citrate have shown that the drug has an 63–82% efficacy rate in improving erectile activity among men with ED, depending on the dose administered (between 25 and 100 mg), compared to a 24% improvement in men receiving a placebo.
BOOKS
Medical Economics Company. The Physicians Desk Reference (PDR). 55th edition. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, 2001.
Stolar, Mark. Viagra & You. New York: Berkley Books, 1999.
PERIODICALS
Boyce, E. G. and E. M. Umland. "Sildenafil Citrate: A Therapeutic Update. Clinical Therapeutics 1 (January 2001): 2-23.
Mitka, Mike. "Studies of Viagra Offer Some Reassurance to Men With Concerns About Cardiac Effects." The Journal of the American Medical Association 285, no.15 (April 18, 2001): 1950.
Shakir, S. A., et al. "Cardiovascular Events in Users of Sildenafil: Results from First Phase of Prescription Event Monitoring in England." British Medical Journal 322, no.7287 (March 17, 2001): 651-2.
"Viagra Increases Nerve Activity Associated with Cardiovascular Function." Drug Week (January 26, 2001): 11.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Heart Association. National Center. 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231-4596. (800) AHA-USA1. <http://www.americanheart.org>.
Pfizer, Inc. Viagra Information Site. <http://www.viagra.com/>.
Paula Anne Ford-Martin
KEY TERMS
Angina—Angina pectoris, or chest pain, caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen and decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina is frequently the first sign of coronary artery disease.
Angulation of the penis—Abnormal bend or angle to the structure of the penis.
Antihistamines—A drug used to treat allergic conditions that counteracts histamines—a substance in the body that causes itching, vascular changes, and mucus secretion when released by cells.
Antipsychotics—A class of drugs used to control psychotic symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and delusional disorder. Antipsychotics include risperidone (Risperdal), haloperidol (Haldol), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
Arrhythmia—Irregular heartbeat caused by erratic electrical signals or nerve impulses to the cardiac muscles.
Artherosclerosis—The cause of coronary artery disease, in which the walls of the coronary arteries thicken due to the accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels.
Beta blockers—Drugs that lower blood pressure and reduce stress to the heart by blocking the actions of beta receptors that control the speed and strength of heart muscle contractions and blood vessel dilation.
Cavernosal fibrosis—The formation of abnormal, fibrous tissue in the erectile tissue of the penis.
Diuretics—Any substance that increases urine output.
Erectile dysfunction—Impotence; the inability of a man to achieve and/or maintain an erection of sufficient quality for sexual intercourse.
Gastroparesis—Nerve damage of the stomach that delays or stops stomach emptying, resulting in nausea, vomiting, bloating, discomfort, and weight loss.
Peyronie's disease—A disease which causes a hardening of the corpora cavernosa, the erectile tissue of the penis. The penis may become misshapen and/or curved as a result.
Placebo—An inactive substance with no pharmacological action that is administered to some patients in clinical trials to determine the relative effectiveness of another drug administered to a second group of patients.
Priapism—A painful, abnormally prolonged erection (i.e., four or more hours).
Protease inhibitor—A drug that inhibits the action of enzymes.
Retinitis pigmentosa—An inherited degenerative eye disease that impairs night vision and drastically narrows the field of vision.
Selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—A drug that regulates depression by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain consequently raising serotonin levels. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil).
Serotonin—One of three major neurotransmitters found in the brain that is linked to emotions.
