VIAGRA has been the saving grace of those suffering from erectile dysfunction.
But men who don’t necessarily need the little blue pill’s boost take it recreationally, something health experts don’t recommend.
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Erection pills containing sildenafil – the active ingredient in Viagra – are only available on the NHS if you have erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension.
But you can buy them in pharmacies after consultation, as well as online.
Raevti Bole, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic, warned that people are being bombarded with ads for erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, such as Viagra and Cialis, and off-brand pills.
With the abundance of erection-enhancing medications online and on social media, some men may get their hands on pills with the idea of improving their sexual performance, even if they don’t need them medically.
They may be trying to counteract the effects of drinking or drugs, which can make recovery difficult.
Some men just want to keep going longer, have multiple sex sessions, or simply want to build their confidence.
Others even use drugs outside the bedroom to improve their endurance in the gym.
But Dr. Bole warned that taking ED pills for fun can carry significant risks.
He said that if you can get an erection, one that is good enough to allow penetration, you probably don’t have erectile dysfunction and probably don’t need medication, as reported by the New York Post Office.
It comes after demand for the little blue pills reached record levels in the UK late last year.
Meanwhile, it’s been suggested that ED medications could improve people’s health outside of the bedroom – from shrinking cancerous tumors to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and relieving altitude sickness.
French scientists even claimed that sildenafil could help you live longer.
From hours-long erections to life-threatening reactions, here’s why you shouldn’t take Viagra and other ED pills if you don’t need them.
1. They can interact dangerously with other drugs
Viagra, Cialis, and their generic equivalents are known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
According to Dr. Bole, these types of medications can lower your blood pressure — so if you’re also taking other medications that do the same thing, it could be fatal.
Even if you are not receiving ED pills through your doctor, your urologist recommended that you talk to them before taking them, as you never know how they will interact with your medications.
Don’t forget to mention any supplements or recreational drugs you may be using.
Common medications that people may not know are dangerous when combined with Viagra include “poppers” — which are often used during sex — pain relievers for chest pain, glyceryl trinitrate, and certain blood pressure pills.
2. You may get painfully long erections
According to the NHS, more than one in 100 people will experience side effects from taking sildenafil.
They include:
- Headaches
- Feeling sick
- Heat waves
- Indigestion
- A blocked nose
- Feeling dizzy
You are less likely to experience side effects from the pills if you take them for erection problems, as you are taking them for a short period of time.
But you may feel them if you take sildenafil more regularly, for example for pulmonary hypertension.
In rare cases, you may experience a side effect called priapism – a prolonged or sometimes painful erection that can last for hours and cause permanent damage to your penis.
“Fortunately, it is very rare to use oral medications for ED,” Dr. Bole said.
“But if this happens to you, seek emergency medical care immediately.”
Only one in 1,000 people experience serious side effects, according to the NHS.
You should go to the emergency room if your erection lasts more than three hours.
3. You might not be able to have sex without them
If you routinely take a little blue pill before sex, you may start to worry that you won’t be able to perform well in bed without it, becoming psychologically dependent.
Dr. Bole said, “If you are experiencing severe performance anxiety that is affecting your erections, I recommend talking to your doctor or sex therapist.”
“A medical professional can discuss your concerns about sex; help you set personalized, realistic expectations; and develop strategies to improve your confidence without relying solely on medications.”
4. You don’t know what medicines may contain
If you’re buying your pill from an online pharmacy or on social media, you can’t always trust the supplier.
The NHS advises you to be careful when buying sidenafil online as many websites sell counterfeit medicines.
Online medicines are not always regulated and the ingredients they contain can vary from one package to another.
They may cause unpleasant side effects or may not be right for you.
It is best to consult your doctor before purchasing medicines online as he knows your doctor history and can inform you of any risks.
But if you choose to buy sildenafil online, make sure:
How does Viagra work?
SIDENAFIL – the main ingredient in Viagra – belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
It works if you have erection problems by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis when you become sexually aroused.
It also acts on pulmonary hypertension, relaxing the blood vessels in the chest.
This increases the blood supply to the lungs and reduces the heart’s workload.
Men over the age of 18 can take ED pills and most adults and children over the age of one can take sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension.
Sildenafil is not suitable for some people.
To make sure it is safe for you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking sildenafil if you:
- Have you ever had an allergic reaction to sildenafil or any other medicine
- Are taking medicines called nitrates for chest pain (angina)
- Have a serious heart or liver problem
- You have recently had a stroke, heart attack or heart problem – your doctor should carefully check whether your heart can handle the additional strain of having sex
- Have low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Have a rare inherited eye disease, such as retinitis pigmentosa
- You have sickle cell anemia (an abnormality in red blood cells), leukemia (blood cell cancer) or multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer)
- Have a penile deformity or Peyronie’s disease (curved penis)
- Have a stomach ulcer
- Have a bleeding problem such as hemophilia
Source: National Health Service
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
