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Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is a prescription medication that is used for the "treatment" of a health "condition" in men known as erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra is approved by the FDA for use only in adult men (18 years old and older) who have a valid prescription for this medication from their doctor.
You should not take Viagra before consulting a physician because this drug can be unsafe or seriously dangerous in some cases. In the following paragraphs we list the most common safety warnings and health hazards associated with the use of Viagra.
Viagra is NOT safe for patients who take a drug (or more) that contains nitrates. Nitrate drugs are often prescribed for chest pain and heart problems. Taking Viagra with nitrates can cause a serious drop in blood pressure, which may lead to fainting, stroke, or heart attack. Viagra has several different side effects that you can discuss with your doctor. The most common side effects of Viagra are usually mild, non-serious, and go away in a few hours. These common side effects include: headache, flushing, indigestion, and congestion. Less common side effects include: temporary bluish/blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. In very rare cases, men taking Viagra (or another PDE5 inhibitor, like Cialis or Levitra) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision. There's no definitive proof, or direct link between the use of Viagra and vision loss, however, a small number of men taking Viagra suffered from Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), which may lead to partial or complete loss of vision. There have been a few reported cases of hearing loss in men taking Viagra. It is still unclear whether Viagra directly causes any hearing problem, but the FDA urged patients to immediately stop taking Viagra and see their doctor if they experience any sudden hearing problems.
Viagra may interact with other medications (prescription or over-the-counter) that you might be taking. Viagra may also cause serious complications if you suffer from other specific health conditions (like heart or blood pressure problems). Although Viagra works safely for many men, it can be life-threatening for others. So, make sure to discuss your health condition(s) and health history thoroughly with your physician before taking Viagra.
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