Does Viagra Raise Blood Pressure?

Viagra has been a life-changing medication for erectile dysfunction patients, allowing them to have a robust and satisfying sex life. However, because Viagra belongs to a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5), it can have an impact on your cardiovascular health!

In this article, we look at how taking Viagra can affect your heart health, especially if you are someone with existing heart-related conditions. What’s more, we’ll not only address concerns about the possibility of Viagra interacting with other medications, but will also discuss whether it’s safe for men with heart problems and whether it can potentially trigger stroke, hypertension, or hypotension.

So, does Viagra raise blood pressure?

Though the mighty blue pill is widely considered safe when used according to a doctor’s prescription, research tends to show that erectile dysfunction drugs, including Viagra, can make existing heart disease worse or even trigger a heart attack.

And while it may not be very obvious, Viagra does have a direct effect on your cardiovascular system. This is because Viagra works by relaxing muscles as well as arteries across your entire system, not just your penile region.

And this causes blood vessels to open wider, a process known as vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure. So, Viagra doesn’t lead to an increase in blood pressure!

Does Viagra lower blood pressure?

While Viagra is medically meant to work on the blood vessels as well as arteries in your penis, its effects are systematic. All arteries in your system produce nitric oxide, so this simply implies that the drug could potentially trigger the process of vasodilation in other arteries, including those found in your heart. And this could potentially result in a temporary drop in blood pressure by 5-8 mmHg!

Is high blood pressure a side effect of Viagra?

Viagra is a powerful medication that works by boosting blood flow to your penile region so that you can achieve and maintain an erection hard enough for penetration. And while it does cause a few side effects, high blood pressure isn’t one of them!

Is it safe to take Viagra with blood pressure medication?

High blood pressure, commonly known as hypertension, currently affects nearly a third of adults in the United States. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that they have high blood pressure, as it usually doesn’t result in any noticeable symptoms. If left untreated, it can cause more serious health problems such as heart disease, heart attacks as well as stroke.

If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, it could be a potential warning sign of high blood pressure, and you may want to have your blood pressure evaluated.

These two conditions are closely linked together simply because they are both related to the health of your circulatory system. After all, a firm erection is dependent on sufficient blood flow to your penile region.

For most patients with hypertension, taking Viagra and other ED medication is usually effective, safe, and appropriate. However, it’s imperative that patients consult with their healthcare providers before beginning any new medication.

However, this doesn’t entirely imply that interaction with high blood pressure medications. Because Viagra was initially developed as a treatment for pulmonary hypertension, it can potentially interact poorly with other heart drugs. So, caution should be exercised in the following cases:

• Taking Viagra with a blood pressure drug known as alpha-blocker can be highly dangerous! If you are currently on an alpha-blocker medication and need Viagra, your healthcare professional may have to reduce either your alpha-blocker or Viagra dosage.

• If you take Viagra with a blood pressure drug that also works to reduce blood pressure through vasodilation, your blood pressure could potentially drop to significantly lower levels, making you dizzy.

• Nitrates are usually prescribed for chest pain or pulmonary hypertension. Pairing Viagra with these medications can potentially cause your blood pressure to drop to somewhat unsafe levels. Patients who have recently used Viagra should not be given nitrates.

Given potential interactions between heart medications and Viagra, the FDA has urged caution in patients who have experienced a stroke, heart attack, or other life-threatening cardiovascular events in the last six months. What’s more, those with a history of low blood pressure, heart failure, or unregulated high blood pressure should exercise caution as well!

So, what are the negative effects of taking Viagra?

While Viagra is generally safe when used appropriately, it does have a few potential side effects. Let’s have a look at the key side effects that you may experience while taking the drug.

• Allergic reaction: as with most medications, some people can experience an allergic reaction after using Viagra. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction may include itchiness, skin rash, and flushing. Fairly more severe allergic reactions are very rare, but may occur. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may include swelling in your eyelids, feet, lips, or hands and trouble breathing. Call your doctor right away if you suffer a severe reaction to Viagra!

• Priapism: In very rare cases, Viagra can cause priapism, which refers to a long-lasting and sometimes painful erection. If after using Viagra you experience an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor right away.

• Low blood pressure: Viagra can temporarily reduce your blood pressure after you take the drug. However, this is a very rare side effect. In clinical studies, less than 2% of people who took Viagra experience low blood pressure.

• Heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeat: In rare instances, some people taking Viagra have had a stroke, heart attack, or irregular heartbeat. However, these health concerns were mainly witnessed among people who already had heart problems. If you have a heart issue, talk to your doctor before you start taking Viagra.

• Headaches: This is arguably the most common side effect of Viagra. Along with dizziness and flushing, headaches occur because Viagra widens blood vessels in your body. Thankfully, these symptoms are usually mild and usually go away after some time.

Does Viagra cause hypertension or hypotension?

First and foremost, it’s imperative to note that hypertension and hypotension are medical terms used to describe high blood pressure and low blood pressure respectively. Hypertension is a pretty common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the walls of your artery is high or strong enough that it can potentially cause health concerns, including heart attack.

Blood pressure is determined by both the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood circulation in your arteries. The narrower your arteries and the more blood your vessels pump, the greater your blood pressure.

As earlier explained, Viagra causes vasodilation in your arteries and blood vessels, somehow enlarging them to allow more blood to flow toward your penile region and cause an erection. But this leads to a slight drop in your blood pressure (hypotension). Simply put, Viagra does not cause hypertension!

Does Viagra raise your heart rate?

Viagra work by increasing blood flow, a process known as vasodilation. This commonly forces blood to fill into vessels that are more open than usual. The heart will be affected, certainly. Blood pressure may also drop after taking Viagra. And this can make your heart respond by beating fairly faster and forcefully. So, it’s true that Viagra can raise your heart rate.

Can lowering blood pressure improve erectile dysfunction?

As already explained, high blood pressure is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction. Hypertension people at risk of developing ED. In fact, research has shown that men with high blood pressure are nearly twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as well as impaired penile blood flow compared to their counterparts with normal blood pressure. What’s more, it is estimated that nearly 30% of all men with hypertension suffer from erectile dysfunction.

High blood pressure damages blood vessels, limiting blood flow throughout your body, including your penile region. Hardened and narrow blood vessels make it quite tough for blood to flow into the penis before intercourse.

And because blood pressure medications work by stimulating blood flow and lowering blood pressure, they may have a secondary benefit of improving erectile dysfunction. And this simply means lowering blood pressure can help improve ED!

What drugs should not be taken with Viagra?

Drugs that interact with Viagra may either increase its effects, decrease its effects, affect how long it works, or have less of an impact when taken together with Viagra.

An interaction between two drugs does not always imply that you stop using one of the medications. But sometimes, it does! Below are common drugs that are highly likely to interact with Viagra:

• Alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, or terazosin.

• Antidepressants such as sertraline, desipramine.

• Blood thinners.

• Antibiotics such as rifampin, rifabutin, metronidazole, erythromycin, and clarithromycin.

• Cystic fibrosis medications such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, or primidone.

• Hepatitis medication.

• Nitrates such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, amyl nitrate.

• Other erectile dysfunction drugs such as alprostadil, Cialis, vardenafil.

• Heart medications such as amiodarone, atenolol, sotalol, amlodipine, clonidine, diltiazem, among others.

These are just a few drugs that should not be taken together with Viagra. It is important that you tell your healthcare provider about any medication you are currently taking or may have used in the recent past.

Can Viagra cause stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood circulation toward a part of your brain is cut off. When this occurs brain cells begin to die within minutes! Viagra works by dilating your blood vessels as well as arteries, which leads to a slight drop in blood pressure. In healthy individuals, Viagra should not cause any major side effects such as stroke.

However, if you are already suffering from cardiovascular disease and take nitrates as a result, Viagra’s impact on your blood pressure can cause serious adverse effects. This is because both nitrates and Viagra dilate your arteries and blood vessels. And when taken together, they can cause a significant impact on your health, potentially resulting in dizziness, fainting, heart attack, or even stroke!

As a side note, research has also been done to explore if Viagra can help prevent dementia.

The bottom line – Does Viagra Raise Blood Pressure?

Many people across the globe suffer from erectile dysfunction. Thankfully, Viagra can offer much-needed relief, especially when used appropriately. Taken a few minutes before intercourse, Viagra allows you to have and maintain an erection hard enough to sustain sexual activity.

Given its impressive benefits, it can be all too easy to ignore the potential negative effects of popping one before intercourse. While the side effects are usually mild and should diminish after a few minutes, men with a history of cardiovascular problems who are taking nitrates can experience some serious complications, including heart attack or stroke!

This is why it’s highly recommended that before you use the little blue pill, tell your doctor about any medications you are using to ensure they prescribe Viagra accordingly to protect your overall health.