Sildenafil citrate — known by the brand name Viagra — is an erectile dysfunction medication originally developed by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, in 1989, to treat patients suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina pectoris (a form of ischaemic cardiovascular disease). Despite its effectiveness in helping men with ED, this phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor comes with numerous potentially serious side effects. To learn more about erectile dysfunction, see our article – Need an Erectile Dysfunction Cure? Never Suffer from Impotence Again
VIAGRA SIDE EFFECTS
Minor Viagra Side Effects
Some of the side effects for Viagra erectile dysfunction pills are fairly minor. These can be uncomfortable and a nuisance, but likely will not need medical care. However, always err on the side of caution and talk to your doctor about any side effects you may experience. These minor Viagra side effects include:
- Facial flushing,
- Headaches,
- Stomach pain,
- Nasal congestion,
- Loss of hearing or ringing in the ears,
- Dizziness
- Back pain,
- Joint pain,
- Nausea,
- Diarrhea,
- Insomnia, and
- An inability to differentiate between the colors green and blue.
More Serious Viagra Side Effects
Of course, as with many medications, there are also some potential serious side effects when using Viagra. These side effects often require the attention of a medical professional, and some can even be life threatening if not treated. Serious Viagra side effects include:
- Urinary Tract Infection,
- Respiratory Tract Infection,
- Chest pain,
- Rectal hemorrhaging,
- Abnormal liver function,
- Hyperglycemia,
- Hypoglycemic reaction,
- Gout,
- Peripheral edema,
- Genital edema,
- Anorgasmia (inability to orgasm),
- Depression,
- Urinary incontinence, and
- Abnormal ejaculation
Serious cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and vascular events, including myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmia, cerebrovascular hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, hypertension, subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages, and pulmonary hemorrhage have been reported by users of Viagra. Although many of these reports were from men who had pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, some men were reported healthy and experienced these life-threatening side effects.
Additionally, there have also been reports of gangrene of the penis, due to overdose with Viagra. In some of these cases, this has resulted in the amputation of the penis, in order to prevent the gangrene from spreading to other parts of the body.