James H. O'Keefe, MD

Are Viagra, Levitra or Cialis Safe for Your Heart?

Patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) often worry and question about the safety of their heart with medications like Viagra, Levitra or Cilais. In fact for most people these ED drugs are very safe and highly effective….By helping to improve sexual ability in men, these ED drugs can be helpful to their heart health and overall well-being.

           This is one of the more common questions I get from my male patients. Or sometimes it’s the significant other who is worried that one of these drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED) might stress their partner’s heart. In fact for most people these ED drugs are very safe and highly effective.

           Sex is designed by nature to be one of life’s most exquisite pleasures.  Physical intimacy bonds us to our partner like nothing else, and helps to cement and maintain a close, personal and loving connection.  An intimate long-term relationship is one of the most important predictors of someone who will stay healthy and happy despite the stresses and strains that life inevitably throws at us along our journey.  So by helping to improve sexual ability in men, these ED drugs can be helpful to their heart health and overall well-being.

A Curious Side Effect. . .

           These drugs were discovered by accident about 20 years ago when scientists were looking for a drug to treat heart disease.  This particular drug (eventually named Viagra) turned out to dilate blood vessels particularly well in the penis.  As they say, the rest is history, and this drug alone has turned into a billion-dollar-per-year blockbuster.  The take-home message is that these drugs dilate blood vessels which in general is good for your heart.

            Check in with your physician before starting one of the drugs just to be sure. And be careful not to take them with nitroglycerin or Flomax type medications for the prostate, because in combination with Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra they can lower your blood pressure too much.

            These erectile dysfunction medicines are relatively expensive, at about $14 per pill.  But as the wife of one of my patients put it: “It’s about the same as what we would pay to go see a movie, and this is much better entertainment.”

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