Can it really be THAT bad?

Can it really be THAT bad?

viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy is a popular drug, and for good reason!  It does exactly what it says it will, and has a very high efficacy rate.  It has saved marriages, sanity, and self-images.  It even allows a sexual relationship to continue well into your elderly years.  All these things make it great, so what is this post about?  Well, undoubtedly, you've seen at least one commercial for it (or its siblings, Cialis or Levitra).  Consistently mentioned is the interaction with nitrates, usually stated as, "<this drug> is not for everyone.  Ask your doctor first if you are taking nitrates for chest pains..."  Problem is, people aren't usually too willing to talk about the 'little blue pill,' and are unlikely to check with their doctor about compatibility with their current medications.  What do nitrates and other blood pressure medications do to Viagra?



Well, first we have to understand how Viagra works.  An erection is achieved through the dilation of the blood vessels in the base of the penis.  This allows the blood to flow into it, allowing it to become turgid.  The problem in erectile dysfunction is that these vessels don't dilate properly, so an inadequate volume of blood reaches the penis, causing a flaccid state.  Viagra works by allowing these vessels to open up more, working with a common component of our blood called nitrous oxide.  Nitrous oxide is actually the component that allows blood vessels to dilate, so Viagra works to prevent this particular component from breaking down in the blood, allowing for more dilation.



Nitrates are given for chest pains, as they cause rapid dilation of the arteries around the heart and lungs (fixing the main problem of Angina Pectoris, which is basically just clinical chest pains).  It does this by adding nitrous oxide to the blood.  At this point, you should see the relation these two drugs have, they both work on the same component in vasodilation.  The problem is this: with Viagra's ability to keep nitrous oxide around longer, and nitrates ability to add a large amount of nitrous oxide to the blood, the two together cause massive and widespread dilation of the blood vessels ALL OVER the body, causing a sever drop in blood pressure and possibly death.



Far too many people are unwilling to talk to a doctor about this, however, and are risking quite a lot in doing so.  So what are people to do who are on a nitrate, but want to treat their ED?  Simple, Caverject!  Also known as aprostadil, this drug has NO interaction with any erectile dysfunction medication, and works instantly.  Many elderly use this, as quite a few are on nitrates by default.  It DOES involve a needle, but it is a very small one (painless) and works faster than Viagra in achieving and maintaining an erection.



Bottom line: never be too embarrassed to talk to your doctor.  There are always other solutions, and it may just save your life.