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Viagra Safe for Men With Heart Disease
Feb. 12, 2002 -- If you're strong enough to take the sex, you're strong enough to take Viagra. A new study finds Viagra safe for men with heart disease -- if they're able to exercise without having the symptoms of severe disease.
Men taking nitrate drugs (such as nitroglycerin) to ease the symptoms of heart disease can't use Viagra. Even when a man isn't taking nitrates, there's been concern that Viagra might make his underlying heart disease much worse. There have been reports of men suffering heart attacks or chest pain after taking the popular erectile dysfunction drug.
Adelaide M. Arruda-Olson, MD, PhD, led a team of Mayo Clinic researchers who studied the effects of Viagra on 105 men with coronary artery disease (or heart disease). The men took Viagra or a harmless sugar pill an hour before exercise tests. Then medications were switched, and the men exercised and were tested again.
The results: Viagra itself didn't make exercise harder on the heart.
"It seems more likely that the [heart attacks and pain] reported with [Viagra] are related more to the performance of sexual activity in a patient with coronary artery disease than the use of the drug," notes Thomas H. Marwick, MD, PhD. Marwick is a heart disease researcher at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The Arruda-Olson study, and Marwick's accompanying editorial, appear in the Feb. 13 issue of TheJournal of the American Medical Association.
Arruda-Olson and co-workers warn that men with heart disease should see their doctors before taking Viagra. They recommend exercise tests to determine whether patients' hearts are strong enough for the drug.
The researchers warn that men taking nitrate-based drugs for their heart condition should not take Viagra.
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
