February 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: The widespread use of Viagra and its generic offspring may not be as innocent to men’s health as some people think. Since each drug comes with its list of side effects, compatible drugs that can be taken in conjunction with others, as well as contra indications, it is no wonder that Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis are recently coming under the microscope of investigation. Those drugs taken in combination with nitroglycerin have proven to be dangerous in some cases, and sometimes, even fatal. Although erectile dysfunction is commonly treated by any of these three oral drugs, researchers are advising caution combining nitroglycerin dosages with drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis. These FDA approved drugs have been accepted across the nation with wide publicity as the only and most popular oral drugs for this treatment.
While the general public are still smiling when someone says, “He is taking Viagra,” that may be changing when recent research becomes more widely known. Research results were released in 1998 to advise caution to heart disease patients without alarming the general population.
Research has shown that drug interaction of nitroglycerin and erectile stimulators has resulted in what has been classified as dangerously low blood pressures. Also, health care providers have found alpha-blockers can interact with erectile stimulators, giving prostate or blood pressure patients dangerously low blood pressures that can be life-threatening.
Research shows that 62% of the men using one of these three oral drugs were between the ages of 45 and 64, while the remaining were age 65 or greater. Considering the age of men receiving those prescriptions, doctors advised that, by the natural aging process, those men were more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes; however, they were even more at risk by taking Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis.
Correlation research to determine the interaction associated with nitroglycerine and Viagra, Levitra and Cialis in patients that experienced deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and drug reaction has indicated conclusively that Viagra, Levitra and Cialis do have serious adverse effects.
At risk patients have been identified as those who are using nitroglycerine and beta blockers within a 24 hour period of using Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis. As of 26 August 1998 and 3.6 issued prescriptions to users of Viagra, the FDA recorded 69 deaths, of which 12 were suspected of being drug interactions of nitroglycerine and Viagra; 46 due to cardiac arrest; 21 could not determined the cause; and 2 strokes.
Other research has been conducted, with more statistics entering the picture. As this subject comes more to the public eye, the FDA could make changes for use of Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.
Michael Morales is an EMT-Paramedic and program director for Vital Ethics, providing basic and advanced life support training and certification programs to health care professionals.
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Article Source: A Leathal Combination: ED Medications & Nitrates
