Viagra and Blindness
In July 2005, the FDA began an investigation into a link between erectile dysfunction drugs and NAION - nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy – a condition leading to permanent blindness. This investigation followed 43 reports of vision loss and blindness among users of erectile dysfunction drugs. The FDA reported 38 cases of blindness among Viagra users, four cases of blindness among Cialis users, and one cases of blindness among Levitra users.
On July 8, 2005 , the FDA approved new labeling for the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, which would warn patients and healthcare providers of a potential link between the drugs and varying degrees of vision loss. The re-labeling was prompted by 43 reports of vision problems - including blindness - among those taking these medications. Researchers have attributed the reported occurrences of vision loss to NAION ( non arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy), a rare condition in which blood flow is prevented from reaching the optic nerve.
Those who experience vision problems or blindness while taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra are urged to immediately stop taking the drug and seek medical assistance.
Viagra and Hearing Loss
On October 18, 2007, the FDA approved labeling changes for erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs in the class that includes Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra, to display more prominently the potential risk of sudden hearing loss, and to guide consumers on what to do if they experience sudden problems with their hearing.
A case report in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of Laryngology & Otology involving sudden hearing loss in a man taking Viagra prompted the FDA to search the FDA’s Adverse Events Reporting System for instances of hearing loss. The FDA found a total of 29 postmarketing reports of sudden hearing loss, both with and without accompanying ringing in the ears, vertigo, or dizziness. In most of the cases, the hearing loss involved one ear. The hearing loss was either a partial or complete loss of usual hearing. In approximately one third of cases, the event was temporary. In the remainder, the hearing loss was ongoing at the time of the report or the final outcome was not described.
Patients taking Cialis, Levitra, or Viagra who experience sudden hearing loss should immediately stop taking the drug and seek prompt medical attention. To View the Offical FDA News Release, Click Here
What are the other Side Effects of Viagra and ED Drugs?
Side effects resulting from Viagra or other ED drugs such as Cialis and Levitra range from mild to severe. They may include headaches, rash, upset stomach, mild dizziness or nausea, and temporary back pain and muscle aches.
More serious Viagra side effects include priapism (an erection lasting more than four hours which can cause damage to the penis), irregular heartbeat, stroke, angina, or lowered blood pressure.
What is Viagra?
Sildenafil citrate, sold under the brand name Viagra, is a drug used to treat a disorder in males called “erectile dysfunction”. Erectile dysfunction (ED) – commonly known as impotence - is a condition in which a man has difficulty achieving an erection. Viagra was the first oral pill on the market designed to treat impotence, which affects millions of men in the United States . It is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Patented in 1996, Viagra is manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals of New York. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 27, 1998 for use in the United States . Since then, Viagra has been used by 23 million men nationwide.
Viagra belongs to a class of medications called “PDE5 inhibitors”, or erectile dysfunction drugs. Other erectile dysfunction drugs on the market include Cialis and Levitra. These medications produce effects similar to Viagra, but with varying durations.
How Does Viagra Work?
In simple terms, Viagra works by improving blood flow to the penis. Combined with sexual stimulation, this increased blood flow causes an erection, which is necessary for sexual intercourse to take place.
When sexual arousal occurs, a chemical called cyclic GMP is produced. Cyclic GMP causes the arteries of the penis to dilate, which allows more blood to enter the organ. This collection of blood in the penis is what makes it erect. In other words, erection occurs as a result of a chemical ‘message' sent by the brain.
As a man ages, these chemical messages which lead to erection can be suppressed by enzymes in the penile tissue. Viagra works by preventing these enzymes from breaking down cyclic GMP, thereby making erection more likely.
Viagra is successful for 80% of the men who take it. It produces the best results when taken about one hour prior to intercourse. It usually starts working within 20 to 40 minutes after ingestion, and its effects may last up to four hours. Viagra will not help to prolong natural erections, nor will it delay ejaculation. Like other PDE5 inhibitors, it does not increase a man's sexual desire, protect him from sexually transmitted diseases, or serve as a male form of birth control.