I Am Currently Taking Viagra....What Side Effects Can I Expect

Tuesday, August 05 2008

Reviewed by:  Daniel Williams, MD

Ever since the late 1990’s, when Viagra was first approved for usage by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the oral therapy treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) millions of adult males around the world who were suffering from impotence or ED have found an easy, painless and effective treatment method. But what many people are not aware of are the common and the uncommon side effects, which can occur from taking Viagra.

As enticing as Viagra can be for those who are suffering from ED, there are a handful of side effects of Viagra that can be experienced from time to time. In many cases, patients were surprised when they experienced these side effects as many were under the impression that there were little to none. However, in light of recent reports surrounding the side effects from taking Viagra, the makers of the drug, Pfizer, have constantly been updating their web site and the labeling of the drug to make sure that all users are well informed .

Common side effects from taking Viagra:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Mild headache
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Facial flushing (reddening of the face)
• Blurry vision
• Temporary blue-tint or haze in vision 

While the common side effects of Viagra can be commonly experienced, they are rather mild in contrast to some of the rare side effects that have been reported. In some rare cases, a prolonged erection was reported (an erection lasting longer than four hours) which required the patients to seek medical treatment at a local hospital to avoid injury to the penis. While this side effect or reaction to the medication could make for a painful experience, it was not considered to be life threatening and rarely results in surgical intervention. 

Rare Side Effects:

In some very rare cases, mostly among elderly persons, Viagra caused severe side effects. Rare reports confirmed that patients experienced a sudden and temporary loss of vision or hearing. Of course there was no conclusive evidence that Viagra was the main culprit.  These rare, yet very serious side effects have prompted the FDA to mandate the re-labeling of Viagra and all other male impotency treatment drugs which work in a similar manner. While the chances of experiencing such rare cases are very slim, they do present a potentially dangerous situation. If an unwanted side effect occurs to you, stop taking the medication and notify your physician promptly. 

Drug Interactions:

Like any drug that is on the market, even over-the-counter medication, there are always inherent risks. It is always advisable for you, the consumer, to be informed of these risks before you start taking any medications. You and you’re your doctor can then better assess your situation and decide if the drug is safe for you to take.  If your physician feels that Viagra is safe to take, you can either buy Viagra online or you can go to your local pharmacy to pick up the medication.

Keep in mind that the FDA would not have approved Viagra if it were not deemed entirely safe for consumption by patients. For most people, Viagra will work wonderfully and offer the freedom of sexual intimacy that most ED patients are greatly lacking in their personal relationships.

Where To buy Viagra Online:

If you do decide to buy viagra online, visit an online pharmacy that only promotes safe FDA-approved Viagra such as AccessRx.com.  Make sure your local physican is aware of you taking Viagra so they can make sure the medication is right for you and will not interfere with other medications you are currently taking.