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Home / Heart Disease / Coronary Artery Disease / Is it safe to take Viagra with my heart medications?

Is it safe to take Viagra with my heart medications?

May 13, 2013 by Dr. Julian Booker 18 Comments

Sexual activity plays a crucial role in the psychological health and quality of life scores in patients with cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, intimacy is frequently an issue in patient with cardiovascular disease. The causes of sexual dysfunction following myocardial infarction are multiple and include anxiety, depression, medication effect and vascular insufficiency. Regardless of the cause, the results can be devastating to relationships and the psyche.

There are three phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors currently available in the United States: sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis). For simplicity and because of its name recognition, I will use the trade name Viagra to represent all phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors even if the studies were completed using one of the other drugs.  I do not endorse Viagra above any of the others. Viagra has been shown to be effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra works by increasing the amount of nitric oxide available which enhances erectile function.

So can I take Viagra with my heart medications?

Viagra has been shown to be safe in stable cardiovascular diseases including heart failure, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Although many have looked, there has been no clear evidence that Viagra is associated with increased rate of heart attacks or cardiovascular events. When Viagra is combined with most blood pressure medicines, there is a small but real additive effect but no change in cardiovascular events.

However, when Viagra is combined with doxazosin and tamsulosin, two alpha-blocking medications often used to treat BPH (benign prostate hypertrophy) some patients develop low blood pressures. It is recommended that if these prostate medications are required, the smallest doses of each respective medication should be used.  Patients already receiving Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors for pulmonary hypertension should not receive a second PDE5 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

On the whole, Viagra can be considered safe with almost all of your cardiac medications. Unfortunately, the combination of Viagra with nitrates should never be considered safe. Together they can cause life threatening hypotension, also known as low blood pressure.  Nitrates should not be taken within 24 hours of sildenafil or vardenafil and within 48 hours of tadalafil. I have included a short list of commonly prescribed nitrates to help you avoid them.

  1. Nitroglycerin
    1. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets (Nitrostat)
    2. Sublingual nitroglycerin spray
    3. Nitro patch
    4. Nitro paste
    5. Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO)
    6. Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil)
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Filed Under: Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Disease Tagged With: heart disease, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Comments

  1. Shrihari says

    April 19, 2016 at 11:31 am

    I had MI in 2004 and stent in June 2004, Feb 2012 and finally by pass surgery in 2012 july. I am on Prolomet R 50, Rose day 20mg and Clopilet A 150 mg.presently. Can I go for Viagra now? If so dosage pl.

    Reply
    • Nadeem Ahmad says

      February 10, 2017 at 11:56 am

      My cabg done on Aug 2015,and i take this medicine 1.Tab.Lasix 40 mg, 2.Tab.Lisinopril 10mg, 3 .Tab.Atorvastatin 40mg. 4. Tab.Aspirin100mg. 5. Tab.Carvedilol 25mg. Please tell me can i use tab.Viagra 50mg

      Reply
      • hank says

        February 11, 2017 at 8:10 pm

        I had a triple bi pass 2 yrs now and never fell the same sense im 72, taking the regular meds can i take viagra? or is that part of getting old and excepting the fact.

        Reply
        • juan concepcin says

          September 6, 2018 at 11:06 pm

          In 2013 I had 4 bypass. I am also type 2 diabetes and would like to try using Viagra. is it safe?

          Reply
        • Chris says

          September 6, 2022 at 1:25 am

          .i had quadruple bypass in 2014..im a Man 76 years old…very horny for Sex….everyday…Erectile dysfunction.now…meds Must Use….Co-Zomevec160/12.cilift 20mg…..Asprin tab..100mg….
          Storwin 20mg…..All tabs.to be used Daily …….is Viagra safe to use for Me?…

          Reply
  2. Mike says

    April 16, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    Just at lease to fell like a man again hope that understand

    Reply
    • Francis Tony says

      February 12, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Nice article on the use of sedenafil after CABG

      Reply
  3. Dave says

    February 22, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    I had my heart atack 2004 by past the same year is it ok fo me to take viagra

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      February 25, 2018 at 2:14 am

      Should be answered by a cardiologist that can review your meds to ensure no interactions (i.e nitrates) and no unstable type cardiac symptoms.

      you can follow my twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD

      Reply
      • Elizabeth mutheu says

        April 30, 2019 at 5:51 am

        Is now 18 yrs since a open heart surgery and for the those 13yr passed have not been goin for checkups it was last yr when I went to see acordiolgy and gave me this sildenafil and furosemide is okey to take and the other thing am breastfeeding

        Reply
        • Elizabeth mutheu says

          April 30, 2019 at 5:55 am

          Is it okey to take sildenafil and furosemide

          Reply
  4. David clark says

    June 6, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    Is it safe for me to viagra I have high blood pressure (under control) and and have had atrial fibrillation (my heart is back in rhythm after a cardioversion and moderate heart failure my medication daily is : ramipril 10mg furosemide 4omg eplerenone 25mg bisoprolol 5mg twice a day apixaban 5mg twice a day atorvastatom 2omg

    Reply
    • Dr. Mustafa Ahmed says

      June 11, 2018 at 7:01 am

      Need to ask the prescribing physician.

      you can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD

      Reply
  5. Tekoa says

    July 20, 2019 at 3:48 am

    My sister is taking sildenafil for her atrial fibrillation. Is it safe?

    Reply
  6. Martha Ryland says

    November 18, 2019 at 7:09 am

    Hi, this a wonderful blog as threre are many people who have disease. I hope this will be helpful to all people who have disease.

    Reply
  7. Fazil Ahmed says

    January 1, 2021 at 2:47 am

    I had and stent in one artery in Sept 2019, since than I have erectile dysfunction. Can prescribe any medicine to perform normal sex life.

    Reply

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