Headache, the most common side effect of Viagra, affects roughly a quarter of all men who take the drug, although headache severity ranges widely from one patient to another. Here are some tips to minimize your discomfort.
Viagra, the granddaddy of all the ED drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, has been around for more than two decades. Pfizer’s little blue pill remains very popular despite the emergence of numerous competitors, including other brand-name medications and generics as well.
For all its popularity, however, Viagra is like most other prescriptions in that it can trigger certain annoying side effects, although these generally tend to be mild and short-lived.
Headache Is Most Common Side Effect
Among the most commonly occurring of Viagra’s side effects, headache tops the list. Data from Phase II and III of Pfizer’s clinical trials indicates that 21 percent of men taking 50-milligram Viagra (the recommended starting dose) experienced headache, a figure that increased to 28 percent among men taking 100-milligram Viagra.
Other common side effects of Viagra include flushing, indigestion, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, dizziness, nausea, and muscle pain. For most men, these side effects tend to disappear after they’ve taken the drug for a while. And although rare, a few more serious side effects have been associated with Viagra. These include a protracted erection lasting four hours or more and a sudden reduction or loss of hearing and/or vision.
Increased Blood Flow to the Brain
The headache associated with Viagra use is caused by increased blood flow to the brain, according to Richard Freier, M.D., medical director of Optimal Male Performance Center. Viagra was designed to be selective in inhibiting activity of the phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme in and around the penis, thus increasing blood flow to the organ.
However, Freier explains, Viagra can also affect PDE5 activity elsewhere in the body, including the brain. So for some Viagra users, an upsurge in blood flow to and through the brain triggers headache. Some speculate that such headache is caused by the release of prostaglandins and other chemical substances that cause the swelling of blood vessels near nerve endings in the brain.
Tips to Reduce Discomfort
Here are some tips to minimize the discomfort of the headache you may experience when taking Viagra.
- Take the lowest dose of Viagra that delivers the desired results.
- Drink plenty of water before and after sexual activity.
- Avoid alcohol in the hours immediately preceding sexual activity.
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller — preferably acetaminophen (Tylenol) — at the same time you take Viagra.
- If all else fails, switch to another ED drug such as Levitra, Cialis, or Stendra.
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