Lipitor, a drug taken to lower blood levels of bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, appears to work well with Viagra. In fact, Lipitor’s cholesterol-lowering effects could allow men with ED to reduce the size of their regular Viagra dose.
Lipitor (atorvastatin) belongs to a class of drugs known as statins, prescribed to lower blood levels of cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is also known as bad cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaques on artery walls, is a major cause of compromised blood flow to the penis, which can lead to erectile dysfunction. And cholesterol is a major cause of atherosclerosis. Therefore, it would not be at all surprising that a man taking Lipitor or atorvastatin, its generic equivalent, for cholesterol control might also be prescribed Viagra or another of the popular ED medications.
Are They Safe Together?
All of this begs the question: Is it safe to take Viagra or another PDE5 inhibitors while taking Lipitor or atorvastatin? And the answer is yes, providing that the two drugs are being taken under a doctor’s supervision. Neither drug is known to adversely interact with the other, and in fact, reducing blood levels of cholesterol with Lipitor could in time reduce a man’s symptoms of ED, studies show.
As mentioned earlier, it is essential that your doctor be aware of all the medications you’re taking, and that includes not just prescription drugs but over-the-counter products as well. Even the most innocuous of OTC medications, such as antihistamines taken to combat allergic reactions, can sometimes interact adversely with other drugs you are taking.
Both Drugs Have Side Effects
Both Viagra and Lipitor have side effects, as do virtually all medications. In the case of Viagra, the most common of these are back pain, dizziness, facial flushing, headache, muscle ache, nausea, runny or stuffy nose, and upset stomach. Such side effects are generally mild and usually disappear altogether upon continued use of the drug. If not, your doctor might opt to switch you to another PDE5 inhibitor.
Viagra’s more serious side effects are rare but constitute medical emergencies if they should occur. These include priapism, an erection that persists for four or more hours, and a sudden reduction or loss of hearing and/or vision. Should you experience such side effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Lipitor’s Side Effects
Some of the more common side effects of Lipitor and atorvastatin are similar to those of Viagra. These include back pain, headache, and a runny or stuffy nose. Other common side effects are hoarseness, pain or tenderness around the cheekbones and eyes, and painful or difficult urination.
Studies on the effects of concurrent use of Viagra/sildenafil and Lipitor/atorvastatin are limited, but none indicates that the two drugs are at all incompatible. One small-scale Italian study did show that men taking both Lipitor and Viagra had lower blood levels of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. However, this hormonal change had no apparent adverse effect on erectile function, which generally appeared improved in men taking both medications.
Bottom line, as long as your doctor sees no problem, Viagra and Lipitor can be taken concurrently. If anything, the cholesterol-lowering benefits of the latter could lead to a reduction in your symptoms of ED.
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