The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age, just like the incidence of erectile dysfunction. Because of this, many men wonder if it is safe to take ED medication like Viagra if they have high blood pressure. The answer is that Viagra does not raise blood pressure; research shows that Viagra may actually lower your blood pressure. This means that men with hypertension can safely take Viagra as long as they are not using nitrate-based medications.
High Blood Pressure and Sexual Health
The risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases as we age, especially until the age of 64. High blood pressure is most common in men.
Nearly half of all men in the United States have hypertension or will develop high blood pressure in their lifetimes.
The links between high blood pressure and sexual problems in men are well studied and have been proven in numerous studies. Over time, hypertension damages the lining of men’s blood vessels and limits blood flow. As good blood flow is essential for achieving and maintaining an erection, the link in men between high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction is fairly common.
Doctors list the main elements of men’s sexual health as:
- Ability to achieve and maintain an erection
- Interest in and desire for sex
- Ejaculation and orgasm
Hypertension can interfere with all three of these elements of sexual health for men, leading men and their physicians to seek pharmaceutical solutions to these health problems.
Viagra May Lower Your Blood Pressure
As each individual is different, men who suffer from high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction should always work with their doctors to tailor their medications to their particular health needs. In general, however, men with hypertension can take Viagra safely.
Sildenafil, the drug in brand-name Viagra, has been shown to slightly decrease blood pressure in hypertensive men, causing “clinically insignificant reductions” in blood pressure. This led doctors in a 2002 clinical study to conclude that “when used in accordance with the prescribing information and within current treatment guidelines, sildenafil should be safe in younger and older men with or without hypertension.”
Indeed, Harvard researchers reported in 2007 that sildenafil and Viagra can be used to treat high pulmonary hypertension, a disorder related to high blood pressure in the blood vessels leading to the lungs.
Viagra and Nitrate Medication: A Concern
The research indicates that Viagra and sildenafil are most likely to lower your blood pressure, not raise it. This means that men suffering from hypertension who are taking nitrate medication to treat their high blood pressure or a heart condition should not also take Viagra. The combination of both medications, each designed to lower blood pressure, can be dangerous and even fatal.
The American Heart Association reported in 2000 that sildenafil or Viagra in combination with nitrates can cause “large and protracted decreases in systemic blood pressure.” These drops in blood pressure can be life-threatening.
While nitrate medications should be avoided in concert with Viagra, other blood pressure medications, including diuretics, beta-blockers, alpha-1 blockers, and calcium blockers seem to be compatible with Viagra without problems.
Are You Ready to Treat Your Hypertension and Your Blood Pressure?
If you are one of the thousands of men who suffer from ED, we urge you to talk with your doctor or make an appointment for a free consultation with the physicians at eDrugstore.com. Our licensed, U.S. doctors will consult with you to see what the best medication is to treat erectile dysfunction and talk with you about Viagra and hypertension.
Elizabeth Nichols is an experienced and flexible author with extensive experience in both popular media and academic publishing. She specializes in health, medical and travel writing.
