Levitra vs cialis daily news.

May 31, 2000 — A new study shows that Viagra appears to be safe even for
some men with severe heart disease, as long as they are not taking
nitroglycerine or similar drugs for their conditions.

Reports of heart attacks in several men who had used Viagra had led
researchers to worry that the drug might pose a special risk to those with
heart problems such as angina (chest pain). But the study, published in
TheNew England Journal of Medicine, shows that the usual dose of
Viagra causes no damaging changes to the heart’s circulation in men with
coronary artery disease (CAD).

Lead author Howard C. Herrmann, MD, tells WebMD that his findings
“should provide reassurance about the safety of Viagra for patients who
take it, for urologists who prescribe it to treat erectile dysfunction, and for
generic viagra overnight delivery
, who probably don’t ask about erectile dysfunction as often as
they should.” Herrmann is professor of medicine and director of
interventional cardiology at the University of Sildenafil citrate india Medical Center in
Philadelphia.

Herrmann and colleagues measured Viagra’s effect on blood flow to the heart
and lungs in 14 men with severe coronary artery disease. CAD is a major cause
of angina and heart attacks. For the study, men had to stop taking
nitrate-containing drugs such as nitroglycerin, which is often used to treat
angina.

All of the men in the study had CAD so severe that at least one of the major
arteries supplying the heart with blood had closed up by 70 percent or more.
The study was supported by Pfizer, the maker of Viagra.

Herrmann reports that careful examination of the blood flow within the
arteries showed that Viagra had essentially no effect on blood flow to the
heart or lungs, or on the heart’s ability to pump blood.

“Our data support the consensus position of the American College of
Cardiology and the American Heart Association that Viagra is safe for patients
with stable coronary artery disease who are not taking medications containing
nitrates,” Herrmann writes.

Rohit R. Arora, MD, who reported one of the first cases of heart attack in a
patient who had taken Viagra, tells WebMD that this “well-done, meticulous,
and focused” study provides useful information about Viagra’s effects on
the heart’s circulatory system, but he would like to see more direct
information about heart attacks in men taking the drug. Ahora, who is director
of critical cardiac care services at Generic viagra overnight shipping
Medical Center in
New York, was not involved in the study.

Herrmann says the safety of Viagra has not been studied in patients who have
unstable angina, who have had a recent heart attack, or who have severe high or
low blood pressure.

People who have not previously had even moderate exercise (including sexual
activity) or who are taking more than one drug for high blood pressure should
be cautious when beginning Viagra, Herrmann says. He recommends that those who
have not been exercising regularly have a stress test, since sexual activity
itself carries a small increased risk of heart attack. He also recommends that
those with high blood pressure take their first dose of Viagra in a doctor’s
office, where the effect on their blood pressure can be checked
erectile pill
.

Vital Information:

• According to new research, taking Viagra does not cause damaging changes to
  the heart among some men with coronary artery disease, as long as they are not
  on nitrate-containing medications.
• The study found no changes in blood flow to the heart or lungs after
  heart-disease patients took Viagra.
• Patients who never exercise or those on more than one medication for high
  blood pressure should be carefully screened before taking Viagra.