Ok, so Viagra (I’m sure we’re all familiar with that one) and Nitroglycerin (a vasodilator used to treat heart conditions like angina, and is a part of my EMR chest pain protocol) are both on each others contraindication list — ie, Do Not Mix. The main reason being that both are vasodilators and will reduce your blood pressure, potentially dangerously so. Another contraindication for Nitro, for example, is systolic bp under 100.
Interesting side note: due to my chronically low blood pressure (averages 90/60, which is on the low side of normal, more expected to find in athletes. I’m not an athlete. So, I couldn’t take nitro. I suppose I should probably avoid viagra, too. Pity. I’ve heard it does fun things for women, too.
Anyway, a part of my chest pain protocol is that if the patient has taken Viagra or Levitra in the last 24 hours, or Cialis in the last 48, I can’t proceed with administering nitro. And the commercial I just watched indicated that if you have a prescription for nitro, you’re unlikely to also be given a prescription for viagra.
As another side note, more entertaining was the suggestion that you check with your doctor to see if your heart is strong enough to have sex. Please, if my heart is ever not strong enough to have sex, just let me die. I’m just sayin’.
As a side, side, side note: My step-father has gone on record that if he’s ever in a vegetative state, the criteria we should use to decide when to pull the plug is, um, that. If it goes up, he’s fine, let him be in his coma. If not, pull it. Uh, the plug, I mean. Oh god, I’m starting to make myself uncomfortable. Anyway, I’m not sure how to explain THAT to a doctor, so maybe we’ll just let Mom deal with it…
Anyway, so what I have to wonder… does nitro give you a woody? That’d be pretty funny. “How’s your chest pain, sir? Gone down? Excellent. Oh, but something else has gone UP! Well, hello there!”
Answer: Probably not. Viagra is a bit more targeted as to where it dilates. On the other hand, it’s also used to treat pulmonary hypertension (under a different brand name, but it’s the same stuff) — ie, high blood pressure that causes problems in the lungs, vs. problems in the heart (like angina). Can’t breathe? Here, a hard-on will help that!
I would say about 80-90% of my clients use the nitro patch, and not that I’ve asked them… but I’ve never seen wood lol
hee. Well, don’t give them viagra… :D