Viagra Question
I suffer from periodic bouts of angina pectoris. When the chest pain becomes an issue, I pop a nitroglycerin pill under my tongue, and as it dissolves, my pain abates. Does occasional use of a nitroglycerin pill make it inadvisable for me to use Viagra?
Answer
It sounds as though you are suffering from unstable angina, which can strike at almost any time if your heart isn’t getting a steady and uninterrupted flow of oxygen-rich blood. Left untreated, unstable angina can — and often does — lead to a full-blown heart attack. Because you have no way of accurately forecasting when you’ll need to pop a nitroglycerin tablet, it is probably unwise for you to use Viagra or any of the other oral ED medications. Because both the nitroglycerin pill and Viagra work by lowering blood pressure, they can cause a life-threatening decline in blood pressure when taken together. Sexual relations can put an extra strain on your heart, perhaps triggering an attack of angina. If you have already taken Viagra to overcome erectile problems, popping a nitroglycerin pill on top of that could lead to serious health consequences. Stay away from the PDE5 inhibitors as long as you are using nitrate-based drugs. And as always when taking drugs, consult your doctor.