Is there an issue around Viagra and exercise? At first glance, working out on Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) might seem like a harmless combination. However, there are arguments for and against it, as well as some important considerations to keep in mind.
In this article, we’ll break down the positives and negatives of taking a Viagra before a workout, review what research says about Viagra and working out, and highlight key safety tips.
Here’s a quick overview of Viagra and exercise to get us started:
For most healthy individuals, combiningViagra and exercise is generally considered safe. Viagra can cause a drop in blood pressure, while exercise usually raises it. But in some cases,Viagra and working out may cause blood pressure to fall too low. This can lead to side effects such as headaches, abnormal heart rates, or priapism.
Important Note Before Combining Viagra and Exercise
Before diving deeper into the topic of working out on Viagra, it’s important to cover a few essentials.
First, Viagra is only available through a prescription. You should never attempt to purchase this medication over the counter or use it without consulting your healthcare provider.
Second, this article is for educational purposes only. Everyone’s health situation is different, and only your doctor can advise whether a Viagra exercise routine or any adjustments to your workout while taking Viagra are safe for you. Always consult a healthcare professional before following any information shared here.
Tips for Exercising on Viagra
Viagra and exercise can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome often depends on the individual. Research is still limited, so there isn’t one clear conclusion about what will happen during a Viagra workout.
What we do know is that Viagra side effects and responses vary depending on your overall health and medical conditions. Because of this, it’s best to rely on your doctor for personalized advice.
Some of the key factors your healthcare provider may help you determine include:
- Whether exercising while taking Viagra is safe, given your ED condition and other medical concerns.
- If it’s better to work out before or after taking Viagra.
- The best timing for your dose is if you maintain a regular workout routine.
- Whether certain meals or the timing of food intake can improve safety when combining exercise and Viagra.
- What level of intensity is safe for you if you’re using Viagra and working out consistently?
Since everyone reacts differently to medications and physical activity, following your doctor’s guidance is essential. For some people, working out on Viagra may be safe and manageable, while for others it could present risks.
Is It Safe to Exercise on Viagra?
Doctors have long raised concerns that Viagra may cause a sharp drop in blood pressure. On the other hand, exercise usually raises blood pressure as your heart works harder. For most, this balance is manageable, but not always.
Certain factors can cause your blood pressure to lower during physical activity. For instance, some individuals may also experience post-exercise hypotension (PEH), which is a sudden drop in blood pressure immediately after exercising.
This is where taking Viagra before a workout can sometimes be harmful, potentially leading to extreme hypotension. In rare cases, this could even trigger a heart attack.
Beyond blood pressure, combining exercise and Viagra may increase the risk of priapism (an erection lasting more than four hours). Other possible side effects during a Viagra workout include headaches, dizziness, chest pain, or abnormal heart rates.
Viagra and Exercise for Users with Heart Conditions
The risks of exercising on Viagra are even more serious for people with heart conditions. That’s because Viagra, exercise, and certain heart medications can all affect blood pressure. As such, when combined, the impact can be dangerous.
When you take Viagra, your arteries release nitric oxide. This causes the arteries to widen, temporarily lowering blood pressure by about 5–8 mmHg. For individuals with a healthy heart, this drop is usually manageable. But for those with heart problems, even small changes can carry higher risks.
The Role of Nitrates
Many people with heart conditions also take medications called organic nitrates. These drugs increase nitric oxide levels to help open narrowed coronary arteries and relieve angina (chest pain).
However, Viagra and nitrates both act on nitric oxide. Taking them together can cause blood pressure to fall to extremely dangerous levels. For this reason, men using nitrates should not take Viagra or similar medications used to treat erectile dysfunction.
What the Research Shows
One Harvard Medical study tested healthy volunteers who were given Viagra followed by nitroglycerin an hour later. Their blood pressure dropped by 25–51 mmHg — a potentially life-threatening decrease.
Based on these findings, the FDA has urged caution for men with:
- A recent history of heart attack, stroke, or serious arrhythmias (within the last six months)
- Congestive heart failure or unstable angina
- Very low blood pressure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure above 170/110 mmHg
For these individuals, combining Viagra and exercise could magnify the risk of severe hypotension and, in rare cases, lead to a cardiac event.
Prescription Dosage Considerations
Doctors may sometimes adjust Viagra dosage for patients with heart concerns. However, once exercise is added, the results can still be unpredictable.
In the next section, we’ll look at studies that explore whether Viagra working out scenarios are safe — and what the findings mean for individuals with or without heart conditions.
Studies That Support Viagra and Exercise
While many doctors caution against combining Viagra with exercise, particularly for patients with heart conditions, some research suggests otherwise.
This includes one clinical study reported by SFGate that monitored 105 men with known or probable heart disease, with an average age of 66. The participants exercised for a short period on a reclining bicycle over two consecutive days.
On the first day, they were given a standard dose of Viagra and monitored one hour later. On the second day, they took a placebo instead of Viagra and repeated the same exercise. This was a “blind” study, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking Viagra and who was taking the placebo at the time.
For those who were also prescribed nitrates for heart conditions, the study required a three-day break from nitrate use before participating.
At the end of the study, the men exhibited some degree of ischemia — a reduction in blood flow to the heart. But there was no significant difference between the men who took Viagra and those who took the placebo. Additionally, none of the participants experienced significant rhythm changes or suffered a heart attack within one month of completing the trial.
What the Research Suggests
This research concluded that there are no major negative effects of combining Viagra and exercise, even among patients with existing heart conditions. For otherwise healthy individuals, working out on Viagra appeared to be generally safe.
However, it’s crucial to note that the study focused on Viagra workouts without concurrent nitrate use. Heart medications such as nitrates still pose significant risks when paired with Viagra and exercise, since both can lower blood pressure to unsafe levels.
The bottom line: while some evidence supports the safety of a Viagra exercise routine, the sample size was small, and results may not apply to everyone. Regardless of study outcomes, always consult your doctor before combining Viagra and working out.
Closing Thoughts
We hope this article has given you helpful insights into the combination ofViagra and exercise.
As highlighted above, the effects can vary greatly from person to person. For some, aViagra exercise routinemay be safe, while for others, Viagra and working outcould pose risks.
The most important step is to talk with your doctor. Only a healthcare professional can evaluate your specific health situation, medications, and fitness goals to determine whether the combination ofexercise and Viagra is safe for you.
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