A drug known to be Sildenafil which is sold under the brand name Viagra is considered to be safe for men who suffer from erectile dysfunction. A report published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology stated that taking high doses of these drugs can have effects on vision. The report showed that 17 healthy men seek medical care after taking the drug for the first time. The doctors recommended to start taking 50 milligrams of sildenafil. The dose should be raised or lowered as needed. The highest recommended dose is 100 milligrams.
The vision disturbances include light sensitivity, blurriness, color blindness, and blue-tinted vision. When the desired effects of the drug have worn off, the symptoms continue. Some men reported that the visual impairment lasted for three weeks. Many people do not get the connection between vision and Viagra.
Viagra causes the enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 to turn off which makes the blood flow to the penis boost to cause an erection. During the process, the drug meddles with enzymes related to retinal cells. Experts say that taking it at high doses could permanently damage the retina. Ischemic optic neuropathy is tied to erectile dysfunction drugs. Men who have retinitis pigmentosa or abnormal optic nerve are prone to vision problems when they take drugs for erectile dysfunction.
Is It More Effective if I Take High Doses of Viagra?
It is indicated in numerous studies that high doses of sildenafil pose the risk of vision problems. There is a reported case of a man who consumed an entire bottle of liquid sildenafil and developed vision loss and “doughnut-shaped” spots in his field of vision afterward. These cases are rare but the impairment lasted for almost two months.
No matter the dose of sildenafil you take, it can cause temporary back pain, headaches, nausea, and visual changes. Usually, the symptoms do not last for more than five hours. Cüneyt Karaarslan, an ophthalmologist, suggested that men take longer to digest medicine which can cause high concentrations of drugs to build in the blood.
Is Taking Viagra Worth the Risk?
Despite the concern raised in the reports, experts do not recommend discarding the drug. It is important to use erectile dysfunction medicine with a prescription and under medical supervision. Make sure that you are purchasing from a trusted source and not on counterfeit drugs that are not regulated by the FDA.
Dr. Andrew Lee, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, reminded people to discuss with prescribing doctors the risks and benefits of taking erectile dysfunction medicine. Even if there is a low risk of visual side effects and complications, it is important to be careful.
