Actor Humberto Martins, 61, reported that he found it difficult to take Viagra, the active ingredient of which is sildenafil, because the drug did not do him any good to support an erection and, on the contrary, caused severe headaches.
In fact, headache is one of the very common side effects of the drug, in addition to:
- heartburn
- nausea
- hot flashes or facial flushing
- Muscle aches
- nosebleeds
- Numbness, burning, or tingling in your arms, hands, feet, or legs.
Although it is a safe drug, experts agree that one of the main risks of using Viagra without a prescription or pharmacist’s guidance is the possibility of hypotension, especially in people taking medication to lower blood pressure.
People who have chronic heart disease (severe heart failure) or who use illegal substances should also avoid taking the drug without professional supervision—at any age. The risk is aggravation of heart disease and death, in addition to fainting, syncope, and penile muscle injury.
The suggestion from experts is that the use of sildenafil should be done only after medical evaluation so that older men can also enjoy the best that the drug can offer.
In the elderly, medical supervision is very important as they have liver failure and may have high levels of sildenafil in the body, which can lead to cardiovascular problems.
Know the contraindications
The drug cannot be used by people who are allergic (or know someone in the family has had a similar reaction) to its active ingredient or any other ingredient in its formula.
Also note the following conditions:
- Being under 18 (for erectile dysfunction)
- Left ventricular obstruction
- tobacco use
- Longer erections
- dehydration
- lung disease
- diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High or low blood pressure (hypertension or hypotension)
- Heart problems (arrhythmia, heart attack, etc.)
- CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident)
- Problems with blood cells (sickle cell anemia)
- myeloma
- leukemia
- Eye, liver or kidney disease
- Diseases affecting the shape of the penis (angulation, cavernous fibrosis, Peyronie’s disease)
- Pregnancy and lactation (if offlabel indication in women)
- lactose intolerance.