Can You Overdose On Viagra?
Viagra (Sildenafil) as we all know is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.
There is extensive clinical research done on the dosage and mode of administration of any drug before it is marketed. Data obtained from research also indicate the side effects, drug interactions, precautions and contraindications pertaining to a drug that is intended to cure or aid in the treatment of a specific illness or indication.
Drug overdoses are dangerous and sometimes fatal. Drug overdose always carries the risk of serious side effects. Regardless of the intent, an overdose of any drug can have severe and lasting repercussions.
Well, many of you would be curious to know if we can overdose on Viagra. The answer certainly is a big ‘NO’. In this blog, we shall get to see as to why you should never overdose on Viagra.
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Recommended Dose & Dosage Adjustment
For most patients, the recommended dose of Viagra is 50 mg taken as needed. The maximum recommended dose is 100 mg. Dosage may be decreased to 25 mg if necessary. Viagra should be taken as needed approximately 30-60 minutes before sexual activity. However, Viagra may be taken anywhere from 0.5 hours to 4 hours before sexual activity. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Sildenafil (Viagra) is rapidly absorbed. Maximum observed plasma concentrations are reached within 30 to 120 minutes of oral dosing in the fasted state.
In clinical trials when VIAGRA was administered with a high-fat meal, the rate of absorption was significantly decreased. The patient may find that it takes longer to work if taken with a high-fat meal.
Effects of Viagra on Erectile Response
Viagra was studied in clinical trials of various designs. In fixed-dose clinical trials, patients on 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg of Viagra, respectively, reported an improvement in their erections, compared to using no drug therapy for erectile dysfunction. All studies investigating the effects of Sildenafil on penile erection after sexual stimulation, consistently showed that doses of up to 100 mg resulted in statistically significant improvements in duration of erections (considered hard enough for penetrative sexual intercourse), compared with placebo (no drug use). It was concluded that Viagra increases couples’ ability to have sexual intercourse.
Overdosage
In clinical studies with healthy volunteers, it was observed that a single dose of up to 800 mg showed adverse events that were similar to those seen at lower doses but the incidence rates and severities of the adverse events were increased.
Priapism (prolonged painful erection)
Overdose with Viagra may result in priapism which refers to the persistent and painful erection of the penis. Patients should be instructed to report any erections persisting for more than 4 hours to a physician. The treatment of priapism/prolonged erection should be according to established medical practice. Physicians may refer to two suggested protocols for detumescence presented below. Detumescence is the process of subsiding from a state of tension, swelling, or (especially) sexual arousal.
Applying ice may initially help until the patient reaches a physician’s office but a urologist should be consulted as soon as possible, especially if the erection has been present for many hours. If priapism is not treated immediately, penile tissue damage and/or permanent loss of potency may result.
Effects of Viagra on Blood Pressure (BP)
Single oral doses of Sildenafil (100 mg) administered to healthy volunteers produced decreases in the supine (lying horizontally with face and torso facing up). The decrease in blood pressure was most notable approximately 1-2 hours after dosing. The effects are not related to dose or plasma levels. Therefore overdosing on Viagra can cause a substantial decrease in blood pressure.
Effects of Viagra on the Heart
Single oral doses of VIAGRA up to 100 mg in healthy volunteers produced no clinically relevant effects on ECG but overdosing can cause cardiac complications.
Other side effects:
Just plain Paracetamol tablets, when taken within the prescribed dose would do wonders to suppress/ treat /a mild headache but when too much of it is consumed it may lead to hepatotoxicity (liver). As with any other medication, VIAGRA causes a few side effects (seen in a very small percentage of users) which are listed here as either common, rare or more common and overdosing may enhance the severity and complications due to these side effects.
Less Common: Burning feeling (chest or stomach), Bladder pain, Itching, numbness, prickling, “pins & needles”, or tingling feelings, cloudy or bloody urine, dizziness, increased frequency of urination, indigestion, pain on urination, stomach upset, tenderness in the stomach area
Rare: Behavior changes, Abnormal vision, bleeding of the eye, blurred vision, bone pain, breast enlargement, chest pain, chills, cold sweats, anxiety, confusion, convulsions (seizures), cool and pale skin, deafness or hearing loss, decrease in amount of urine or the frequency of urination, decreased vision, difficulty in concentrating, dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, double vision, drowsiness, dry eyes, dry mouth, dryness, redness, scaling, or peeling of the skin, excessive hunger, eye pain, fainting or faintness, fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, feeling of something in the eye, fever or chills, headache (severe or continuing), increase in the size of the pupil, increased sweating, increased thirst, lower back or side pain, migraine headache, nausea (severe or continuing), nervousness, nightmares, numbness of the hands, painful, swollen joints, prolonged, painful erection of penis, redness, burning, or swelling of the eyes, redness, itching, or tearing of the eyes, restless sleep, seeing shades of colors differently than before, sensitivity to light, shakiness, skin lesions with swelling, skin paleness skin rash, hives, or itching skin ulcers slurred speech, sore throat, sudden weakness, swelling of the face, hands, feet, or lower legs, trouble breathing, twitching of the muscles, unusual feeling of burning or stinging of the skin, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes, vision loss, temporary
More Common: Aches or pains in the muscles, bloody nose, diarrhoea, difficult or laboured breathing, flushing, headache, pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones, redness of the skin, sneezing, stomach discomfort following meals, stuffy or runny nose, trouble sleeping, unusually warm skin
Note: For the management of drug overdose with Viagra you should contact your regional Poison Control Centre.
Dosing Considerations
The following factors are associated with increased plasma levels (concentration of the drug in the body) of Sildenafil:
Age 65 years or over
Hepatic (liver) impairment (e.g. cirrhosis)
Severe renal (kidney) impairment
Concomitant use of drugs such as for e.g. erythromycin, Saquinavir, Ritonavir, Ketoconazole and Itraconazole (it is important to avoid concurrent administration of these drugs while taking Viagra)
Contraindications
Viagra (Sildenafil) has been shown to potentiate the hypotensive effects of nitrates which are a class of medication prescribed to treat angina (chest pain) and is therefore contraindicated in patients who are taking any type of nitrate drug therapy, or who utilize short-acting nitrate-containing medications, due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening hypotension. The use of organic nitrates, either regularly and/or intermittently, in any form (e.g. oral, sublingual, transdermal, by inhalation) is absolutely contraindicated. Here again, treatments for erectile dysfunction should not be generally used in men for whom sexual activity is inadvisable.
Viagra
Viagra (Sildenafil) is an excellent drug of choice for erectile dysfunction and when used in appropriate, recommended doses, increases the ability of couples’ to have satisfactory sexual intercourse……. why should you then unnecessarily overdose on Viagra?
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References :
- CTC – Canada
- Rx Prep USA
- APhA – drug information
Mens Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected].