Can I overuse Viagara?

[smy3th]

I have started using Viagara, and it is working great, but I am a little worried about using it almost every night. Does anyone know what the long term effects might be of using it daily? Will it eventually lose its effectiveness?

I got a supply cheap by mail order, and cut them in half, so they are only costing about $1.50 per dose, so the cost is not too bad.

 

[EJFan]

are you using it with a prescription and support of a physician or is this a purely recreational thing that you have no real need for?

if it's recreational and there's no doc confirming your need for it, i believe there IS significant danger. viagra, and other ED treatments, affect your blood flow... that's how they work. for my personal taste, whatever the risk is, i wouldn't tinker with it.

of course, a lot of men use it for shits and giggles... i'd never recommend it though.

 

[silverwhisper]

assuming you're of average height and weight, i've had it on good authority that you should quarter the little blue triangle, believe it or not. either way however, like EJfan, i encourage you to get a medical opinion: there are several side effects that are not exactly desirable, IIRC.

ed

 

[bisexplicit]

Like any medication, Viagra can be dangerous if overused.
I have a story about its danger in relation to other medications, etc., but I don't remember the details, so I won't bore you with it.

 

[smy3th]

I do have a real prescription from my real urologist for it, though I doubt he expected this frequency of use. He probably thought that prescription would last me for six months, though I didn't ask.

I really do need it - it is not just for some extra kick. I can get an erection without it, but it often takes a considerable amount of manual stimulation first, and then it doesn't last very long - sometimes not long enough for me to orgasm.

 

[smy3th]

Like any medication, Viagra can be dangerous if overused.

Well, the question is, what is "overuse"?

I have a story about its danger in relation to other medications, etc., but I don't remember the details, so I won't bore you with it.

I would not be bored - I would be very interested if you could find the information again.

 

[smy3th]

assuming you're of average height and weight, i've had it on good authority that you should quarter the little blue triangle, believe it or not.

I'll try that and see how it works.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I do have a real prescription from my real urologist for it, though I doubt he expected this frequency of use. He probably thought that prescription would last me for six months, though I didn't ask.

I really do need it - it is not just for some extra kick. I can get an erection without it, but it often takes a considerable amount of manual stimulation first, and then it doesn't last very long - sometimes not long enough for me to orgasm.

Call your doc, sweets and ask him about frequency of use. He'll know better than anyone on this board.

 

[smy3th]

Call your doc, sweets and ask him about frequency of use. He'll know better than anyone on this board.

You have a doctor that answers phone calls? Wow! That's different. All I would get is a receptionist who would take a message (but the call would not be returned) or tell me to make an appointment.

Also, I'm not all that sure the doctor would really know the answer. Doctor's are not necessarily experts on every drug they prescribe. They probably just read the same warnings that the consumer gets with the prescription.

You do make a good point that professional advice is probably a good idea. I'm probably a bit afraid to ask though, for fear the doctor would automatically give me conservative advice regardless of whether he really knows. Also, when I have asked him before about the actions of other medications, he has tended to be somewhat condescending, and not all that clear in his answers.

 

[SweetErika]

You have a doctor that answers phone calls? Wow! That's different. All I would get is a receptionist who would take a message (but the call would not be returned) or tell me to make an appointment.

Also, I'm not all that sure the doctor would really know the answer. Doctor's are not necessarily experts on every drug they prescribe. They probably just read the same warnings that the consumer gets with the prescription.

You do make a good point that professional advice is probably a good idea. I'm probably a bit afraid to ask though, for fear the doctor would automatically give me conservative advice regardless of whether he really knows. Also, when I have asked him before about the actions of other medications, he has tended to be somewhat condescending, and not all that clear in his answers.

Your doctor may not know the answer, but you'd think a urologist who sees and treats lots of patients for ED would be better able to draw conclusions about side effects and long term safety. It might be wise to check-in with him and be honest about how often you're using it. If you don't care for his opinions or how he talks to you, there are always other doctors. A pharmacist may also be able to give you some good information.

I did a little checking, and there are tons of urology, ED, men's health, etc. boards and FAQs out there that are moderated by medical professionals. It might be worth asking on some of those? One interesting fact about frequency and length of use came from http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/smac/viagra.htm

Duration and Follow-Up. Experience to date suggests sildenafil can safely be prescribed throughout life provided that this is within the terms of the summary of product characteristics in the marketing authorisation (which specifies contraindications and a starting age of 18). However the frequency of contra-indications increases with age, and SMAC is particularly concerned that prolonged prescribing could mask the progression of serious underlying disease. Some psychological causes of erectile dysfunction resolve spontaneously or with treatment, so the need for and tolerance of sildenafil should be reassessed at 1-3 months. Thereafter the appropriateness of prescribing should normally be checked yearly, but stopped immediately if interacting drugs have to be prescribed for other conditions.

 

[smy3th]

Thanks for the link. That is very helpful, especially the part below, although I had to laugh:

Frequency of use. Sildenafil is unusual in that there appears to be no clinical reason to restrict the number of tablets (up to one a day) prescribed to an individual in any given period. However limiting the levels of prescribing may reduce NHS costs more than it reduces the public health benefit; and we note the research evidence that the average frequency of sexual intercourse in the 40 - 60 age range is once a week.

So, there is no reason to restrict the frequency - that's a huge relief.

The British NHS wants to limit prescribing to save money!

But the funny part was that the average for my age group is once a week. Hah!!! I'm doing it about 6 times a week. Their study results were probably because the subjects can't get it up because they can't get viagara. The frequency is limited because the NHS won't give them viagara! Sounds like circular reasoning to me.

 

[Lynxie]

You have a doctor that answers phone calls? Wow! That's different. All I would get is a receptionist who would take a message (but the call would not be returned) or tell me to make an appointment.

Also, I'm not all that sure the doctor would really know the answer. Doctor's are not necessarily experts on every drug they prescribe. They probably just read the same warnings that the consumer gets with the prescription.

You do make a good point that professional advice is probably a good idea. I'm probably a bit afraid to ask though, for fear the doctor would automatically give me conservative advice regardless of whether he really knows. Also, when I have asked him before about the actions of other medications, he has tended to be somewhat condescending, and not all that clear in his answers.

It sounds to me like you're just looking for people to tell you it's okay to take Viagra daily. Why not try giving your doctor a call? If you've had problems with your Urologist's office not returning calls in the past, why not find a new one? If you're really concerned about the long-term effects and the actual definition of overuse, you really should be consulting with an actual medical professional.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

You can also ask your pharmacist questions like that. They know a lot about the different drugs that are out there and can direct you to people/places that have more information than they do. The next time you're at a place that has a pharmacy, just stop and ask them your questions and I doubt they'd mind helping you.

 

[smy3th]

Well, OK, to be honest, I'm pretty shy. I can't really picture myself going up to the pharmacist's counter in the Rite Aid and asking the pharmicist about sex. It took a lot of working up to it to even bring it up with the doctor.

You ask why not get a different doctor? This is the group that my health plan sends me to. I asked another time about getting a second opinion, and they said, sure, but it will be from one of the other doctors in the same office that I've already been seen by, so they aren't going to tell me anything different.

I could try a different plan, but frankly, the plan I have is one of the best that are available to me.

Yes, you are all correct that I should ask a doctor, and eventually, I will try to do that, but I was just wondering if there was any readily available info on the subject. And also, asking a doctor or pharmacist, in addition to being difficult for me, is also not all there is to finding out about health issues.

 

[smy3th]

assuming you're of average height and weight, i've had it on good authority that you should quarter the little blue triangle, believe it or not.

I'll try that and see how it works.

So, I've been trying that. I find that it does work, although chopping the pills up in such small pieces is, um, shall I say, "dicey." But yeah, 25mg does the trick. I find that taking it a good two hours before bedtime is best. At first, I believed the information that said it was effective in 30 minutes and lasted for only four hours. Maybe with some men that is true, but I find that it doesn't do much at all for at least an hour, and two hours is better, and then the effect lasts all night. It is actually still effective in the morning.

 

[silverwhisper]

there are pill cutters that should make this easier for you. glad to hear you're having success w/ it. :>

ed

 

[smy3th]

I have one of the those pill cutters. It sure helps a lot, but the pills still tend to crumble.

 

[silverwhisper]

hm...well, the only alternative i can think of: you could get a suitably-accurate scale & just crush the darned things to ensure relatively even quarters, but that's probably a pretty big bother.

ed

 

[SweetErika]

hm...well, the only alternative i can think of: you could get a suitably-accurate scale & just crush the darned things to ensure relatively even quarters, but that's probably a pretty big bother.

ed

I don't know if it applies to Viagra, but if it's the wrong kind of pill, it could seriously hurt or kill you because it may enter your bloodstream too quickly or in a far too concentrated amount. I'd check with a pharmacist or drug manufacturer before crushing.

 

[smy3th]

Despite some crumbling, it seems to be working.

Another big advantage of the lower 25mg dose is that it has reduced the side effects (feeling flushed, nasal congestion).

 

[pupper]

I think Viagra was originally being researched to help with blood flow and blood pressure .I take them everyday.I buy real pfizers without a script for 5.50 a piece
I buy generics for 1.25 a a piece (I have a friend in India who gets them for me you dont need a prescription for them there.)Since I have started using them I have lowered my blood pressure to normal range.I have always had a higher than normal blood pressure,even with proper diet and exercise.I never use more than 10mg per day,usually 25mg at a time 4 times a day

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Just adding this little tidbit here. I saw on the news last night there was a thing about viagra causing blindness. It's a possible side effect that is not listed as it could happen. It's not a common thing, but some men have lost their vision entirely because they used viagra.

 

[smy3th]

Maybe the blindness actually resulted from the masturbation?

Just kidding. Yeah, the eyesight thing was one of my worries.

On the other hand, if a chemical that promotes sexual arousal also can cause blindness, perhaps there really is something to that old legend about masturbation and blindness. But as to causing hair growth on your palms, I'm pretty sure that is the other way round - masturbation is probably the reason guys are hairy on the backs of their hands, but NOT on their palms - they wear it all off.

 

[Cathleen]

Adding one more tidbit, if you are able to get the drug in lower strength it would be preferable to splitting the pill. If a pill does not have a score there is the possibility the pieces will not have the same strength.

If a pill was 20mg (with no score) and you cut it in half, there is no guarantee each side will have 10 mg. It is possible that the active portion is not mixed throughout.

 

[SueJ]

Do you get headaches from a 50mg dose? I'm asking because my hubby's doctor gave him some for play. (He doesn't need it, but the doc had tons of samples and said, "Here, try some of this and have fun!" Well, lemme tell ya, we had LOTS OF FUN!!! I mean, there's 'hard', and then there's HARD!!! <laughing> He just tried it the other day. But after a couple of hours, my husband got a terrible headache. We were thinking of cutting the next one in half....I guess that worked well for you. I don't know anything about daily use thoughl My husband was just given a couple of samples.

Sue