Sildenafil (Viagra) and other drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, including Levitra and Cialis have become popular for improving quality of life for many men. They have been very successful in treating erectile dysfunction. As impotence is generally not considered life threatening for most men, these drugs are generally termed ‘lifestyle drugs”. For that reason, they have developed a street market and to some extent have been abused.

Recently, FDA has approved sildenafil (Viagra) to be marketed under a different name called Revatio for treatment of a life threatening disorder called “Pulmonary Hypertension”. This condition implies high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which can subsequently cause heart failure and death. Since then, there have been numerous reports of sildenafil being studied for treatment of various cardiovascular diseases, liver disease and complications of pregnancy.

Although, there is concern about potential complications with the use of medication including heart attacks and vision impairment, there is sufficient evidence that Viagra has transcended impotence and may become valuable for treatment for a wide range of life threatening medical conditions.

Initially, Viagra was developed as a blood pressure medication in the 80s. then it was studied as a heart medication for chest pains. The results were not very encouraging and the drug was to be scrapped until many male subjects reported reversal of their impotence. Since then, it has come a full circle and now is being studied judiciously for many heart related treatments.

So far in addition to impotence, sildenafil (Viagra) has improved symptoms of pulmonary hypertension particularly in children and now is showing a lot of promise in treatment of heart failure. There are studies ongoing in treatment of liver failure and some pregnancy complications. Another potential benefit is for patients who are undergoing heart surgery. It has also been shown to reduce likelihood of fetal growth restriction by widening the arteries supplying blood to the developing baby.

As potential medicinal uses of Viagra and similar drugs are discovered, it certainly invokes a lot of confidence in prescribing it for men who may be suffering from impotence. I still believe that it is fairly underutilized, as many men may not feel comfortable discussing this issue with their physicians. Some common conditions leading to impotence include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and vascular disease ( a condition where cholesterol plaques start to build up in the arteries supplying blood to all the vital organs). In addition, many commonly prescribed blood pressure medications can also lead to this condition. Many physicians screen for impotence in patients with above conditions, but many rely on patients to inform them. In my clinical experience, many men after a certain age expect impotence and do not seek attention. However, most will have underlying causes and further evaluation of impotence can bring to attention more serious maladies (such as heart disease or diabetes) that have not yet manifested. There are certain medical conditions that preclude use of sildenafil, and there are potentially lethal interactions with some medications, most notably nitoglycerine. These issues need to be carefully assessed by your physician

As more uses of sildenafil are discovered, it is absolutely clear that it can certainly be life enhancing and probably life saving as well. A word of caution about use of sildenafil, although it is considered safe and more beneficial than previously thought, it still needs careful monitoring as we gather more information.

*Disclaimer: The contents are meant for informative, educational purposes only. Formal recommendations can only be made by physicians involved in your care. Please check with your physician before acting on any part of this article.