How To Avoid Dangerous Risks Of Erectile Dysfunction Medication

According to a study published in Sexual Medicine, based on 2022 statistics, around 10.3 million American men struggle with ED. But if you or your partner falls into this category, should you be concerned about taking common ED medications like Viagra?

To get more insight into the possible risks of taking ED drugs, Health Digest turned to Dr. Joshua R. Gonzalez, a board-certified urologist speaking on behalf of Eroxon. "ED medications are generally very safe," states Dr. Gonzales. However, he notes that they aren't without their concerns or considerations, which can range from mild side effects to serious medical emergencies. Dr. Gonzalez lists a few of the unpleasant and annoying (but not necessarily dangerous) side effects associated with ED drugs. As he explains, "Some of the oral medications (known as PDE5 inhibitors) have been associated with vision changes (blurry vision, blue-tinted vision, and sensitivity to light), headache, palpitations, muscle pain, drop in blood pressure, facial flushing, nasal stuffiness, and heartburn."

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are four PDE5 inhibitors that are regularly prescribed for patients who struggle with ED: avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil. It's difficult to say exactly how many men experience undesired symptoms after taking PDE5 inhibitors, but the checklist of possible symptoms is plentiful. Many of the symptoms that Dr. Gonzalez mentioned are fleeting; the exception may be vision issues, which can remain even after the ED medication is discontinued (per Healthline). 

Additionally, anyone who is already taking medications for pre-existing conditions like heart disease should talk with a doctor before trying any ED drugs to avoid possible contraindications with their heart-related medicines. For example, according to a 2024 article in the American College of Cardiology, men who take nitrates may be at elevated risk of early death if they begin to take ED drugs as well. 

With that said, even if a man gets a doctor's okay to move forward with taking ED medications, he may still be at risk of other medical issues, especially if pills don't work. "When patients do not respond to oral medications, they may be prescribed injectable medications, which have been associated with priapism (which is a prolonged erection lasting more than 4 hours)," Dr. Gonzalez says. "While this may sound exciting for some men, priapism is actually a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation and intervention." In such cases, prompt treatment is necessary to avoid further complications, like destruction of the penile tissue (per Mayo Clinic).

The bottomline: instead of deciding to use an ED drug on your own, consult a medical professional first. And after each use, stay alert to notable side effects to avoid lasting or serious consequences. Alternatively, you could look into more natural or holistic remedies to treat ED with fewer symptoms.

Some men prefer to try natural therapies first when trying to overcome their ED problems. These can include lifestyle modifications, such as exercising more frequently and stopping the use of tobacco (via Medical News Today). These changes can improve the way blood circulates throughout the body, which may reduce the number of ED events for men without any medical intervention. For some men, getting mental health assistance can also reduce stressors that may be contributing to their ED problems.

Vitamins and supplements could even provide relief: A 2021 review of alternative medications as ED treatments found that a few herbal products seemed to work in some studies (via the Arab Journal of Urology). Those that contained or were taken alongside L-arginine seemed to offer particularly positive outcomes. Still, make sure to consult a healthcare professional before taking these products.