Viagra is an oral medication prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to get or maintain an erection. The active ingredient in the drug is sildenafil citrate, a medication that affects blood pressure. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that Viagra increases the levels of nitrous oxide in the body, which cause the blood vessels in the penis to open and relax, allowing for more blood flow.
Runny Nose
Men typically feel mild side effects as the drug begins to take effect, usually within 30 to 60 minutes. The most common side effects, according to manufacturer Pfizer, are facial flushing, headache and runny nose.
Vision Loss
Some men experience blurred vision and sensitivity to light. National Institutes of Health doctors report that a common side effect is changes in color vision when men cannot determine green from blue or everything seems to have a bluish tint. Less common is complete or partial loss of vision. Reports of permanent vision loss have been documented, NIH researchers report.
Hearing Loss
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that Viagra can cause sudden hearing loss. Patients found to experience sudden loss of hearing also had additional side effects that included dizziness, vertigo and ringing in the ears, or tinnitus.
Priaprism
At times, the ED drug causes blood to get trapped in the penis that can result in priaprism, a painful, persistent erection that lasts longer than four hours without sexual stimulation, report doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. Untreated, the condition can lead to permanent erectile dysfunction and scarring.
Stomach Problems
Many men react with an upset stomach, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Other possible digestive disorders that can result from Viagra use include diarrhea, heartburn and muscle aches.
Hypertension
Viagra can aggravate weakened heart symptoms for those who have had a recent heart attack or who have angina during sex, Mayo Clinic doctors report. Men with heart arrhythmia, uncontrolled high or low blood pressure or heart failure also should refrain from using the ED medication because the drug increases blood pressure, which can exacerbate heart conditions. The excess blood pressure could cause a stroke in anyone who has had a stroke within the previous six months. A serious side effect of Viagra is chest pains that men with weakened hearts may experience, report doctors at the AAFP.
Neurological Troubles
Doctors at the NIH report that some men experience difficulty falling asleep or numbness in their extremities.
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