Magic Blue Blog - Viagra News and Commentary

Good News for Heart Patients: Sex Is Safe, So Is Viagra

2012-02-03T08:23:18Z

Sex is one of the biggest concerns for heart attack survivors and people with heart disease. How risky is it? A recent US report has some answers. Th researchers concluded that sex is safe for most heart patients, as long as someone was healthy enough to ascend two flights of stairs.

However, the studiey's author Glenn Levine, a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, stressed that people should also do cardiac rehabilitation before engaging in any sexual activity.

Sex would probably be all right, they said, up to one week after a mild heart attack, when a patient should be able to ascend a few flights of stairs without discomfort.

Viagra was generally safe for men who had stable heart disease, they concluded.

In general, the doctors found that sex was a minimal risk in contributing to a first heart attack. On the other hand, they found that married men having affairs with younger women had the highest risk of sex- sudden death.

For couples under less stressful situations, sex can be beneficial. Dan Fintel, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University in the US, said that resuming sexual activity was safe and actually counted as part of the post-heart attack healing process.

Bill Would Require "In Depth" Exam for Viagra Prescription

2012-02-02T03:20:35Z

Usually, all you need to get a prescription for Viagra is to "have a talk" with your doctor. An amendment proposed by Virginia state senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax), would have required patients seeking the erectile dysfunction drug to submit to a more "probing" check up - a digital prostate exam.

The amendment, which would have required men to have a prostate exam and cardiac stress test before obtaining Viagra, was payback on a bill requiring women seeking abortions to undergo sonograms. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier), is similar to one passed in Texas in 2011, aimed at deterring women from terminating their pregnancies by making them view a sonogram and listen to a detailed description of the fetus.

Said Howell, "The Virginia senate is about to pass a bill that will require a woman to have a totally unnecessary medical procedure at their cost and inconvenience. If we're going to do that to women, why not do that to men?"

The rectal exam amendment was defeated by a 21-19 vote in the state senate, while the sonogram bill, SB 484, passed the senate by 21-18. No doubt it will pass as well in the Republican-controlled Virginia house of representatives, although its constitutionality will certainly be challenged.

After Howell presented her amendment on the senate floor, Senator Vogel countered that erectile dysfunction and pregnancy are clearly not equivalent. Agreed, but requiring unnecessary sonograms and proctological exams is equally ridiculous.

Viagra Helps Children With Disfiguring Condition

2012-01-30T05:02:26Z

Viagra has a history of unforeseen beneficial side effects and happy accidents - it started off as a heart medication, after all. Now doctors have discovered another medical application for the drug, in what Dr. Richard Smith, a pediatric otolaryngologist calls an "exciting and serendipitous finding."

According to a small study and preliminary report, sildenafil can shrink disfiguring lymphatic growths in children, know as severe lymphatic malformations. The cause of the growths is unknown, but the masses of fluid and lymphatic vessels can grown as large as a basketball.

Doctors aren't sure how sildenafil works to shrink the growths, but one theory is that it stimulates circulation in the lymphatic system, allowing fluid to drain. The drugs new-found property was discovered while an infant was being given sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension, and doctors observed that a lymphatic growth shrunk during the treatment.

The cost of the treatment is reportedly up to $1,000 a month, but Pfizer has been donating the drugs. That's great - they win some points for that. But my question is, why is it so expensive in the first place? The drug is Revatio, which is essentially the same thing as Viagra, right? Is it just more expensive because it's packaged in a different dosage? That's one of the silly things about the pharma business - they charge you more for a smaller dose.

Anyway, the discovery is good news for kids with this rare condition, and may not be a cure, but at least offers hope for treatment.

Court Puts Kibosh on Viaguara Brand Drink

2012-01-26T07:19:07Z

The Polish company that tried to trademark the name Viaguara for a beverage is out of luck. The European Union's General Court rejected their appeal of a 2005 decision which blocked registration of the brand name on the grounds that it was too similar to the famous drug.

The court ruled that the beverage would be taking unfair advantage of Viagra's reputation. The court also expressed concern that confusion between the products could be medically dangerous, which seems like a bit of an exaggeration.

So what is Viaguara? Some sort of energy drink, probably containing guarana, possibly containing alcohol. Whatever it is, it's going to have to go to market with a much less exciting name, which hasn't proven to be an issue for, say, 5-Hour Energy. Although a product called 5-Hour Viaguara would really fly off the shelves.

What Happens If You Take Viagra and Don't Have Sex?

2012-01-22T15:46:07Z

Is it harmful if you take a Viagra, and then don't have sex? Like, what if you took one by accident?

I don't think people take Viagra "by accident" very often - although the tablets do bear some resemblance to the over-the-counter analgesic Aleve (ironic if you took something for your stiff back and something else got stiff instead).

If "by accident" you mean you misinterpreted your date's signals and she decides to go home early, well, that's a more likely scenario. Using Viagra takes some planning, and things don't always go according to plan.

So, if you take Viagra and don't have an appropriate "outlet", will anything bad happen? No, your penis won't explode, no matter what the drug pamphlet warns about possible "permanent damage to the penis". Unless you have an erection for four hours or more - then you should get to the doctor asap. Otherwise, the drug will eventually work its way out of your system and everything should return to normal.

If you become aroused while under the influence of Viagra and don't have an orgasm, you may experience pelvic congestion, aka "blue balls". This is usually a dull pain in the pelvis and testicles, caused by the pressure of accumulated blood. While this may be uncomfortable, it's not harmful, and if you don't do anything about it, eventually it should subside as the effects of the Viagra wear off (if not, see above). If you're not going to be having sex, the easiest way to relieve it is to masturbate. Repeat as necessary.

Viagra Keeps the Bloom on Your Rose

2012-01-20T07:59:28Z

British gardening expert David Domoney recently gave this pro tip on his TV show: to keep cut flowers from going limp, give them a dose of Viagra. The nitric oxide helps preserve the integrity of the flowers and prevents them from breaking down.

We've known about this trick for years. Israeli and Australian scientists documented that a small dose (1mg) of sildenafil added to their water could keep flowers fresh up to a week longer. Independent research corroborates the laboratory findings. After a week, flowers given Viagra just stand up straighter, while the others are floppy and droopy.

Domoney said that if you're reluctant to part with your Viagra, or it's too hard to come by, a bit of aspirin might do instead - to keep your flowers perky, that is. It won't perk up much else.

Can I Use Viagra to Counteract the Effects of Alcohol?

2012-01-16T19:57:17Z

I sometimes have difficulty keeping an erection after I've been drinking. Can Viagra help fix this?

Alcohol is infamous both for leading the bedroom, and leading to disappointment in the bedroom. As Shakespeare himself observed, "[Alcohol] provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance." Viagra might seem like the cure for that dilemma, but it's not a good idea. The makers of Viagra advise against using the drug with alcohol, and so do many Viagra users.

Alcohol consumption dampens the effects of Viagra to begin with, so it may not work as well, or you might try taking more than your usual dose to get the same effect. Even if it does work, you may be very sorry the next morning.

An alcohol and Viagra cocktail can be a recipe for a killer hangover. Viagra can cause a pounding headache. So can alcohol. They both cause blood vessel dilation, which is the source of that incessant and painful pulsing in your skull, so they may amplify each other's effects. They also both cause stomach irritation.

Many people can take Viagra after having a couple of drinks and experience no ill effects - individual tolerance can vary. But if alcohol, whether on an occasional or ongoing basis, is the cause of your erectile dysfunction, you're better off not falling back on Viagra to solve the problem.

Viagra May Win Defense Department Contract

2012-01-13T07:06:23Z

Viagra may soon be the drug of choice for helping US military personnel keep their little soldiers at attention. The formulary advisory panel of Tricare, the military's health plan, has recommended that military pharmacies drop their current erectile dysfunction drugs, Bayer's Cialis and Staxyn, in favor of Viagra.

Their pharmacies had dispensed Viagra until 2005, when cost considerations prompted a change. Now the blue bill is back in favor, as Tricare cites cost-effectiveness and clinical considerations as the basis for their recommendations.

If Viagra is reinstated, users would pay $9 for a 90-day supply through Tricare's mail order pharmacy and $12 at retail pharmacies for a 30-day supply.

The drug would be dispensed free at military pharmacies to qualifiying patients.

It's gratifying to know that our military truly is dedicated to letting its members be all they can be.

After Penis Tattoo, Ink's Not the Only Thing That's Permanent

2012-01-11T07:40:40Z

Everyone who's taken Viagra, or even seen a commercial for it, knows that an erection lasting four hours or longer, no matter how entertaining, is a sign you should see your doctor. Well, what if you had a stiffy 24/7. And a bad tattoo on it to boot.

Such was the dilemma of a young Iranian man whose case was recently written up and has the distinction of being "the first known case of nonischemic priapism following penile tattooing."

He had his peter engraved with his girlfriend's initial and Persian script reading borow be salaamat (that translates to "good luck on your journeys" not "borrow my salami"). Well, now his schlong is boldly going into a medical journal and urological infamy.

While penis tattooing isn't the wisest choice, the problem this guy encountered is a relatively rare occurrence. The tattoo artist used a heavy duty needle and a traditional middle eastern tattooing method that involves jabbing through the skin by hand, not with a machine that would allow for depth control, then rubbing in the coloring agent. The punctures caused fistulas and bleeding into the penile tissues - and no doubt a world of hurt both during and after.

The internal damage lead to an inter-penile aneurism, and blood began to pool in his member until it reached a permanently erect state. Doctors advised him to have the blood removed, but he opted for a shunt procedure, which failed. Since he's no longer in pain, and can function normally otherwise, he's refused further treatment - perhaps understandable given the amount of genital trauma he's endured.

As the authors of the medical article astutely conclude: "Tattooing should be added to the etiologies of nonischemic priapism. Considering this case, we discourage penile tattooing." It can also be added as an effective but inadvisable cure for erectile dysfunction.

Nano Tech: For Resistant Infections, and Resistant Erections

2012-01-10T03:30:28Z

Nitric oxide, the catalyst for Viagra's magic, has a number of other important functions in the body. It's been established that NO can stimulate healing (besides sexual healing, wise guy). NO has properties that combat bacteria, stimulate immune response, and promote healing in wounds, and it's ideal for tough-to-treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) infections. The problem is that it's a gas, and so far there hasn't been a good way to deliver it to the site of an infection.

Welcome to the world of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are - well, the most important thing about them is that they're really, really, really tiny, so they can go places bigger particles can't. Now researchers have developed NO-releasing nanoparticles that can penetrate skin, where they unleash that NO like scrubbing bubbles on infected soft tissue.

Oh, yeah - and the nanoparticles had one other interesting effect in lab tests: they caused rats to get erections. Bonus.

So, how do you think the researchers came up with that bright idea? One of the co-authors of the paper describing the study "notes that, beyond the antimicrobial and wound healing applications, the important role of nitric oxide in maintaining vascular health also lead to the team's testing of the efficacy of NO nanoparticles in addressing conditions associated with endothelial dysfunctions."

Translation: "We know what Viagra does, so we thought we'd give it a shot and see if this worked too."

"NO nanoparticles were shown to increase erectile function when applied topically to the penis of rats...and even more importantly, in a post-radical prostatectomy animal model with cavernous nerve transection - a clinical scenario in which PDE-5 inhibitors (Viagra) are ineffective."

Sorry. Now you all need a little brain bleach to expunge the image of some unfortunate lab assistant tasked with applying this stuff to rat genitalia, but the takeaway is that it may be able to get the job done even when Viagra can't - giving hope to those whose erectile dysfunction is Viagra-resistant.

I could see the development of NO-delivering nanoparticles having a similar trajectory to that of Viagra: a drug developed for one purpose that turns out to be wildly effective at something much more compelling. Oh, sure, saving lives is great and all, but face it, stiff erections trump staph infections.

Viagra Hoarding: Extreme Pharmaceuticals

2012-01-09T05:03:37Z

Some people hoard animals, some people hoard old newspapers or empty margarine tubs. And some people, apparently, hoard erectile dysfunction drugs.

In Union City, New Jersey, 75-year-old Rafael Molfa Gandulla called police to report a break in and theft of some luggage. While searching the premises for evidence, the cops came across $2,000 worth of Viagra and Cialis.

Wow. Costco pharmacy must have been having a special on the 5 lb. jars.

How much is $2,000 worth of Viagra? Well, at $7.50 per pill (a typical price), that's about 266 tablets. A few pills short of a kilo, but still, that's a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Is there any legitimate reason to have that much in your possession? Maybe he was kind of OCD and had anxiety about getting caught without his Viagra when he needed it. Maybe he was hoarding it to drive the price up.

It probably seems a little sketchy to have thousands of dollars of pharmaceuticals on hand. Especially when you also have $20,000 in cash sitting around your house. Theoretically, all those pills might have been for Mr. Gurdulla's personal use - he is 75, after all. Although, judging from his mug shot he doesn't exactly look like Casanova material. But whether or not all of that was for Mr. Gardulla is moot - since he didn't have a prescription. He also had a small amount of (non-medical) marijuana, and received drug charges for both.

Detectives speculate that the stolen luggage may also have contained thousands worth of pills. Mr. Gurdulla said the luggage had been packed for a trip he was about to leave on. There would have been a lot of rockin' on that cruise ship.

So what's this guy's story? Viagra smuggler? Geriatric swinger? Or obsessive compulsive pharmaceutical hoarder? If you could work a dead body in there somewhere, it would make a great episode of CSI.

Bitter Backlash Against Brits' Pill Rationing

2012-01-06T07:47:13Z

The UK's National Health service is getting sharp criticism from both patients and doctors, after announcing it's new "guidelines" for General Practitioners around Viagra prescriptions. The NHS has recommended that GPs limit Viagra user to two tablets per month.

Viagra is already hard enough to get under the NHS's restrictions, so it's no surprise that patients are displeased with the edict. But their doctors aren't happy about it either. Maybe they resent the NHS dictating how they should care for their patients - especially when the agency refuses to share the reasoning behind the new pill quotas with the public.

The recommendation was based on evidence in a study by an organization contracted by the NHS, who say they can't publish the information for copyright reasons. Said an NHS spokesperson, " 'As far as we're concerned we're not allowed to, because of the contract we hold with them, publish the evidence they give us because it's their product, it's what they produce, it's not our intellectual property, it's not something we produce.' "

Dr. Paul Roblin, chief executive of a GPs Local Medical Committee, accused the bureaucrats of finger-pointing: 'There are four organisations involved...we're trying to find who actually supports the restriction of information, it's actually quite difficult, they all blame each other'.

The organization that conducted the original study is called Solutions for Public Health, which might be a misnomer. Wouldn't you think the public would have a right to know how public health policy is determined?

Viagra Resolutions for 2012

2011-12-31T08:42:44Z

A new year is a fresh start that always brings with it good intentions and resolutions to turn over a new leaf. Here's how Viagra can help you reach your goals with some of the most popular New Year's resolutions.

1. Lose Weight/Get In Shape - Viagra can help you get the kind of cardio-vascular workout you'll really enjoy. But like they say: check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, especially if it involves Viagra.

2. Quit Smoking - Honestly, Viagra's not going to help you much here, especially if you like to indulge in a smoke after lovemaking. Maybe try the patch or gum.

3. Help Others - Donate some of your Viagra to a worthy cause. Hundreds of folks sent Viagra tablets to a veterinary hospital to help out Ingrid the pitbull, who must take the drug daily for her heart. Or consider sending some to the poor codgers in the UK, to supplement the paltry two tablet per month ration that the national health plan is trying to impose.

4. Get Out of Debt/Spend Less Money - If you're trying to conserve cash, a romantic evening at home with Viagra is way cheaper than dinner and/or entertainment - a typical dose costs less than the price of a movie ticket

5. Get Organized - You want to always be able to find your Viagra when you need it. So get a little pill canister you can put on your keychain. Clean out your medicine cabinet, alphabetize the contents, get rid of any expired medications, and replace your pill splitter if it's getting dull.

6. Be Less Stressed - Everyone knows sex is one of the best stress relievers around. And you'll have even less stress if you use Viagra, because you won't be worrying about experiencing an equipment failure.

7. Improve Relationship - There are no guarantees, but Viagra has helped bring countless couples closer over the years. If your erectile dysfunction has caused the spark or intimacy to go out of your relationship, Viagra could give it the kickstart it needs.

Oh, and in case the Mayan calendar predictions about 2012 come true and civilization as we know it ends, be sure to stockpile some Viagra for your post-apocalyptic bunker.

Women & Viagra: Wait - They Put It Where?

2011-12-29T17:12:15Z

Viagra can help make babies. Well, duh. Of course it can, for obvious reasons. But I bet you didn't know about another way Viagra leads to conception. Women who are trying to conceive, through in-vitro fertilization or other less high-tech means, use Viagra to stimulate thickening of the endometrial lining of the uterus. This is the blood-rich blanket where a fertilized egg will implant itself and grow during gestation, so if a woman's lining isn't heavy enough to support fetal growth, she may not be able to conceive.

Viagra increases blood to the uterus, which helps build the endometrial lining. OK, that makes sense. So when she's planning to conceive, a woman takes Viagra tablets and - wait, what? They do what with it? Apparently to get the Viagra to work on the uterus, it requires a more localized application, so the Viagra has to be inserted vaginally. Not by sticking a tablet in there, either. It's administered by vaginal sildenafil suppository. Say that five times fast.

For part of her cycle, a woman will insert Viagra vaginally, then switch to progesterone to facilitate ovulation and conception. Women on various fertility discussion boards report good results. Nitroglycerine had previously been used in a similar manner, but its side effects lead doctors to try substituting sildenafil. The Viagra protocol was developed has been tested and shown effective for facilitating IVF and conception.

Not everyone is a fan of the Viagra treatment. It can have some side effects and unpleasantness, as this woman describes.

So, are there Viagra suppositories for men? We found this article claiming that Pfizer Italia was developing Viagra using this delivery method, the supposed advantage being its rapid (30 seconds!?) effect. However, while it's true that drugs absorbed directly through mucosal membranes do get into the bloodstream quicker, a 30 second response seems a bit unrealistic (although for some men, the prostate stimulation might enhance the effect). If you note the byline on the story (April 1, 2011), along with the name of the Pfizer Italia source quoted (Massimo Bumole), it's pretty clear this is a joke - although the comments indicate there might be some serious interest in such a product.

New Study: Viagra Softens Hard Hearts

2011-12-26T21:53:10Z

If you know your Viagra history, you know that the drug sildenafil was originally developed as a medication to treat heart conditions and high blood pressure. At the time, it was considered a flop at that, but more than made up for it with its spectacular sexual side effects.

Viagra's monumental property of countering erectile dysfunction all but eclipsed any other medical applications. There has been some continued research, and sildenafil has proven effective in treating pulmonary hypertension as well as a few other less common conditions.

Now it seems researchers were perhaps a little too hasty in tossing in the towel on using Viagra for cardiac treatments. Some 15 years later, a recently published study shows that sildenafil may have dramatic benefits for patients suffering from diastolic heart failure, working within minutes. This has big implications. "Of all the patients aged over 60 who are in hospital because of a weak heart, half suffer from diastolic heart failure" explains Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Linke, author of the study.

The article indicates the initial experiments were done with dogs having diastolic heart failure. Perhaps that's what was ailing Ingrid the pitbull, who we met in our last post. She was rescued from death's door step by a quick-thinking vet who prescribed Viagra. Maybe the doc was ahead of the curve and had already read the medical literature.

Paradoxically, the drug helps by relaxing heart tissue that has become too stiff. Not what comes to mind when you think Viagra, but the enzyme that the drug inhibits acts differently in different organs of the body.

Just goes to show, the little blue pill truly is a wonder drug: it softens hard hearts and hardens soft...