You see a lot of ads these days for various medications, and they always run down a list of possible side effects at the end of the commercial. Why don’t we see these for Viagra? Are there no side effects? What should I expect if I sampled some? Would it be like Robin Williams (graphically) described it? Should I keep a few gallons of Gator-Aide handy?
That’s a good question.
There’s plenty of possible side effects with Viagra. The package insert has several Warnings, Precautions and drug interactions, as well as a table of 9 common adverse reactions that occur more often with Viagra than with a placebo.
If you don’t need viagra, why take it? If you do need it, discuss the side-effects with the prescribing physician.
And yes, there are side-effects.
QtM, MD
The FDA has a rule about advertising medications. If they tell you what the drug does, they also have to describe the side effects and contraindications. Since they don’t actually say what Viagra does (even though everyone knows), they don’t have to talk about the negatives.
You will notice that some drug commercials only tell the name of the drug and tell you to “ask your doctor”. They don’t say what it does for you, nor do they describe the side effects.