# Silly Viagra question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878 "2006-03-18T06:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/1 "2006-03-18T06:42:52Z")
If a guy takes a boner pill, then immediately goes to bed & to sleep instead of having sex, are the chances of dreaming about sex increased? Told you it was silly.šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/2 "2006-03-18T06:52:35Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If a guy takes a boner pill, then immediately goes to bed & to sleep instead of having sex, are the chances of dreaming about sex increased? Guys nearly **always** dream about sex. So how would you notice any differance? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/3 "2006-03-18T07:36:20Z")
IANAD, but Iā€™m pretty sure Viagra is a blood vessel dilator, it allows increased blood flow to the penis and has nothing to do with the libido. I donā€™t know about the psychological placebo effect, that might cause you to be more inclined to dream about sexual activity. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/4 "2006-03-18T17:53:23Z")
**A.R.Cane** is right. The fear sheet with the drug explains that it wonā€™t automatically make it pop up like a switchblade. You have to be physically or psychologically stimulated. On the other hand, a fellow who just took Viagra was surely thinking about sex when he took it, so that might affect his dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/5 "2006-03-18T18:14:06Z")
Viagra isnā€™t just prescribed for erectile dysfunction. There are also some heart/vascular conditions for which the drug is prescribed. (Hubby works in a prison, and recently, there was some outrage over the fact that some of the inmates had been prescribed Viagra.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/6 "2006-03-18T19:05:48Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Viagra isnā€™t just prescribed for erectile dysfunction. There are also some heart/vascular conditions for which the drug is prescribed. (Hubby works in a prison, and recently, there was some outrage over the fact that some of the inmates had been prescribed Viagra.) Frankly, I know of NO cardiac use for viagra that is not done lots better by other medications which donā€™t have enhancement of erectile function as a side-effect. There are some theoretically possible uses for such meds as viagra other than ED, but none of it has been documented as being safe or effective. And we donā€™t allow use of viagra, cialis, or levitra in our state prison system. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/7 "2006-03-18T19:13:24Z")
well, Iā€™ve given it to infants with congenital heart defects to help control pulmonary hypertension. Itā€™s off label, and I donā€™t know how solid the evidence is though, Larry ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/8 "2006-03-18T19:23:17Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > well, > Iā€™ve given it to infants with congenital heart defects to help control pulmonary hypertension. Itā€™s off label, and I donā€™t know how solid the evidence is though, > Larry Iā€™m generally leery of the waaaay off label uses in my sort of setting, but Iā€™m glad someone out there is doing the research. I see that Cochrane thinks the jury is still out on whether or not viagra is beneficial for pulmonary hypertension. [http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm](http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Spacekat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Spacekat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spacekat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/9 "2006-03-18T21:36:40Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If a guy takes a boner pill, then immediately goes to bed & to sleep instead of having sex, are the chances of dreaming about sex increased? > Told you it was silly.šŸ˜‰ I donā€™t think thatā€™s a silly question at all. There was some optimism for a while that Viagra might be helpful to women, too, in a way that applies to your question. The idea was that since itā€™s a vasodilator, the increased blood flow to the womanā€™s genital area would stimulate nerve endings in the general vicinity and help the process move in the right direction, especially if she had already gotten things rolling mentally speaking. Unfortunately, the evidence seems not to have panned out. On the other hand, if someone is trying to have dreams about sex, he might well fall asleep with similar thoughts on his mind. I can imagine this leading to the development of an erection, which does tend to feed back to the old gray matter as far as I can tell (not being male). I think itā€™s possible that could help matters, dream-wise. If you or anyone you know gets a safe and doctor-prescribed chance to try this out, youā€™ll have to let us know! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/10 "2006-03-18T22:24:27Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Iā€™m generally leery of the waaaay off label uses in my sort of setting, but Iā€™m glad someone out there is doing the research. > > I see that Cochrane thinks the jury is still out on whether or not viagra is beneficial for pulmonary hypertension. [http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm](http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm) May I be excused a Beavis-and-Butthead-type smirk that Viagra research is being reported in Cochrane? šŸ˜‰ And then ask the more serious question of what the story is on Cochrane? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/11 "2006-03-18T22:33:46Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > And then ask the more serious question of what the story is on Cochrane? Cochrane is a pretty reliable clearing-house of information dedicated to evidence-based medicine. [http://www.cochrane.org/index1.htm](http://www.cochrane.org/index1.htm) > [@](#): > > The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit and independent organisation, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide. It produces and disseminates systematic reviews of healthcare interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration was founded in 1993 and named for the British epidemiologist, Archie Cochrane. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/12 "2006-03-19T01:57:13Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Frankly, I know of NO cardiac use for viagra that is not done lots better by other medications which donā€™t have enhancement of erectile function as a side-effect. > > There are some theoretically possible uses for such meds as viagra other than ED, but none of it has been documented as being safe or effective. > > And we donā€™t allow use of viagra, cialis, or levitra in our state prison system. I donā€™t know what the inmatesā€™ actual diagnoses were-- I thought it was cardio, but I could be wrong. I know that it really was prescribed because Hubby was Deputy Warden of Special Services at the time, and was in charge of the medical. When the controversy erupted, he spoke with the prescribing doctor and was reasonably certain the treatment was valid. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/13 "2006-03-19T02:51:50Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > I donā€™t know what the inmatesā€™ actual diagnoses were-- I thought it was cardio, but I could be wrong. I know that it really was prescribed because Hubby was Deputy Warden of Special Services at the time, and was in charge of the medical. When the controversy erupted, he spoke with the prescribing doctor and was reasonably certain the treatment was valid. Oh, no doubt that some docs at some centers are prescribing the stuff for off-label theoretical benefits. But the evidence isnā€™t there yet as to whether it really works. Of course, thatā€™s not Securityā€™s issue to sort out. They just go with the medical decisions handed down, as long as they donā€™t compromise security. Itā€™s just that, in our system, such an off-label use of viagra would have to get scrutinized either by me or our medical director, and frankly I canā€™t see either one of us saying ā€œyesā€ for this one too readily. On the other hand, weā€™ve approved Flolan for one patient with pulmonary hypertension, at the cost of about $20,000 a month. If someone came along and said that we could use viagra for $300 a month instead, I guess maybe Iā€™d consider giving it a try. Back to the OP, viagra and related ED meds appear to work strictly by improving the hydraulics of erection and donā€™t have anything to do with desire. Many patients have reported that they get better erections with viagra only when theyā€™re able to ignore the annoying side-effects and focus on sex. One patient pronounced it as effective an aphrodisiac as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. ---
**Author:** ![alex\_the\_grape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@alex\_the\_grape](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alex_the_grape)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/14 "2006-03-19T03:26:42Z")
Would it be alright to take a Viagra before a date, so youre ready when the time comes? Meaning, one can enjoy a whole evening of non-sexual activities and not pop a boner at inopportune moments. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/15 "2006-03-19T07:33:40Z")
> [@Spacekat](#): > > If you or anyone you know gets a safe and doctor-prescribed chance to try this out, youā€™ll have to let us know! Fortunately I donā€™t need boner pills. But I love my wife so if the time ever cumsā€¦eh,šŸ˜‰ comes that I do Iā€™d most certainly take them. My thoughts were that having a drug induced erection while sleeping may inspire one to have more sexual dreams than normal. Iā€™m big into dreams and I keep a dream diary. Iā€™ve found that certain foods do indeed affect my dreams: bananas, cheese, jalapenos. And then there is caffeine. Try this once: on a night when you are dead freaking tired. I mean DEAD! The kind of tired where youā€™re sound asleep when your head hits the pillow. Immediately before you get into bed take a 200mg caffeine pill. It wonā€™t keep you up because it takes a while for the drug to even disolve in the stomach and get into the bloodstream. By the time the stimulant takes effect youā€™re in a deep sleep. But it has to be done on those nights when youā€™re exhausted so it doesnā€™t wake you up. Done right itā€™s a fantastic experience!! The wild ass dreams Iā€™ve had doing this are in-f\*\*kinā€™-credible! Iā€™m wondering if the same experiment substituting Viagra for caffeine wonā€™t produce some great sex dreams. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/16 "2006-03-19T12:17:30Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > IANAD, but Iā€™m pretty sure Viagra is a blood vessel dilator, it allows increased blood flow to the penis and has nothing to do with the libido. I donā€™t know about the psychological placebo effect, that might cause you to be more inclined to dream about sexual activity. Thatā€™s my understanding as well. Viagra doesnā€™t cause arousal or erection by itself. If the user happens to become aroused (awake or asleep), his erection should become firmer and perhaps last longer than without the drug due to the increased blood flow into the penis. I can believe that a man with a history of erectile dysfunction would be more \*interested \* in sex (and therefore more inclined to become aroused) if he had taken Viagra, simply because expected to be able to perform. The expectation of failure can dampen oneā€™s enthusiasm for anything. The mind is a powerful thing. I had also heard about the poor results of testing Viagra in women. Perhaps this is because women donā€™t get much visual feedback from clitoral erection? Does the clitoris need to be really erect to do its job? I suspect that women rely more on increased vaginal moisture as evidence of being ready/interested in sex. ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/17 "2006-03-19T12:59:14Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > I see that Cochrane thinks the jury is still out on whether or not viagra is beneficial for pulmonary hypertension. [http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm](http://www.cochrane.org/Cochrane/revabstr/AB003562.htm) Pfizer has launched a new drug with sildenafil for treating pulmonary hypertension. [Link](http://www.revatio.com/). So it seems they have at least gotten FDA approval for it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/18 "2006-03-19T15:55:13Z")
> [@Coil](#): > > Pfizer has launched a new drug with sildenafil for treating pulmonary hypertension. [Link](http://www.revatio.com/). So it seems they have at least gotten FDA approval for it. Sumbeech. Looks official, and it looks like a legitimate treatment option for PAH. So if the question about using it for an inmate with PAH came to me, Iā€™d better be willing to approve it. Thanks for the enlightenment. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/19 "2006-03-19T17:30:26Z")
Yeah, thanks for the info, weā€™ll have to keep our eyes out for this. I had 1 little old person come in the ER with a routine low dose viagra regimen. I guess thereā€™ll be more and weā€™ll have to screen for it before we consisder nitro Larry ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878/20 "2006-03-19T18:22:14Z")
> [@Spacekat](#): > > There was some optimism for a while that Viagra might be helpful to women, too, in a way that applies to your question. The idea was that since itā€™s a vasodilator, the increased blood flow to the womanā€™s genital area would stimulate nerve endings in the general vicinity and help the process move in the right direction, especially if she had already gotten things rolling mentally speaking. I hope they havenā€™t given up on that completely. My wife was having some problems with her hormone replacement pills a year ago (she had a complete historectomy about 4 years ago) and she was concerned that she didnā€™t want to have sex at all. The doctor gave her a prescription for Viagra and they really worked. The first time she took one, she didnā€™t tell me and Iā€™d fallen asleep already. About an hour after she took it, she woke me up out of a dead sleep and kept me up for the next 3 or 4 hours! It does work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-viagra-question/348878.md?page=2)