FRIDAY, April 19, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Officially, Viagra is only supposed to treat impotence. However, its reputation as a sexual enhancer is turning it into a popular recreational drug among promiscuous gay men in San Francisco.
That trend poses significant health threats for these men, a new survey says. They are mixing Viagra with other drugs, such as amyl nitrate or nitrite, and all cause drops in blood pressure. When combined, they can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
In the study, San Francisco researchers also found a link between Viagra use and higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.
The researchers' survey of men who visited a city-run STD clinic found homosexual men were five times more likely to use Viagra than heterosexual men. The homosexual users were generally young and frequently combined Viagra with illegal drugs, including methamphetamines and ecstasy.
"Viagra is a prescription drug that should be used under medical supervision," says study author Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, a medical director with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "There are important risks, and users should be speaking to their doctor."
The results of Klausner's research will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal AIDS.
Viagra, first marketed in 1998, makes it easier for impotent men to develop and sustain erections. Its manufacturer, Pfizer Inc., does not recommend its use for men who aren't impotent.
However, the drug clearly has developed a reputation for enhancing sexual performance and stamina, although its price -- $8 to $10 a pill -- isn't cheap. That reputation may be deserved on some level, says Dr. Vince Silenzio, assistant professor with the School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City. "There's reason to expect that it would have an effect."
From December 2000 to February 2001, San Francisco health officials surveyed 844 men who visited the STD clinic.
Thirty-two percent of the 352 gay and bisexual men in the study reported using Viagra during the past year, compared to only 7 percent of the heterosexual men.
Forty-three percent of the gay men reported taking Viagra with the club drug ecstasy; 28 percent said they used Viagra in tandem with methamphetamines (speed); 15 percent with blood vessel-expanding nitrates known as "poppers"; and 8 percent with the veterinary anaesthetic ketamine. About 75 percent of the men who reported using several drugs said they got Viagra from friends.
When used with methamphetamines, Viagra may help gay men boost their ability to have a powerful sexual experience, Silenzio says: "It's being used so you not only get the extra burst from the speed, but it doesn't slow you down in other areas."
However, combining Viagra and illegal drugs can cause a variety of medical problems. Some of the most dangerous reactions may come if a man uses Viagra with amyl nitrate or nitrite -- "poppers."
Poppers, which are taken by inhaling fumes from a vial of liquid, cause a sharp drop in blood pressure. Viagra causes drops in blood pressure, too, so when combined with poppers, the tandem can lead to fainting, heart attack or stroke, the researchers say.
The researchers also found a link between Viagra use and higher rates of STDs among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.
Of the men who visited the clinic, half who used Viagra were diagnosed with a new STD. That was twice the rate of infection among HIV-positive men who didn't use Viagra.
The researchers say it's possible Viagra use may make men more susceptible to STDs by increasing the amount of time they have sexual contact during each encounter. Gay and bisexual Viagra users also seem to have more active sex lives -- they reported an average of 5.4 sexual partners during the two months before the survey, compared to 3.5 among gay and bisexual men who didn't use Viagra.
What To Do: To read more about Viagra and its possible side effects, visit Pfizer Inc. You can also learn about Viagra from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
