Viagra - Viagra and alcohol: A dubious debate dangling forlorn

Viagra and alcohol often formed the dream combo of men on weekend nights but results were more of nightmarish at times rather than being dreamlike. Using Viagra in conjunction with alcohol often intensifies the side effects, which may require medical care to be dealt with. Some of these side-effects never show up when a person is sober and fit to take in Sildenafil; so it’s the recreational users who run a higher risk.

Firstly, alcohol thins blood and Viagra is not recommended with blood thinners. And despite the public claim of alcohol boosting libido and performing powers, alcohol is a depressant after a certain amount. Alcohol’s suppressive effects on sexual physiology decrease sexual activity while psychologically, it removes inhibitions. It’s bad when desire can’t be met due to lack of physical power.

Alcohol affects men’s sexual behaviors in many other ways and it’s different for chronic, acute users. Alcohol consumption inhibits testosterone production; the NAD+/NADH ratio is affected by the metabolism of alcohol and gets reduced both in the liver and in the testes. Testosterone requires NAD+ to be produced and virility needs testosterone; therefore, the equation solves itself.

NB.
NAD: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; a coenzyme present in most living cells and derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid; serves as a reductant in various metabolic processes; an oxidizing agent.

NADH: Reduced NAD.


Studies conducted on alcohol intoxication produced significant degradations in males that were manifested through decreased (and delayed) sexual arousal, decreased sensation and lesser intense orgasms, sometimes with difficulty. Two stimulants do not necessarily give you double strength; they may start a fight and ignore you completely; worst, they give you a nasty headache or increased heartbeats. Viagra being a powerful vasodilator causing low blood pressure will have these effects increased when joined with another vasodilator.

However, it’s the sufferers from chronic conditions that are going to feel the conflict between Viagra and alcohol more than others; especially those with a hepatic impairment. The good point about Viagra and alcohol is: It brings out underlying and unknown causes for better diagnosis and treatment.

But then again, the British Journal of Pharmacology claims Sildenafil a magic drug to fight and cure gastric damages brought forth by alcohol. Convincing evidences speak of how such protection is offered using the (NO)/cGMP pathway as well as by regulating the potassium channels sensitive to ATP (adenosine Triphosphate; nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions). However, whether PDE V inhibitors can provide a protection from alcohol induced mucosal injuries if taken together is still a matter of research.