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For men taking Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction, they may also be on medication for high blood pressure, or ‘hypertension’. Indeed, the risk of both...
For men taking Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction, they may also be on medication for high blood pressure, or ‘hypertension’. Indeed, the risk of both high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction increases as you get older. High blood pressure or even some of the medications you take for it can contribute to ED. That is why it is important to know how to safely use ED treatments such as Viagra Connect alongside blood pressure medication.
In this article, we answer “can you take viagra with high blood pressure medication?” and “does viagra raise blood pressure?”
Viagra, or its drug name sildenafil, is commonly known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Viagra works as a ‘vasodilator’. This means it relaxes and dilates your blood vessels to supply more blood flow to the penis and make it erect.
Some medications for high blood pressure work in a similar way by relaxing and widening your blood vessels to reduce your body’s overall blood pressure. That is why it is important to know the risks Viagra or other ED treatments may have on your blood pressure treatment and health.
Hopefully, that answers does viagra increase blood pressure? Because it can actually lower blood pressure!
ED treatments such as Viagra are classed as PDE5 inhibitors, which result in relaxation and dilation of blood vessels to cause erections, but they also cause dilation of blood vessels near the heart. This can dramatically lower your blood pressure if taken with certain blood pressure medications (such as alpha-blockers).
Other ED medication options include vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis), which are available through Meds for Less.
If you are taking blood pressure medication and are concerned about viagra high blood pressure effects, consult your doctor for advice.
There are various kinds of high blood pressure medications which work in different ways to treat hypertension. These include:
| Blood pressure drug classes | Commonly named examples |
| Beta-blockers* | Atenolol
Bisoprolol Metoprolol Propranolol |
| Diuretics* | Spironolactone
Chlorthalidone |
| Alpha-blockers* | Terazosin
Doxazosin Prazosin |
| Calcium channel blockers | Amlodipine
Nifedipine Diltiazem |
| ACE inhibitors | Ramipril
Lisinopril |
| AT2 receptor blockers (ARBs) | Losartan
Candesartan Valsartan |
*Precautions for ED: beta-blockers and diuretics pose an increased risk of contributing to ED, and alpha-blockers must not be taken for at least 6 hours after taking Viagra. It is important to note these cross-implications of high blood pressure erectile dysfunction to treat your ED and blood pressure optimally and safely.
Before we explore these medications in further detail, we should highlight what high blood pressure is and then how it and high blood pressure drugs may affect ED.
When your heart pumps blood around your body, it exerts pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. When this pressure is consistently too high it is classed as hypertension- or high blood pressure.
We measure this as a systolic pressure (when your heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (when your heart is being refilled with blood).
You usually see this written as a fraction with systolic pressure on top and diastolic below e.g. 120/80mmHg. A measurement of 140/90mmHg or more is typically classed as high blood pressure, but this depends on your age and sex as well.
High blood pressure can have various damaging effects on your health. As the stress on your blood vessels increases, there are health risks such as:
Blood pressure medications work to reduce blood pressure, and they often do this by dilating (or widening) blood vessels- a similar action to ED treatments (PDE5 inhibitors). This is why it is important to know the precautions when taking blood pressure treatments, especially alpha-blockers. Taking alpha-blockers with PDE5 inhibitors dramatically lowers blood pressure and may cause you to faint. You should leave 6 hours between taking either medication.
The table below demonstrates how common blood pressure drugs work and their effects with ED. If you have any concerns about blood pressure treatments, seek a medical professional for help.
| Blood pressure drug class | How they control blood pressure | Effects on ED & ED treatment |
| Beta-blockers | Targets receptors which are part of your nervous system to slow down your heartbeat. This helps lower your blood pressure. | Potentially restricts the blood flow reaching your penis making it more difficult to produce and maintain erections. |
| Diuretics | Reduces the volume of blood within your blood vessels by increasing your urine output. The reduced blood volume decreases your blood pressure. | Potentially restricts blood flow reaching your penis making it more difficult to achieve and maintain erections. |
| Alpha-blockers | Causes the smooth muscle within your blood vessels to relax so your blood vessels dilate, and lowers your blood pressure. | Causes dramatic drops in blood pressure if taken in combination with Viagra (or PDE5 inhibitors). May cause fainting. Must not be taken within 6 hours of taking Viagra. |
| Calcium channel blockers | Reduces the force your heart pumps blood out with to decrease your body’s total blood pressure. | nil |
| ACE inhibitors | Inhibits production of a hormone called angiotensin 2 which usually increases blood pressure | Relatively safe for ED |
| AT2 receptor blockers (ARBs) | Inhibits the hormone angiotensin 2 from causing an increase in blood pressure | Relatively safe for ED |
Viagra, or any other ED treatments, are typically safe to take with most anti-hypertensive drugs. The main exception is alpha-blocker drugs (such as doxazosin or terazosin), which significantly drop your blood pressure and can cause you to faint. You should always wait more than 6 hours between taking either Viagra or alpha-blockers. This will maximise the benefit you get from your blood pressure medication and ED treatment, keep you safe and ease any worries you had like “can you take viagra with blood pressure tablets ?”
If you are concerned about taking Viagra while on blood pressure medication, then the alternatives- Cialis and Levitra are also PDE5 inhibitors, which means they work in the same way.
Your doctor may start you on lower doses of PDE5 inhibitors, but generally they don’t significantly drop your blood pressure too low.
If you’d prefer to avoid blood pressure tablets, it is worth considering adopting healthy lifestyle changes to help manage your blood pressure. Although, as always, consult a medical professional if you still feel unsure.
Beta-blockers and diuretics are frequently prescribed high blood pressure medications, however, they also carry the potential to bring about erectile dysfunction.
As beta-blockers act to slow your heart rate via the receptors part of your nervous system, they reduce your body’s blood pressure and hence the blood flow across different parts of your body. Adequate blood flow into your penis is required to produce and maintain erections.
Diuretics also reduce blood flow around the body and increase the likelihood of erectile dysfunction.
If you are concerned about erectile dysfunction while taking beta-blockers or diuretics, consult a medical professional who can explore the right options for you.
Considered the safest option for treating high blood pressure in terms of ED treatment are:
They carry a much lower risk of contributing to ED and aren’t contraindicated with Viagra like alpha-blockers are.
So, if your concern was: can you take viagra with blood pressure medicine? Then yes, there are many ED-friendly blood pressure medications available.
One of the most effective ways to treat high blood pressure is to implement positive lifestyle changes. Frequent exercise, eating less saturated fats, a balanced diet and lower levels of stress can help manage your blood pressure. This is a sensible option if you want to regulate the usage of viagra and blood pressure.
So far, we know there are some anti-hypertensive drugs which are safer to use with ED but can you take viagra with high blood pressure drugs?
While there aren’t many known interactions between Viagra and most blood pressure medications, below we list the absolute no-no’s and the blood pressure drugs to be aware of in terms of ED risk.
Must nots:
i) You must not take any alpha-blockers in combination with Viagra or other ED treatments. If taken together, this will significantly drop your blood pressure and can cause you to lose consciousness or faint. That is why you must wait at least 6 hours between taking alpha-blockers and any ED medication.
ii) If you are taking nitrates for conditions such as angina (chest pain) or anal fissures then you should not take any Viagra or PDE5 inhibitors whatsoever. This combination of medications is life-threatening.
Risk of ED:
Common blood pressure drugs such as:
have a potential risk of contributing to erectile dysfunction.
This is because they restrict the blood flow reaching different regions of your body, especially your penis. This makes it more difficult to achieve and maintain erections.
If you are on beta-blockers or diuretics and are concerned about erectile dysfunction or your ED treatments contact your doctor who can work out the best course of treatment for you.
If you are taking viagra and high blood pressure medication, the safest advice is:
Ultimately, if you’re still wondering “can i take viagra with high blood pressure?”. Yes, as long as you are using it safely in conjunction with most blood pressure medications. If you have any other concerns about your blood pressure treatment or ED, seek the advice of your doctor who can explore your options for you.