Register for Exercise Study Confirms Safety Of Viagra In Stable Angina Patients
Erectile DysfunctionDecember 10, 2001
2001 DEC 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and history of chest pain who took Viagra (sildenafil citrate) before a stress test that produced greater physical exertion than sexual activity did not have earlier symptoms of pain or a diminished ability to exercise as compared with those given placebo.
This data was presented November 14, 2001, at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, held in Anaheim, California.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study sponsored by Pfizer, Inc., examined the effect of Viagra on men with ED and chronic stable angina, which is chest pain reproducible upon physical exercise. Participants received Viagra or placebo one hour prior to an exercise treadmill test commonly performed to evaluate the ability of cardiovascular patients to engage in sexual activity. Study patients exercised to the limit of their capacity up to a level of exertion double that experienced by most people during sexual activity.
Data show that the average time to the onset of chest pain, chest pain that required cessation of exercise, or duration of exercise were not negatively affected by Viagra. There were no serious treatment-related adverse events reported by study participants.
"These findings underscore the excellent cardiovascular safety profile of Viagra in patients with angina, who may be more prone to developing heart attacks or serious cardiac arrhythmias," said Stephen Nash, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine and chief of cardiology, Saint Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, New York. "Importantly, cardiovascular patients on Viagra were able to exert themselves at double the level commonly experienced during sexual activity with no serious adverse events."
The average times on the treadmill to the onset of first chest pain and exercise-limiting chest pain were 5.7 versus 5.1 minutes (p=.04) and 7.1 versus 6.7 minutes (p=.004) for the Viagra and placebo treatment groups, respectively. Total average exercise time for men taking Viagra was 7.1 minutes vs. 6.8 minutes for those on placebo (p=.05).
"These results demonstrate that stable cardiac patients taking Viagra can engage in sexual activity with minimal risk," said Nash. "A treadmill test is very stressful and physically demanding. Since sexual activity is less stressful, results on a treadmill test do not generally predict the amount of time people can engage in sexual activity."
According to the AHA, angina or chest pain is a symptom that the heart muscle isn't getting as much oxygenated blood as it needs to support a given level of activity. Individuals with stable angina have episodes of chest discomfort that usually are predictable and occur on exertion - such as running to catch a bus.
Viagra is a prescription medication available only from doctors and should always be used in accordance with its approved labeling. Viagra is contraindicated in patients who use nitrates in any form at any time. Patients in this study were required to discontinue nitrate therapy for 72 hours prior to being tested although they continued chronic treatment for angina. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
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