Viagra ok for men with stable angina

The use of Viagra (Sildenafil) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction does not seem to provoke exercise-induced angina in men with ischaemic heart disease according to a new study.

The use of Viagra (Sildenafil) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction does not seem to provoke exercise-induced angina in men with ischaemic heart disease according to a new study. The study, headed by Dr Kim Fox on behalf of the CAESAR I (Clinical American and European Studies of Angina and Revascularization) investigators was aiming to evaluate whether sildenafil, affects the exercise tolerance and ischaemic threshold in men with exercise-induced angina. This randomized study involved men with erectile dysfunction, and chronic stable angina. The effect of sildenafil was assessed on the time it took until the men started complaining of chest pain during the incremental treadmill exercise. Patients remained on their antianginal therapy and received a 100-mg dose of sildenafil or placebo 1 h prior to treadmill exercise. Other measurements included times to onset of angina, 1-mm ST-segment depression on ECG, and total exercise time. The results indicate, that men taking Sildenafil (Viagra) had a longer time to limiting angina, longer time to onset of angina, longer total exercise time, and longer time to ECG changes (1mm ST segment depression). Hence, Sildenafil actually appeared to not only be safe in patients with chronic stable angina, bit it actually seemed to offer a slight benefit in exercise tolerance. There were also no serious treatment-related adverse events. In conclusion, Sildenafil was well tolerated and did not adversely affect any exercise parameter in men with coronary artery disease and ED. Sildenafil citrate does not reduce exercise tolerance in men with erectile dysfunction and chronic stable angina. Kim M. Fox, Udho Thadani Patrick T. S. Ma, Stephen D. Nash, Zoe Keating, Michael A. Czorniak, Hunter Gillies, Mátyás Keltai and on behalf of the CAESAR I (Clinical American and European Studies of Angina and Revascularization) investigators. European Heart Journal Volume 24, Issue 24, December 2003, Pages 2206-2212