Viagra Articles

Viagra Use & Abuse: Gay & Bisexual People Getting Vulnerable to HIV & STD

With so much popularity throughout the world, Pfizer has recently adopted patient education efforts. True that Viagra is not for all; Pfizer has repeatedly warned its consumers. Even if you are a man with erectile dysfunction, it is very much important to evaluate your physical condition and get the answer for the question: "Should you use Viagra?"

As the Viagra maker already has taken the pain of educating patients about Viagra use, let us take those who are addressed neither by FDA nor by Pfizer. They are gay and bisexual men. This is because according to California Department of Health study of patients at San Francisco STD clinics, gay and bisexual men were four times more likely to use Viagra than the heterosexual mass. And they are more likely to abuse Viagra by using it with illegal drugs such as crystal methamphetamine, Ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine.

Several studies point out the association of recreational use of Viagra with high rates of risky sexual behavior. In a study written jointly by Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, director of STD prevention and control for the San Francisco Department of Public Health shows that gay men take Viagra without medical supervision. The Viagra use was associated with higher rates of STDs and HIV. Another study presented by him at the XV International Aids Conference found that those who used Viagra for recreational purposes were twice as likely to be HIV positive compared to non users.

Actually the above findings emphasize mainly on the risky sexual behavior after abusing Viagra with illegal drugs. Obviously, after getting high, no one will be in a position and mood to think of using protection to avoid HIV and STD.

Again, once a person is found positive with HIV, he is more likely to experience erectile dysfunction because of the medications used for HIV, as a result such patients are more likely to use Viagra. The medicines for HIV like protease inhibitors increase the amount of Viagra in your blood so they should be used with caution while deciding Viagra doses. The patient may start with 12.5 mg dose which is 1/2 of 25 mg tablet and increased as required and tolerated with medical supervision. This dose pattern is recommended for people on protease inhibitors and they should not increase 25 mg dose in a 48-hour period in order to avoid the potential serious reaction.

Coming back to gay and bisexual Viagra users, Viagra is a well-known recreational drug among them. This drug is very popular and common at bathhouses, sex clubs, and even gay campgrounds where they share their Viagra pills with strangers simply like shaking hands. It is important for them to understand that while they are sharing Viagra for sexual pleasure, it may take the other person to death. Concurrent use of other recreational drugs may lead to other problems such as Priapism, a prolonged and painful erection sustained for more than 6 hours to days without sexual stimulation, vision problem and serious other consequences. In a recreational party, if you are taking Viagra and inhale nitrate substances, commonly known as "poppers," it can lead you to death by lowering the blood pressure to dangerous levels. Again, if you have unknowingly given Viagra to someone who is taking medicine for hypertension and heart problems, medicines like alpha blockers and nitrates, you may be responsible for his untimely demise.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, it is important to educate the gay and bisexual people about the proper use of Viagra. Viagra is a medicine for erectile dysfunction; it is not merely a 'sex pill' or a 'popper' to be popped up by anyone anywhere. The misuse of Viagra can result in many physical damages and the worst degree of the damage may be death.