The 12-week, study involved 562 men taking two or more antihypertensives drugs. The first six weeks of double-blind treatment was followed by an additional six weeks of open-label treatment with Viagra. After six weeks, Viagra significantly improved erections for 71 percent of the men versus 18 percent taking placebo. In addition, the Viagra group had significantly more successful intercourse attempts, 62 percent, compared to 26 percent on placebo. During the open label extension, more than 80 percent of men who received Viagra had improved erections and intercourse.
This study showed that Viagra is both well-tolerated and effective when used in conjunction with high blood pressure medications which is good news for men who are often forced to choose between treating their hypertension and staying sexually active, said Dr. Thomas G. Pickering of the Zena and Michael A. Weiner Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Investigators did not observe any serious adverse events related to Viagra treatment. The majority of side effects were mild to moderate and short-lived, with the most common including headache, facial flushing, indigestion, dizziness, nasal congestion and abnormal vision. Less than 2 percent of Viagra- and placebo-treated patients discontinued the study due to side effects.
For many men, ED is often an underlying symptom signaling that there may be another significant health issue such as hypertension, said Dr. Pickering.
On average, the study participants had high blood pres
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Contact: Geoff Cook
212-733-5244
Porter Novelli
15-May-2002