Viagra and AF

[Alanwilliam]

I am a fit and active 74 year old with paroxysmal AF. My wife and I still enjoy an active sex life. However in the last couple of years I have started getting problems maintaining a strong erection sufficient for penetrative sex. Sometimes I am ok but other times not so. Is Viagra safe and not likely to bring on AF. My AF is very intermittent. I went 7 years once between attacks. It is currently 3 years since my last attack of AF. I am on Sotalol and Apixaban as a blood thinner. I checked this out with my GP who said he could not rule out Viagra bringing on a return to AF but thought it would be unlikely. Any one out there who has experience of this issue of Viagra and paroxysmal AF.

[Hidden]

Not quite an experience, but I know the true story.

I had a friend from high-school days, very fit and active at the age of 65. Just retired, plenty of time, found a "girlfriend" of 25. Had AF, later heard that he also used Viagra. Died from "golden death" after he had received only one payment. His wife was destroyed by the event, sold the house and moved elsewhere.

[Alanwilliam in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nesko.

Thanks for your reply. Sorry but what is the “Golden Death”. Maybe I am just nieve

Thanks

Alan

[Hidden in reply to Alanwilliam]

Hi, Alan!

I know that you know the answer, but I will tell you - it is when somebody dies while making "hopa-cupa". Both expressions are specific for my country, the wild country of Serbia, lol!

For us, AFibers, sex is one of the activities to be avoided. The demand put before the heart is enormous - HR goes very high, BP goes very high... If we know that the next level, in close neighborhood, is SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest), than better safe than fu.ked, lol!

Wish you a nice evening!

Petar

[pottypete1]

Whilst we are all different and this must be taken into account I can tell you that I take the following cocktail of medication.

Warfarin

Flecainide 2 x 100mg each day

Statins

Blood Pressure medication

Sildenafil (Generic Viagra)

Talk to your doctor I get Sildenafil on prescription and because I am 75 I do not pay for it. Better than paying through the nose for the branded version.

Whilst my AF has been zapped after 7 ablations and rarely occurs these days this has only gradually been the case in the past 5 years and I have been successfully taking Sildenafil (when required 🙂) for over 10 years.

This is an embarrassing subject for us men but I hope this will help you see the way forward

Pete

[Alanwilliam in reply to pottypete1]

Hi Pete.

Many thanks for your response. It is just that kind of positive experience I am looking for. I don’t want to risk ending up in A&E the way things are today. You have given me the kind of reassurance that I was hoping for. Cheers. Alan

[stoneyrosed]

I hear you cannot take drugs such as Edoxaban (blood thinning meds) with Viagra. Best get a second opinion if I was you.

[Alanwilliam in reply to stoneyrosed]

Hi. I am on Apixaban as a thinner. My GP said he thought Viagra would be ok to use. He obviously knew I was on that medication. I have not tried it yet as I wanted to check out other people’s experiences before risking it. The way things are with the NHS I would not want to risk a visit to A&E. I was hoping numerous people might come forward and say they have tried Viagra successfully without a return to AF. A handful have done that and I thank you for that .

[Alanwilliam]

thanks for your reply Bob. Reassuring to know you have used it without problems. I can only guess I am on thinners in case I get an attack of AF. I would need that protection whilst awaiting a cardio version. For example if I were on holiday or on a cruise ship for example. Thanks

[Steve101]

Hi Alan

I have used viagra ( generic form) without problems - however the last time I placed an online order with authorised Oxford online pharmacy ( best value on internet) they would not authorise it as I had AF and felt it increased the risk of AF. However they did prescribe Cialis (generic form). I have just started to take the low dose 5mg daily dose of cialis - which means that once you get it in your system after 3- 5 days you are good to go any time, with the advantage that you don’t have to have pre planned sex.

Interestingly I discussed with my EP whether viagra was safe for me, he said it was. I pointed this out to the pharmacy but they still wouldn’t prescribe it.

Hope this helps. Get in touch through private message if you need more info.

Steve

[Alanwilliam in reply to Steve101]

Hi Steve.

Thanks for your reply. All interesting stuff. Can you not get V on prescription once a month from your GP. (I am assuming you are in the UK) . Also I am not keen on taking Cialis on a regular basis. You mentioned after 3-5 days once it’s in your system. I would prefer just taking V as required. My GP previously told me he “thought” it would be safe. I wasn’t totally convinced so have not tried it yet. I wanted other opinions first. Didn’t want to risk it without reassurance as I have now been 3 years free of AF. Many Thanks

[NeurosurgeonFL]

Yes viagra can cause afib. It dilates the pulmonary veins. The junction of the pulmonary veins and atria is where most ectopy originates. Avoid it if you have paroxysmal Afib. If you have CHRONIC afib it is not a problem