Excerpted from: ERRI EMERGENCY SERVICES REPORT-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-Friday, May 22, 1998 Vol. 2 - 142
Viagra and Nitroglycerin Don't Mix; Contraindication
Alert
By C. L. Staten and Steve Macko
SAN DIEGO (EmergencyNet News) - Emergency Medical Service personnel are being advised to
avoid a potentially life-threatening situation when treating heart patients. The problem
involves a possible drug interaction/contraindication with the new popular anti-impotence
drug Viagra and the administration of Nitroglycerin, that is often used in
emergencies for people with chest pains.
Paramedics in San Diego's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system have been told they
should carefully question and screen potential recipients of nitroglycerin -- both men and
women. Some doctors warn that during the screening, some patients may be embarrassed to
admit that they are taking Viagra.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Viagra, is warning that heart patients should not be
treated with nitroglycerin if the patient has used Viagra in the previous 24 hours. Pfizer
said there have been cases where patients who received both drugs have died after
developing irreversible hypotension, a severe drop in blood pressure. Nitrates, a
component of nitroglycerin, can cause blood pressure to drop and Viagra greatly increases
that effect.
Additional questions concerning this alert should be directed to the drug manufacturer or
local emergency medical system control physicians.
(c) Copyright, EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1998. All Rights Reserved. Redistribution of this release is authorized.
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