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A study in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, is shedding light on a rare side effect of the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil can cause the vision in some men to be tinted blue.

The report refers to the cases of 17 men who visited a hospital in Turkey with vision problems 24 hours after taking the drug. They reported blurred vision, sensitivity to light, reduced eyesight and changes to colour perception which included, intensely blue-coloured vision, a side effect medically known as cyanopsia.

Other reports of vision changes included red-green colour blindness (where green and red colours appeared brownish).

According to Science Live, its well known that sildenafil can cause temporary vision changes (like cyanopsia) that can last for a few hours. But persistent vision changes are much more rare. In the case studies examined in the report, researchers say that the mens vision returned to normal after 21 days.

In a statement, study author Dr. Cneyt Karaarslan of the Dnyagz Adana hospital in Turkey, told EurekaAlert that for the vast majority of men, any side effects [of sildenafil] will be temporary and mild. She said that she wanted to highlight that persistent eye and vision problems could be encountered by a small number of users.

One possibility for the blue vision could be that a small number of the population is unable to break sildenafil down and eliminate it from their body efficiently. This would lead to high concentrations of the drug in the bloodstream compared to other users and hence, the blue-tinted vision.

Science Live says that sildenafil works to treat erectile dysfunction by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) that helps to regulate blood flow to the penis. But the drug also inhibits a related enzyme thats found in cells at the back of the eye. Its believed that in high doses, this could lead to buildup of a molecule that can be toxic to retinal cells.

For the men in this study, it was their first time taking the erectile dysfunction drug. They began with the highest dose, so starting with a lower dose could have less severe side effects. In a press release, the researchers noted that the high dose was likely because the men were under medical supervision in the study. Otherwise the amount of the drug prescribed would have likely been lower.

While the idea of vision changes is a bit disconcerting, seeing colour as a side effect of taking Viagra is rare. Still, if you are looking to firm things up, its best to consult your doctor to decide on the treatment thats best for you.

See more here:
Men with ED seeing blue over rare Viagra side effect - Windsor Star

This entry was posted on February 20, 2020 at 3:47 pm and is filed under Eye Sight & Vision. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |