MD orders Viagra for pulmonary hypertension?!

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[evil]

[color=white]if someone knows the reason for ordering viagra for pulmonary hypertension i'd like to know. yes, i could have asked the doctor but with such a controversial drug others might be all ears and make mockery of my asking..."ya know that was the funniest thing when you asked doctor so and so about that impotence drug...ya ta yat a ya ta!"

[/evil]

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
actually found out via the web that the drug was not developed to treat depression or pulmonary hypertension or impotence but simply to treat angina. medication did not decrease chest pain however increased sexual arousal and therefore patients were reluctant to stop taking the drug.

yeah, i can believe that...get rid of the chest pain and get some action; a free benefit (!!)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

it's a vasodialtor (i know i can't spell) and that will help the blood move in the pulmonary artery. only problem with viagra, is if the man is taking nitrites for cardiac reasons, not to mention the original intention for the drug!!! :lol2:

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
This was actually what the drug was originally developed to do.

Then, they noticed this strange side effect . . .

Exactly.....it is among the original uses of the drug.

You know, nobody gets freaked over female leukemia patients using the birth control pill for menstrual suppression, why the titters over using viagra for treating pulmonary HTN?

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I knew that you were female; I was laughing at the idea of explaining to a parent of a young person the need for Viagra since the most common reason being advertized is for ED. But, the name Woody added to the mix really made it even cuter...:lol2:

And, of course, I am thrilled to know that your sex drive is A-Okay (and sure your SO feels the same)

I am also finding it interesting to note that even my recent drug books are not listing other indications for viagra or other drugs. I just learned on Friday that Ramipril is also prescribed for proteinuria. My drug guide (2006) says that one of the side effects of ramipril is proteinuria. You learn something new each day; one of the main reason I really enjoy frequenting or loitering at allnurses.com.

Mine refers to it as an investigational drug for pulmonary hypertension.

As for responding to your comment about my SO, now someone is getting a bit too personal.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Mine refers to it as an investigational drug for pulmonary hypertension.

As for responding to your comment about my SO, now someone is getting a bit too personal.

Woody:balloons:

What drug guide are you using? I have Mosby and Nurse's Essential Drug Guide 2006. Maybe I need to have what you are reading for better reference. Sorry for the personal jab.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

We use Sildenafil all the time for our PH kids. We never call it Viagra when discussing it with the parents because they would probably be horrified and because technically the brand name Viagra should only be used when the drug is dispensed to treat ED. That is the only licensed use of "Viagra". Sildenafil on the other hand is used to treat PH. At least that is what our pharmacy tells us and I tend to think that they are probably correct. I know it's just semantics and probably nitpicking but the medical staff of our PICU is very clear on this. It does help avoid an uncomfortable explanation to usually stressed out parents.

YOU'RE GIVING MY KID WHAT!!!":imbar

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
We use Sildenafil all the time for our PH kids. We never call it Viagra when discussing it with the parents because they would probably be horrified and because technically the brand name Viagra should only be used when the drug is dispensed to treat ED. That is the only licensed use of "Viagra". Sildenafil on the other hand is used to treat PH. At least that is what our pharmacy tells us and I tend to think that they are probably correct. I know it's just semantics and probably nitpicking but the medical staff of our PICU is very clear on this. It does help avoid an uncomfortable explanation to usually stressed out parents.

YOU'RE GIVING MY KID WHAT!!!":imbar

If I were not privy to this thread, I would have been one nurse that would have flipped out. I would have told the parents that this was highly inappropriate, pulled out my drug books and proved it (only to look like a fool). My drug books don't say this. I really think I need to search for books to have further information for other indications to save me some embarassment!:lol2:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

A free web site for the layman had this information provided. Interesting, huh? You have got to forgive me; this thread is fascinating to me, and makes me question nursing resources at the same time. I am so glad that I post here often, I learn something new every day. Thanks, guys!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

http://www.4-men.org/viagra-information.html

This article even delves into Viagra, 'Vitamin V' the street drug, being the suppposed drug of choice nowadays without the potentiality of doing time in the big house.

PS sorry paganddeva, but you may want to change your Avatar, just looking at it for a while is like taking some Sildenafil, kind of like a visual vitamin V lol

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
What drug guide are you using? I have Mosby and Nurse's Essential Drug Guide 2006. Maybe I need to have what you are reading for better reference. Sorry for the personal jab.

I use the 2006 Edition of PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook. I replace it about every two years. And give my old copy to my daughter. She is not a nurse but she likes it handy to look up prescriptions and side effects. I sometimes wonder if she isn't looking up overdose combinations to give to animal abusers.:lol2: She is an Animal Control Sgt.

Woody:balloons:

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