|
|
The American Association of
Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) advises Viagra users to exercise caution and
common sense and not take this popular impotence treatment for at least 24 hours
before surgery.
Viagra, which uses nitric oxide
to open the blood vessels and relax the muscles, can cause a patient’s blood
pressure to become dangerously low when combined with the effects of anesthesia
and other drugs used during surgery. Though not found in anesthesia specifically,
nitric oxide--not to be confused with nitrous oxide or "laughing
gas"--may be present in the medication used to control a patient’s high
blood pressure during an operation. The combination of the nitric oxide in these
drugs with the use of anesthesia can mitigate the effectiveness of drugs used to
raise low blood pressure and produce a host of short- and long-term side effects
ranging from poor circulation to kidney and heart failure.
Bruce A. Schoneboom, CRNA, PhD,
who has conducted extensive research on this subject, notes that "drugs in
the nitrate family do not mix with Viagra" and urges patients to disclose
all information about substances, including non-pharmaceuticals like dietary
supplements, ginseng, ginger and herbal treatments, to anesthesia providers
before going into surgery.
"For various reasons, Viagra
users don’t always inform their anesthesia provider that they are taking
it," says Schoneboom. "Maybe they’re embarrassed, or they dismiss it
as insignificant, or they simply forget. However, for the anesthesia provider,
when assessing the anesthetic needs of an individual prior to surgery, the
importance of being made aware of a patient’s Viagra use cannot be stressed
enough."
Though no documented deaths
involving Viagra and anesthesia have occurred, the AANA advises caution before
surgery. The following guidelines can help Viagra users and anesthesia providers
better prepare for any surgical procedure.
- Inform your Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or anesthesia
provider about your Viagra use.
- Inform your CRNA or
anesthesia
provider about other prescription drugs as well as dietary supplements,
ginseng, and ginger.
- Do not take Viagra the day
before surgery because it takes more than 24 hours for nitric oxide to clear the
body’s system.
|
