Mixing Viagra and Cocaine
Mixing Viagra and Cocaine: Side Effects and Risks
Mixing viagra, a prescription drug that helps to counteract the effects of erectile dysfunction, and cocaine is not uncommon. However, this potent mix increases your chances of suffering from dangerous side effects, including heart attack and stroke.
Viagra is sold under many brand names, including Sildenafil, Aronix, Liberize, Nipatra, Revatio and Grandipam in the UK.
Cocaine is well known for increasing a person’s desire to engage in sexual activity. However, long-term use can impact a person’s ability to have and maintain an erection. Because of this, many cocaine users combine the drug with sildenafil to enhance their sexual performance.
Sexual dysfunction frequently happens in those who abuse cocaine or have an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol and cocaine dependence are common due to the mix of these drugs producing a third, even more addictive substance known as cocaethylene.
According to a study which examined the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in this dually-addicted population, a staggering 62% of males said they were affected by this problem. In this article, we will explore the effects of both viagra and cocaine and examine the risks involved when taking both together.
What cocaine does to your body
Cocaine, commonly known as Coke, Snow or Charlie, is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant. This popular Class A recreational stimulant can be snorted, smoked, swallowed or injected. It can also be smoked or injected in the form of Crack Cocaine. Crack Cocaine produces a more pronounced but shorter high and is considered even more addictive than powdered cocaine.
When a person takes cocaine, they will feel a rush of euphoria. It is this euphoric high that makes cocaine so addictive. However, it doesn’t come without risks. In England and Wales in 2021, there were 840 deaths involving cocaine. This is an 8.1% increase from 2020, more than seven times the number recorded ten years ago. The increase in cocaine-related deaths has been attributed to the increased purity of cocaine and being frequently mixed with other potent drugs.
Whilst some people may expect some deaths to occur from taking illicit cocaine, viagra, on the other hand, is prominently seen as safe. However, new research shows that 522 patients have died while taking Viagra (sildenafil) within the first year the drug was on the market.
Cocaine’s effects will depend on the purity of the substance taken, what it has been cut with and a person’s tolerance. Illicit cocaine comes in the form of a white crystalline powder. Cutting agents used to dilute the drug and make dealers more money include flour and baking soda. Other substances that are also commonly mixed with cocaine to increase potency and addictiveness include amphetamines and opioids such as fentanyl.
Cocaines effects on your body:
- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Irregular heartbeat or changes to the heart rhythm
- Increased blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Euphoria
- Increased energy
- Increased alertness and focus
- Reduced appetite
- Talkativeness
- Increased desire for sexual activity
- Heart attack
A heart attack or seizure causes most deaths resulting from cocaine. Taking cocaine just once can be enough to cause death, especially if you do not know its purity or you mix it with alcohol or other drugs.
Cocaine has psychoactive properties, so it will also have temporary psychological effects on a person while intoxicated.
Cocaines effects on your mind:
- Feeling anxious
- Heightened sensitivity to sound, sight and touch
- Irritability
- Paranoia
- Reduced inhibitions and increased risk-taking behaviour
- Restlessness
- Volatile or violent behaviour
- Feelings of invincibility
Following a cocaine high, there will be a comedown period. During a cocaine or crack comedown, a person will likely feel lethargic, depressed and anxious. This is due to the high levels of dopamine in the brain falling dramatically once the effects of cocaine wear off. These feelings can lead to craving more cocaine to feel high once more.
The short-term and long-term effects of cocaine on your sex life
Initially, when cocaine is used recreationally, it can have positive sexual effects. Cocaine can increase a person’s desire for sex, lower inhibitions and prolong the duration of sexual activity. It can also enhance the quality of a person’s orgasms. This occurs due to cocaine raising dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels in the bloodstream.
Dopamine is a natural chemical released in the brain as a pleasure reward for engaging in certain activities. Aside from sex, dopamine is released in the brain when we eat, exercise or enjoy things like time with loved ones. Cocaine instigates a huge rush of dopamine in the brain at unnatural levels.
Whilst the initial effects for a cocaine user are pleasurable, drug tolerance occurs over time and with repeated use. Once this happens, cocaine’s negative effects start to occur.
Long-term cocaine use can cause the following sexual side effects:
- Reduced blood flow to the penis due to constricting of the blood vessels
- The desire for sexual activity decreases
- Loss of sensation during intercourse
- Premature ejaculation
- Sex becomes less pleasurable
Women who frequently use cocaine will suffer from similar sexual side effects to men.
Chronic drug use has been found to have a detrimental effect on a person’s sex life. This includes alcohol, heroin and amphetamines, although they may have initially helped sexually in the early stages of use.
The Effects of Viagra
Now that you know better what cocaine does to the body and mind, you can probably understand why some cocaine users would take Viagra with it. Because cocaine’s effects can keep you alert for hours with an increased sex drive, some will take Viagra, whether they need it or not.
Viagra increases blood circulation to the penis by influencing a particular phosphodiesterase (PDE5) in the smooth muscle tissue of penile tissue. This helps people living with erectile dysfunction attain and maintain an erection.
Viagra, which comes in blue diamond-shaped tablets, is commonly called the ‘little blue pill’. Aside from treating erectile dysfunction, Viagra does have other medical purposes, specifically to treat high blood pressure in pulmonary hypertension. This is where high blood pressure occurs in the veins, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the lungs.
Whilst viagra is still a prescription medication, its accessibility has become easier thanks to the dark web, which sells it without a prescription and online pharmacies following a brief assessment. This is very risky as a person may be tempted to lie about underlying medical conditions or buy Viagra online in bulk.
Any person with problems with erectile dysfunction or high blood pressure should always have the possible causes investigated by a medical professional before turning to Erectile Dysfunction medications. However, as chronic cocaine abuse can cause the onset of erectile dysfunction, it is unlikely a person who abuses cocaine would be completely honest with a doctor or pharmacist.
Common side effects of Viagra affect more than 1 in 100 people and include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Skin flushing
- Indigestion
- Dizziness
- Blocked or stuffy nose
Whilst serious side effects of Viagra are less common, they are far more likely to happen in someone with an underlying heart condition and in someone taking a substance such as cocaine.
Serious side effects of Viagra that require immediate medical attention include:
- Chest pain
- Seizures
- A prolonged and painful erection -priapism
- Changes to vision or sudden vision loss
- Changes in hearing or sudden hearing loss 9
Some men have also experienced a heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeats and even death after taking Viagra.
Viagra can also make your heart beat more forcefully, as can cocaine and sexual activity. This is why mixing them can be a particularly dangerous combination. This is especially true for a person with a heart condition or already high blood pressure.
Is Viagra addictive?
Viagra is not addictive in the physical sense, but some people can become psychologically dependent on it. Cocaine, on the other hand, is extremely addictive, and a person can get into the habit of taking both cocaine and viagra together.
Mixing these two drugs just once can be enough to cause some unpleasant and even dangerous side effects. Frequently doing so increases the risks of adverse effects.
Recreational use of Viagra
Further research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of Viagra for individuals with normal sexual functioning. However, it is known that the recreational use of Viagra carries certain risks.
In addition to the known side effects, those who use Erectile Dysfunction drugs such as sildenafil recreationally are more likely to participate in risky activities such as unsafe sex and drug abuse. They are also more prone to contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Viagra is most effective within the first 5 hours after taking it. However, it can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. After the initial effects of Viagra dissipate, a person may be tempted to take more whilst it is still in their system; this is a risk factor for Viagra overdose.
Viagra overdose, whilst not usually fatal on its own, can permanently damage the retina of a person’s eye. Unfortunately, this will cause vision loss or blurred vision and cannot be reversed.
Addiction to Viagra and Cocaine
Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that taking sildenafil will help a normal, healthy person who does not physically need it, psychologically, it can make a man more confident. They may feel that taking Viagra will help them to perform better in the bedroom.
A person who takes Viagra for recreational purposes is also more likely to abuse drugs like cocaine. On the other hand, a person with an addiction to cocaine is more likely to take viagra to counteract the negative physical effects of cocaine addiction.
Viagra initiates an erection by dilating blood vessels and augmenting blood circulation to various body parts, including the penis. On the other hand, cocaine has the opposite effect, as it reduces blood flow. When these two drugs are combined, it can lead to unpredictable changes in blood flow, which may result in serious medical emergencies such as priapism, stroke, cardiac arrest and heart attack.
The effects and risks of mixing Viagra and cocaine include
- Chest pain
- Breathlessness
- Fainting and Dizziness due to reduced oxygen to the brain
- Priapism (prolonged and painful erection)
- Slow and/or irregular pulse
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest and heart attack
- Dual dependence on cocaine and Viagra
Treatment for Viagra and Cocaine Addiction
We understand that asking for help for any addiction is a huge step for a person. However, it is important to understand that addiction is medically recognised as a chronic illness, not a moral failing. Because of this, there are very effective treatments available for Viagra and cocaine addiction.
If you are suffering adverse consequences due to drug abuse yet still cannot stop, we can ensure you get the right help and support, starting with a full medical detox.
Call our friendly experts today who are waiting to hear your story. They can advise you on the most suitable treatment options according to your location, budget, and, most importantly, your individual treatment needs.
References:
- Sexual dysfunction in abusers of cocaine and alcohol
- Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2021 registrations
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, April). Cocaine DrugFacts.National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016, May). Cocaine research report.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Treatment for stimulant use disorders. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33. SAMHSA Publication No. PEP21-02-01-004. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Sexual dysfunction in men who abuse illicit drugs: a preliminary report
- Can you take viagra with high blood pressure?
- Sexual Dysfunction in Persons With Substance Use Disorders
- Side effects of sildenafil
- Viagra https://www.drugwatch.com/viagra/
- Taking Viagra When You Don’t Have Erectile Dysfunction
- A Non-Fatal Self-Poisoning Attempt with Sildenafil
- Acute and Chronic Effects of Cocaine on Cardiovascular Health
