PDE5 Inhibitors

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Q: Is it okay to take Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis for recreational use? I'm healthy--how risky can it be?

A: None of these is cleared for nonmedical use. How risky? For one, you could waste money on a look-alike pill if your supply doesn't come from a reputable pharmacy. Or you could have a heart attack and die--it has happened to men taking Viagra, although underlying heart disease and not the medicine might have been the cause. But these three drugs have been prescribed to diabetics (who have a high incidence of heart disease) with little problem. Talk to your doctor and make sure you're at low risk of heart problems. And never take any of these with nitrates (nitroglycerin, or amyl or butyl nitrate). That combo can kill.

Q: Are the pharmacy- or grocery-store-brand medicines just as good as the brand-name stuff?

A: Yes, generics and store brands are just as effective and cost about one-third as much as the brand names. But this applies only to over-the-counter drugs. Prescription medicines should always be dispensed as written unless your doctor says otherwise.