Viagra and illegal stimulants have found their way onto the party scene in recent years. People may combine cocaine and Viagra to improve sexual performance and to maintain erections for hours.

Usage of this drug combination has increased in the fast few years, thanks to the generic form of Viagra, sildenafil, entering the market.

Viagra and sildenafil are drugs prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), which is a condition where a man has trouble getting or maintaining an erection for sexual activities. ED is a complex phenomenon and can be caused by a mixture of hormones, emotions, nerve tissue health, mental health, heart health, and genetics.

Viagra and other ED drugs should only be used with a valid prescription under the supervision of a physician. Viagra and similar drugs can be harmful to people with heart conditions.

Since cocaine is a drug with known cardiotoxicity (damage caused to the heart), this combination of drugs is very dangerous.

Why Cocaine and Viagra Are Abused Together

Stimulants like cocaine are known to increase sexual drive and feelings of sexual pleasure. However, cocaine can decrease a man’s ability to maintain an erection. To combat this side effect, some partiers will mix cocaine and the ED drug Viagra. Other ED drugs include Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Stendra (avanafil)

People take this mixture intending to initiate sexual activity while partying. Cocaine increases the pleasure one feels from sex, and since cocaine (and other party drugs like alcohol) can make it difficult to maintain an erection, Viagra is taken to combat this effect.

Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Viagra

Viagra should never be used without a prescription because it can be harmful to people with heart conditions. It is also illegal to use a prescription drug without a valid prescription.

Other dangers of combining cocaine and Viagra may include:

  • Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Viagra

    Bradycardia (slow pulse)

    Dizziness

    Fainting

    Hypotension (low blood pressure)

    Pale skin (not enough oxygen delivery)

    Priapism (prolonged and painful erection)

Viagra works by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow to different organs, including the penis. Cocaine does the reverse — it decreases blood flow. The combination can affect blood flow in unpredictable ways, and lead to medical emergencies, like priapism stroke, cardiac arrest, and heart attack.

Priapism

Priapism is when the penis becomes painfully engorged with blood for long periods, sometimes several hours or more. The erection does not go away on its own and is not caused by sexual arousal. Priapism is a medical emergency and can cause permanent damage to the penis and urological organs like the bladder.

Viagra and cocaine each may cause priapism as a side effect. Taken together, the risk may increase.

Heart Problems

On its own, cocaine can cause heartbeat, irregular heartbeat and stroke. Cocaine often makes the heart pump faster than it should. It also constricts (or tightens) blood vessels, decreasing the flow of oxygen to organs of the body.

Viagra, on the other hand, dilates (or expands) blood vessels. Since this effect is the opposite of cocaine, the drug combination causes unpredictable effects on blood flow, harming the body’s blood vessels.

Dependence on Cocaine and Viagra

Men who regularly combine cocaine with Viagra may become physically dependent on the combination. They may have trouble achieving sexual pleasure or orgasm when they are not taking the drugs.

Physical dependence is a risk factor for addiction. Taking a combination of drugs to the detriment of one’s health is a symptom of addiction.

The long-term health effects of this combination are not well known, but it is likely to cause damage to the heart and vascular system. It may also induce erectile dysfunction, making it impossible to achieve an erection without the drugs.

If you or someone you know is abusing cocaine and Viagra, please consider calling The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health. The combination may seem fun at first, but cause lead to serious heart damage, physical dependence, and addiction. Reach out today to explore treatment options.

Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.