Snorting Viagra | Sildenafil Insufflation

Male enhancement drugs like Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil) improve blood flow to the penile organ during sexual stimulation.

These drugs have become increasingly popular among young and older men in the United States, due to concerns about erectile dysfunction and sexual performance.

The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate, which is a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i). This medication blocks the enzyme PDE5, which prevents the relaxation of smooth muscle tissue in the body.

Currently, ED medications are being abused by men who lack concerns about sexual performance entirely and intend to use the drug recreationally. When abused recreationally, individuals often snort or inject the medication.

Snorting Viagra bypasses the controlled release properties of the drug, leading to fast intranasal absorption into the bloodstream. The dose of Viagra absorbed through the blood vessels of the nose is much higher than by taking the medication orally.

People who snort Viagra may mix the drug with other street drugs, such as cocaine. Snorting Viagra increases the risk of dependency, addiction, and other dangerous side effects.

Recreational Abuse Of Viagra

Snorting or injecting Viagra is a sign of prescription medication abuse. Recreational Viagra abuse is increasingly common among men who do not suffer from erectile dysfunction and snort the drug to increase the drug’s effects.

Abuse of Viagra may be caused by an underlying mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression.

Reliance on the drug may be associated with how the drug temporarily increases an individual’s confidence level and masks some negative symptoms of mental disorder.

Often, men who abuse Viagra will mix the drug with other illegal drugs such as cocaine, Ecstasy, or amphetamines, to enhance sexual performance and produce a euphoric sexual high.

When the prescription medication is abused with other illicit drugs, risks of psychological dependency and addiction increase.

Side Effects Of Snorting Viagra

Men who abuse ED medications without a prescription and supervision of a doctor, do so at great risk of developing dangerous side effects.

When Viagra is prescribed safely under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional, the drug comes with risks of experiencing adverse side effects.

Viagra relaxes and widens the walls of arteries throughout the body. This effect may exacerbate heart disease in people with certain medical conditions, such as low blood pressure or hypertension.

Viagra may increase the risk of heart attack, strokes, or heart rhythm irregularities in people with underlying cardiovascular disease.

People who abuse this prescription medication recreationally may be at higher risk of experiencing unknown adverse side effects. Further, snorting Viagra may lead to nosebleeds, nasal pain, and headaches.

Some side effects of Viagra include:

• flushing
• headache
• indigestion
• changes to vision
• blurry or sensitive eyes
• nasal congestion
• back pain

More serious side effects may include:

• hearing loss or vision loss — individuals may experience a sudden loss of hearing or vision when taking Viagra, which requires immediate medical attention.
• priapism — painful erection that does not go away on its own, which requires immediate medical attention to avoid permanent damage to the penis.

Higher doses of Viagra absorbed intranasally may lead to higher risks of dangerous or other currently unknown side effects. More studies are needed to determine the adverse effects associated with snorting Viagra.

Risks Of Dependency And Addiction

People with an addiction to Viagra may associate the prescription medication with pleasure and relief from unaddressed mental health conditions known to cause impotence.

Addiction may develop when the medication is used habitually to get high during sexual activity, especially in cases when the medication is mixed with other illegal substances.

Under the influence of combined drugs, strong psychological addiction to enhance the sexual experience may occur.

Men who habitually abuse Viagra may develop chemical tolerance to the drug and require large doses to achieve the same effects.

High doses of Viagra may lead to increased risks of experiencing dangerous adverse effects from the drug.

Getting Treatment For Prescription Drug Addiction

Many individuals with erectile dysfunction safely use Viagra under the guidance of a doctor.

However, when the drug is abused recreationally, especially when combined with other illicit drugs, it comes with increased risks of adverse side effects, physical dependency, and psychological addiction.

People with viagra addiction or addiction to other performance-enhancing drugs should seek professional treatment and medical advice before serious medical intervention is required.

While addiction to erectile dysfunction drugs may not be common, health risks from abusing the medication should not be minimized.

If you or a loved one have an addiction to Viagra, or if you have any questions about addiction treatment programs, please connect with our treatment center through our helpline today.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff