For the past 50 years, there have been a lot of significant medical developments that gave birth to various medications. For every health issue, there is something that you can take to alleviate your condition.
Many people, though, who are experiencing anxiety and erectile dysfunction, are wondering if they can take Xanax and Viagra at the same time. These drugs are used as medications for anxiety disorder and erectile dysfunction, respectively.
The big question is, is it safe to combine Xanax and Viagra? Is it not dangerous to mix the active ingredients sildenafil and alprazolam in your system?
To answer these questions better, let us first see how these drugs work separately and what the connection between them is.
Xanax
Xanax is the brand name of alprazolam, which is a short-acting benzodiazepine that acts on the brain as well as the nervous system (1). It is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders (2).
When an individual is experiencing anxiety, the chemicals in the brain tend to lose their balance. And to reverse this effect, alprazolam comes into play.
The dosage of Xanax for treating the said mental condition may differ, depending on the severity of anxiety, as well as the age and medical history of the patient.
There have been reports regarding the abuse of taking Xanax, and these have resulted in more health problems (3). So if you want the drug to work for you, you must follow the right dosage.
While it is true that taking alprazolam is effective in treating anxiety disorder, it has side effects too, which include drowsiness, dizziness, and a possible decrease in libido (4, 5). If you experience any side effects, it is highly recommended that you tell your doctor right away, especially if it is making your condition worse.
Viagra
Viagra, on the other hand, is the brand name of sildenafil (6). This is utilized in treating erectile dysfunction, including pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Once taken, it relaxes the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels of the different parts of the human body. This includes the penile region.
Furthermore, it increases the blood flow to the penis, which then leads to an erection. The active ingredient also tries to prevent the blood from being released immediately to have a longer erection (7).
In general, as long as it is used in moderation, Viagra is safe to take.
But just like any drug, it also has side effects, especially for those people who have existing health conditions, such as kidney disease, hypotension, and severe liver impairment, just to mention a few (8, 9). So again, before you start ingesting sildenafil, it would be a good idea to discuss your condition with a doctor.
Connection Between Anxiety and Erectile Dysfunction
Anxiety is just one of the psychological factors that can lead to erectile dysfunction (10). If you have this mental disorder, it would be quite challenging for your body to respond or act the way you like it to be, just like when you want to have sex. You, as an individual, may want it so bad, but it’s a different story if your mind and body do not want to cooperate.
Like what we have mentioned above, impotence is also one of the possible side effects of taking Xanax. This drug could cause the user to lose his interest in sex and may hinder his ability to get a hard-on.
Additionally, ED can lead to the development of anxiety disorder as well. It is not uncommon for a man who is having a hard time achieving a long-lasting erection and is unable to properly engage in sexual activities to experience anxiety.
All of these are clear indications that, indeed, there are connections between anxiety and ED. This brings us back to the main question as to whether or not it is advisable to start using Xanax and Viagra.
Is It Safe to Take Xanax and Viagra at the Same Time?
Although there are no scientific studies that show any alprazolam and sildenafil interaction, this does not mean that there is no side effect at all. It might not be dangerous or life-threatening to combine alprazolam and sildenafil, but there is a possibility that one of the drugs can affect the efficacy of the other.
For this reason, it would be best to talk to a healthcare professional before you start taking both drugs at the same time. More so if you are suffering from other ailments.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Combining Xanax and Viagra?
Benzodiazepine directly affects the brain and the body, and both are involved in sexual performance too. And since Xanax is mainly a depressant, it slows your nervous system down. As that happens, it could lower your libido or your desire to have sex. This results in erectile dysfunction, which Viagra is trying to prevent.
Through Xanax, you will be able to address your anxiety disorder. However, it could cause impotence, and this condition could cause anxiety again. It would be just like a cycle.
Simply put, mixing Xanax and Viagra would defeat the whole purpose of taking the medications. Instead of you getting good results, you are actually not getting anywhere.
The Verdict
We have highlighted how Xanax and Viagra do their work separately. Yes, there are no contraindications or dangerous effects when these drugs are taken simultaneously. But looking at the connections between them, it is clear that the effectiveness of each medication could be compromised.
So, in conclusion, it would be best not to take a combination of Xanax and Viagra. What you can do is to weigh things out and determine which health condition you would like to focus on treating. And besides, if you opt to take a break from Xanax and continue taking Viagra instead, treating your erectile dysfunction may help reduce the effects of your anxiety disorder.
The same is true when you prioritize taking Xanax and set aside Viagra for the meantime. Once you get rid of your anxiety, then it might be easier for you to attain an erection.
So you have to choose between Xanax and Viagra.
The decision is actually in your hands. You can also consult your physician to seek proper guidance.