Posted on 06/07/2005 11:28:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The main ingredient in Viagra is reborn as Revatio, a drug used to treat a fatal lung disease.
Viagra, the erectile-dysfunction drug used by more than 26 million men worldwide, was reborn Monday as Revatio, a drug to treat pulmonary hypertension, a rare, fatal lung disease caused by constrictions in the blood vessels that supply the lungs.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug's main ingredient, sildenafil citrate, for the new indication in a different dose, 25 milligrams vs. 20, 50 and 100 milligrams for Viagra, and with a new look. Revatio is white and round; Viagra is a blue diamond.
The drug dilates blood vessels, which promotes erections and reduces blood pressure in the lungs. Revatio demonstrated its short-term effectiveness in a 12-week study that involved 277 patients from 25 countries. Patients took Revatio or a placebo; those who took Revatio could walk at least 148 feet farther in six minutes than those on placebo, a statistically valid boost in performance.
About 95% of patients survived 18 months on Revatio, compared with the 65% survival predicted for that population, says Gary Burgess of Pfizer, Viagra's maker, who directed the research.
Will the drug work long-term? "Only time will tell," says Norman Edelman, medical director of the American Lung Association. "Anything that lowers blood pressure in the lungs and can do it over time will probably prolong life."
Bruce Brundage of the Heart Institute of the Cascades in Bend, OR, says one of the drug's advantages is that "it is simple to give, rather than intravenously or in an injection." The only other drug that can be given orally, Bosentan, can damage the liver. Studies are underway to see whether Revatio can be given with Bosentan and other drugs to yield an even bigger benefit.
Revatio's known side effects are typical of those for Viagra: muscle aches, flushing, blue-tinged vision. Unwanted erections weren't a problem. "Most of our patients were female," Burgess says. "Even among males there wasn't a single report."
I can breathe better ... but what am I going to do about THIS!?
"Is that your lung or are you just glad to see me?"
Punchlines please.
Yet another "upside" of Viagra. Guess I'll ask my Dr to increase my dosage. Godd news for us old "cardiac kids".
Lung like a lorse.
***
Stiff treatment
you guys crack me up...
Take two Revatio and call the doctor in the morning?
Before Viagra was Viagra, it was a test drug for heart disease. It didn't work very well for that, but the male patients soon reported its "aphrodisiac" chracter.
Before Viagra was Viagra, it was a test drug for heart disease. It didn't work very well for that, but the male patients soon reported its "aphrodisiac" chracter.
Yep, one of my fellow cardiac patients must have reported the positive side effects of his heart medication and Viagra came to be.
Ah! Take a deep breath, lads. Sproing is in the air.
Time to break out an ash tray and light up a Viagra 100.
My girlfriend and I made hot, steamy love. I relaxed with a Viagra cigarette. Then we got caught in an endless loop.
< /stevenwrightmode >
That's the idea. Lean back now.
You: I can breathe better ... but what am I going to do about THIS!?
Doc: "Nurse, can you come in here for a moment..."
If only it were that easy ...
"The main ingredient in Viagra is reborn as Revatio, a drug used to treat a fatal lung disease."
So lungsters can die with a smile on their faces!
It's all about "Quality of Life".
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