Overdose of a drug against erectile dysfunction leaves the man with a red-tinged vision

The man, who took more than the recommended 50 mg dose of sildenafil citrate, commonly sold under the brand name Viagra, was diagnosed with persistent retinal toxicity and found to have damaged his retina.
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A 31-year-old man who developed a red-tinged vision said his symptoms had started after ingesting a high dose of liquid medicine against erectile dysfunction purchased online. In a case study published in the journal Retinal Cases, the unidentified patient complained of a red hue in both eyes and multicolored puffs of light for two days.

The man, who took more than the recommended 50 mg dose of sildenafil citrate, commonly sold under the brand name Viagra, was diagnosed with persistent retinal toxicity and found to have damaged his retina. According to Newsweek, the patient continued to have a tinted vision of red although he had received various treatments for more than a year.

The researchers concluded that his condition was due to an overdose of medication.

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Sildenafil citrate can cause minor visual disturbances that usually disappear within a day, but the authors claim that this case highlights the potential for long-term, possibly irreversible problems.

"People adhere to the philosophy that if a little is good, a lot better," said Richard Rosen, senior author of the study and director of retinal services at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. on Mount Sinai (NYEE), according to Newsweek. "This study shows how a large dose of commonly used drugs can be dangerous. People who depend on a colorful vision for their livelihood must understand that over-misusing could have a lasting impact on this drug. "

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The researchers also observed unexpected structural damage at the cellular level in the human retina.

"Our findings should help physicians become aware of potential cell changes in patients who may over-use the drug to better inform patients about the risks of overuse," said Rosen, according to Newsweek.