Viagra is the most effective way to manage erectile dysfunction. Many people using Viagra may need to give drug tests when taking part in sports, or during the screening process for specific jobs or other medical reasons.
Drug tests are commonly done for two purposes, either for checking the use of street drugs or identifying abuse of performance-enhancing substances.
Viagra Helps in Many Health Conditions
People know that Viagra helps improve the quality of erection within 30 minutes to an hour. However, it is worth noticing that it has other medical benefits too.
The US company Pfizer first started to develop Viagra for the treatment of various heart-related problems. Viagra works by increasing the NO levels in the blood vessel, leading to their dilation. A research team at Pfizer expected that increased NO levels in blood vessels would help people overcome angina-related heart pain.
However, Viagra as a drug for heart disease failed to show any benefits. But, then, some of the researchers at Pfizer noticed that many users reported improved quality of erection with the drug. And thus, the blue pill was born, and the company started testing it for entirely different use (1).
Viagra is the brand name of the chemical compound called sildenafil.
Another medically approved use of sildenafil is in the treatment of a rare condition called pulmonary hypertension. However, for this purpose, it is used at a lower daily dose (2).
Clinical studies show that it may even help in some other rare conditions, other vascular diseases like Reynaud’s phenomenon. It is a rare disease characterized by severe spasms of blood vessels of the hand, feet, and even nose, ears. Spasm could be severe to cause local gangrene. It seems that Viagra may help with this condition by acting on the blood vessels (3).
Drugs Tests and Viagra
People are not just using medical drugs; they are taking drugs for recreation, for boosting sports performance. Unlike medicinal drugs, many of these drugs are not legal and are subject to screening.
One possibility is that a person is regularly taking opioids for medical or non-medical reasons. Or an individual may periodically smoke marijuana, which is legal in many parts of the world. However, employees do not encourage the use of such drugs.
Younger individuals may go through a drug test for the use of performance-enhancing substances like steroids, stimulants, NO boosters, and many more. Sportspeople not only use performance-enhancing drugs, but other medications to mask their use. Therefore, modern drug tests cover the use of multiple agents (4).
Does Viagra Help With Physical Performance?
Since Viagra can boost NO levels in the blood vessels, improve sexual performance, it is logical to consider it for physical training. Studies show that it may help train and perform better in some situations.
Since Viagra dilates blood vessels, it can improve the blood supply not only to the penis but to some other organs too. During training, it may also help keep blood pressure in control. Further, some individuals think that boosting NO levels with drugs like Viagra may also help (5, 6).
Scientific evidence in favor of sildenafil is mixed. Some studies show little benefit, while others show no benefit at all. Researchers think that sildenafil/Viagra may help athletes in some cases like those participating in high altitude sports. Some believe that it may help Paralympians, like those living with spinal injury, to train better (7, 8, 9).
At ScribeMedia, we understand how important it is for our readers to be able to trust the information that they are reading. Our team of writers and editors work diligently to fact-check all of our content and make sure that it is accurate and trustworthy. We want our readers to know that they can rely on us to provide them with quality information that they can use in their everyday lives. Read more.
Is Drug Test for Viagra Done?
Viagra is undoubtedly on the radar of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and other similar agencies. However, it is essential to know that it is not on the list of banned substances. At present, a person is allowed to take Viagra. Agencies will not check a person for the use of sildenafil.
If someone is interested in what is allowed in mainline sports, one may visit WADA’s official site (10).
Although Viagra is not illegal in sports, however, it does not mean that one is free to abuse it. There are some reports that various sports agencies are monitoring the use of sildenafil. People are screened even for legal or allowed substances, just to ensure the wellbeing of individuals.
What Are the Possibilities of Viagra Showing in a Drug Test?
After understanding everything about Viagra, its various uses apart from the treatment of erectile dysfunction, it is now time to look at the primary question, if it shows up in drug tests or not?
In short, the answer is “NO.”
Modern tests used for screening are very specific, and they look for more commonly abused substances like cocaine, opioids, and other street drugs. Or steroids and hormones in the case of sports.
Professional sportspeople go through a more thorough screening. However, as already mentioned, Viagra is not a banned substance and is not included in standard screening tests.
There are almost nil chances that Viagra may falsely give a positive test for other drugs. Since even if that happens, sporting bodies will carry out multiple and more specific checks to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
Thus, there are numerous reasons to say why Viagra will not show up on a drug test. No one will test a person for the use of Viagra. Modern tests are very accurate. Tests look for other widely abused substances known for enhancing performance or mood.
