Viagra May Be Used For Kids with Lung Disorders

A rare lung disorder called pulmonary arterial hypertension, affects hundreds of children each year. This condition can cause one side of a child’s heart to work harder and faster than the other. It is caused due to high blood pressure in the lungs arteries, resulting in chest pain and extreme fatigue. The FDA is evaluating the effectiveness of treating this condition in children with Revatio.

Sildenafil Citrate is the main chemical in the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, but Pfizer also makes a blood pressure drug named Revatio, intended for adults. Revatio, which also contains sildenafil citrate, has a similar function to Viagra by blocking enzymes found in the penis and lungs which controls blood flow.

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The FDA and its advisors are currently evaluating if Revatio can be effective in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children. Their main concern is how to test it. They will be working with Pfizer, which has already completed a study on Revatio's effectiveness in kids. If both parties conclude tests are successful and Pfizer meets the FDA’s standards, this will give the patent an extra 6 months on the market without competition from generic manufacturers.

SCIENCEDAILY: Sildenafil Found To Prevent Pulmonary Hypertension In Infants

The use of sildenafil for the treatment of this disorder has been studied since 2001. Some physicians are already using small amounts of sildenafil in treating children with lung disorders. It has even been used to conceive babies.

Read past articles on how Viagra has helped women conceive babies and how it has brought relief to people with lung conditions:
 
Baby Conceived by using Viagra turns 10

Sildenafil to relieve Lung Fibrosis Sufferers?

Viagra Being Used to Help Women Conceive Babies