Hilarious, but also serious question - has anyone found Viagra/Sildenafil to be useful as a way to fight AMS?
For example, taking it before going to bed at Trail Camp, and in the morning while attempting to summit.
I would think that having better bloodflow would help combat AMS?
I'm curious whether anyone has actually tried this. I know that Diamox (sp?) is the usual medicine for AMS, but the list of side-effects has put me off it.
Whereas the only side-effect of Viagra is if you get too excited, then you might need to take a rest to calm down :P
I don't know why but them deer are startin' to look purty cute!
Yikes!
Remember, Viagra LOWERS your blood pressure. I think your brain will need that blood to think clearly. Don't think you would need a "third" hiking pole at elevation.
I take an 81mg chewable aspirin about a couple of days before the start of the hike.
You may consider Diamox which appears to be the most preferred.
However, consult with your healthcare provider.
Best thing to do if you want to do "drug free" is to acclimatize at 10,000 feet plus.
Hey - what effect does Aspirin 2 days before the hike have? Just trying to understand the logic
Aspirin is a blood thinner.
But why 2 days before the hike? Wouldn't the effects have worn off by the time you hit the trail?
this topic is seriously begging for some snarky jokes
Aspirin lasts for 7 days...
There are about a thousand drugs that you can take, and some will promote positive results while others promote negative results. The problem is that most of them are inconsistent for results.
My experience from 10,000 to 20,000 feet is that about 80% of the headache problems come from simple dehydration. The best way to avoid AMS is to sleep at moderately high elevation for two or three nights immediately prior, and to get some moderate exercise during those days. All you are trying to do is to get the short-term respiration adaptations to kick in.
Viagra and its class of drugs are USELESS for AMS.
It only has mild benefit in HAPE, a completely different high altitude illness.
maybe I should add a bit more:
Viagra can reduce pulmonary hypertension somewhat, and altitude/hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, but, again, this effect is potentially helpful in HAPE, not in AMS.
Viagra also commonly causes headache, and can make AMS headache worse.