I wasn’t aware this was a problem — heart failure in sheep. But researchers have been working hard to solve it. Well, to solve something.
Using the erectile dysfunction medicine Cialis.
Eli Lilly’s Cialis (tadalafil) is best known as an erectile dysfunction (ED) therapy. But University of Manchester scientists are interested in proving it can reverse heart failure, and they have promising evidence from a sheep study that they may be right.
Cialis slowed the progression of heart failure in sheep models of the disease and reversed breathlessness, one of the most troublesome symptoms, the researchers reported in the journal Scientific Reports.
The findings may not be a total surprise. This class of drugs, PDE5 inhibitors, which also includes Pfizer’s Viagra and Bayers Levitra, was originally developed for cardiac disease.
I knew that last part. It’s also evident these studies are designed to move variations of this treatment forward in people. No one is trying to prevent heart failure in sheep. But now we’ve reached a crossroads. Before taking Cialis, you have to ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. But what if your doctor is a cardiologist and he’s giving it to you for your heart?
Take this but no sex.
There are plenty of annoying and even unnerving side effects that come with some conventional cardiac medication. How annoying would it be to have one of those side-effects be the purpose for which Cialis was originally marketed?
Sans the desire, or the permission (if you are inclined to listen to your doctor) you’ll need to carry some textbooks around with you and try not to look as awkward as you did back in high school.
As for a medication that can reverse the effects of heart failure, that would be a great thing even with this inconvenient side effect.
