Sildenafil Citrate is sold under the brand name Viagra for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED), and under the brand name Revatio for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
It belongs to the class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The drug treats ED by boosting blood flow to the penile organ, causing an erection. For PAH, sildenafil works by relaxing the arteries (blood vessels) in the lungs, enhancing the blood flow.
Undeniably, sildenafil has the potential to improve blood flow across the system. And this raises an important question – whether or not sildenafil is a blood thinner?
Well, sildenafil is not a blood thinner because it is neither an anticoagulant nor an antiplatelet. To better understand this topic, you should know how sildenafil citrate and blood thinners work.
As mentioned earlier, sildenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor, meaning it temporarily decreases the secretion of the PDE5 enzyme in the body to stop the degradation of cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP). This allows the body to release more amount of nitric oxide, a chemical that improves blood flow by relaxing the muscles and dilating the blood vessels.
On the other hand, blood thinners are mainly classified into two groups – anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting, while antiplatelets prevent platelets (blood-clotting cells) from adhering to each other in the blood vessels. Typically, anticoagulants are stronger than antiplatelets.
Some of the commonly prescribed anticoagulants include Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Lovenox (enoxaparin) and Coumadin (warfarin). Aspirin and Plavix (clopidogrel) are commonly prescribed antiplatelets.
The pharmacological action of sildenafil citrate and blood thinners is different, suggesting that sildenafil is not a blood thinner.
Although sildenafil and blood thinners have an action on the circulatory system, they are not the same because of their entirely different mechanism of action. Plus, their indications are also different.
On the contrary, a 2003 study published in the journal Cell found that sildenafil might potentially promote dangerous blood clots, causing hardening of the arteries. Researchers found that sildenafil may encourage platelets to stick to each other, forming blood clots, which could be life-threatening in some people.
Another common question is – does sildenafil adversely interact with blood thinners? Yes, sildenafil is incompatible with blood thinners such as warfarin and enoxaparin, according to medicinenet.com. People who take Revatio for PAH are at a greater risk of bleeding if they take any blood thinner along with sildenafil. Therefore, it is imperative to check with your doctor whether you can use sildenafil if you already are on a blood thinner.
