Viagra the world famous erectile dysfunction drug made by Pfizer has been recently been the subject of an extensive study to determine its effects on mental health patients who suffer from impotence due to the use of antipsychotic medicines. The research was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a leading mental health publication.

Doctors had previously noted that men who suffered from anti-psychotic induced impotence due to schizophrenia or similar mental illnesses often don't take their medications so that they can maintain erectile function. This can be unhealthy for them and cause them to get mentally ill again. 

In this research which was had a placebo group also, sildenafil (Viagra) was administered to thirty two married men who suffered from erectile dysfunction due to the use of their antipsychotic medications. The evidence showed that the sildenafil (Viagra) gave much better results in the quantity of the erections reported and the patients also said that they derived more satisfaction from sex. Detailed reading of the statistics also noted that the Viagra gave the patients a three times better chance of having satisfactory erectile function and enjoying sex.

The use of Viagra is generally well tolerated in all users and the patients in this study did not have a higher number of side effects than with normal users. All the patients continued to use the drug, with a few reporting the most common Viagra side effects which are a slight headache and slight nasal congenstion.

The results are important as it means pyschiatrists can prescribe Viagra safely, knowing that it will not interfere with the anti-psychotic medicine and that their patients will not stop taking it in order to be able to improve sexual function but will just take the Viagra instead.