Seen At 11: Viagra For Children? How Experts Say The Drug Can Save Young Lives
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Millions of men credit Viagra for saving their sex lives, but nearly two decades after hitting the market, Viagra is now being credited for literally saving the lives -- of children.
Viagra is credited with saving children like Victoria Dooley who, thanks in part to the medication, will celebrate her fourth birthday later this month.
Dooley was born with a rare condition causing one side of her heart to fail, CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported.
She's had three surgeries so far and her pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Anne Chun, of NYU Langone Medical Center, says she will likely need a heart transplant when she's a teen.
"Over time, her function will continue to decrease," Chun said.
But by taking a low dose of Viagra now, Dooley is able to function at a greater capacity, as well as increase her life expectancy.
"It really helps to relax the blood vessels so that blood will flow normally from the body into the lungs and allow for normal oxygen levels," Chun said.
More than 20 years ago, Viagra was first tested to lower blood pressure, when it was realized that it could raise something else.
While it's still prescribed to adults with certain heart problems, when giving the drug to children, it's considered "off label use."
Still, several children's hospitals across the country are reporting similar life-saving results in kids with serious lung and cardiac problems.
Shawn and Cynthia Dooley, Victoria's parents, said while this treatment of choice was a little surprising, they're grateful for how it's allowing their daughter to live the life of any other four year old.
"When you first hear about it, you think about it more for the adult uses," Shawn Dooley said.
Small doses of Viagra are also given to premature babies to help them overcome a potentially lethal lung problem called pulmonary hypertension, which makes it hard for the heart to pump blood through the lungs and is the leading cause of death in preemies after their first month of life.