Viagra, the anti-impotence drug from Pfizer, has been used in the UK as a last resort option to help save the life of a 24 week premature baby. Lewis Goodfellow was born weighing just 1lb 8oz with severe oxygen intake problems after one of his lungs failed.Viagra was administered to Lewis after the severity of his situation escalated to the point where his parents began planning his funeral. After 5 months Lewis is now at home with his parents, who believe their son would not be here today was it not for Viagra.

“Viagra was his last chance”

The commonly used anti-impotence drug, which contains the active ingredient Sildenafil, opened up tiny blood vessels in Lewis’ lungs allowing more oxygen to circulate around the rest of his body. Doctors could not give Lewis any more oxygen so Viagra, also know as the little blue pill, was suggested as a last chance option

“What Sildenafil does is open up the blood vessels so they can capture the oxygen and take it around the body” said Alan Fenton, consultant neonatologist at the hospital. This is similar to the way Viagra helps men suffering from impotence.

Viagra – A heart condition drug?

Viagra works as an anti-impotence drug by relaxing blood vessels, which in turn boosts blood flow to the penis. Although most men would only buy Viagra to solve their impotence problems, it does not directly allow them to gain an erection, meaning the blood vessel relaxing properties of Viagra can be used to boost flow to other parts of the body.

It is to the surprise of many impotence sufferers that Viagra was originally designed as a heart drug that also helped lower blood pressure. However the developers of the little blue pill noticed that Viagra had an interesting side effect; it easily allowed men to achieve an erection. It was this lucrative side effect that was then promoted as the main use of the drug. Now, many years later, doctors are re-examining the impotence drug uses for conditions such as those experienced by Lewis Goodfellow.

Other uses of the ‘little blue pill’

Further studies are currently on-going but reports suggest that Viagra could be also used to treat pulmonary hypertension, a very rare and sometimes fatal disorder whereby vessels that supply blood to the lungs are naturally constrictive. This is similar to the problem experienced by Lewis however there are many more complications involved in pulmonary hypertension. It still provides good news to those experiencing any related problems however these reports are unlikely to send a surge of PH suffers out to buy Viagra.

Whilst these studies are still in the research stage, the parents of Lewis Goodfellow have no doubts that without that administered dose of Viagra, they would not be the proud parents they are today. Lewis also holds a world record thanks to his premature birth; the worlds youngest user of the impotence drug Viagra.