Sildenafil (Viagra) Treatment of Subacute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious long-term disability. Approximately 50% of the 750,000 people affected by stroke each year have residual physical impairment. Treatment options for recovery are limited at this time. Sildenafil (Viagra) has demonstrated the capability of significantly improving recovery in several animal experiments of stroke. This study is aiming to establish the safety of treatment with sildenafil in people with stroke with the ultimate aim of testing its usefulness to improve recovery.