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article imageSpider bite causes erection that lasts hours

Posted May 1, 2007 by  patxxoo in Health | 9 comments | 3064 views
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In Brazil hospital staff know immediately if you have been bitten by a wandering spider due to various side effects, the main one being an uncomfortable erection.
The scientific name for this particular type of spider is Phoneutria nigriventer. They are known to be extremely aggressive and are regarded as one of the most dangerous type of spiders in the world.

When a person is bitten, the venom is injected into the bloodstream sending most people to the hospital for treatment for pain and the increase in blood pressure, also for a most uncomfortable erection that can last for hours.

Doctors are studying the venom to further what they hope to be an advancement in erectile dysfunction treatments in the future. In a Johns Hopkins University study they found that approximately 18 million men in the US alone have issues with erectile dysfunction. Drugs such as Viagra only help about 1 in every 3 men that have mild or moderate erectile dysfunction issues and men with more sever problems are less likely to be helped by these types of drugs at all.

Researchers have already started testing various components of the venom on rats for possible later use on men. The possibility exists that they will combine Viagra and other drugs along the same line, with this new component made from a synthetic version of spider venom to create a better overall effect for men with this medical problem.

So if the current crop of drugs do not work for you or a loved one don't lose hope a newer version is on its way in the next few years.
Source: livescience.com external
article:174931:12::0
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  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  Debra Myers (skyangel)
    #1
    Hmmm...a rat with an erection. That's not a picture I'd like to see! If that's a side effect of the spider's venom, then talk about being in a world of hurt. It's good though that they might be able to produce a drug that would help men with ED.
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  rob13
    #2
    How can I get this spider??
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  Brandigal (Donna)
    #3
    Not sure If I were a man I would want spider venom in me, especially if it is painful.
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  Competetant414
    #4
    So, let me get this straight. In it's native environment the spider causes the victim to have an uncontrollable erection - but how would this help the spider with it's prey?
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  unicorn5
    #5
    I wonder if the venom works on all living things, can you imagine. Not a pretty picture
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  wiccania
    #6
    @ unicorn5:
    I wonder if the venom works on all living things, can you imagine. Not a pretty picture


    not pretty, but certainly funny.

    i'm always astounded with the things that scientists study in the effort to improve the quality of life. makes you wonder what they use in viagra and cialis...
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  myobservations
    #7
    Scientists are continually finding new drugs to improved our sex lives. Pretty soon we'll all be going strong well into our nineties. Good find.
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  cruiseroo
    #8
    Interesting. I don't think this is the first time either that science sees a possibility for using a venom for benefits to humans. Can't think of one offhand, but I do recall reading about other such discoveries.
  • avatar Posted May 1, 2007 by  patxxoo
    #9
    So, let me get this straight. In it's native environment the spider causes the victim to have an uncontrollable erection - but how would this help the spider with it's prey?

    This has only been attributed to humans who are not usually considered prey for spiders as far as I can find. Spiders can vary the amount of venom they inject according to the size of thier prey causing paralisis in some cases allowing them to digest thier food
    According to wilkipedia most occurances of a human getting bitten are usually a defensive action on the spiders behalf.
    This particular spider though is known to be aggresive towards large animals and humans that they consider a threat.
    Spiders of the genus Phoneutria have extremely toxic venom and approximately ten times as much venom as other spiders that are known to produce fatalities of adult humans.

    Spider venoms work on one of two fundamental principles; they are either neurotoxic (attacking the nervous system), or necrotoxic (attacking tissues surrounding the bite, and in some cases, attacking vital organs and systems).
    The Brazilian walking spider is of the neurotoxic family who's venom attacks the nervous system.

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