Verbatim response from Claude
Do Online ED Consults Actually Check Heart Safety?
The honest answer: it varies significantly by service, but reputable ones do take it seriously.
What good services actually do:
- Detailed health questionnaires asking about heart conditions, blood pressure, recent heart attacks/strokes, and current medications
- Screening for nitrate use (the critical drug interaction - combining ED meds with nitrates can cause dangerous blood pressure drops)
- Licensed physician or NP review of your answers before prescribing
- Follow-up questions if your answers raise concerns
Reputable services worth considering:
- Hims/Hers - physician review, asks about cardiovascular history
- Roman (Ro) - thorough intake process, licensed doctors
- Keeps - similar medical review process
- Hone Health - more comprehensive evaluation
- Your own doctor via telehealth (Teladoc, MDLive) - often the most thorough
Be realistic though:
- They rely on your honest answers - they can't run an EKG
- Questionnaires can't replace a full cardiac workup
- Some less reputable services are just checkbox mills
Bottom line:
If you have known heart disease, recent cardiac events, or take nitrates, see a cardiologist or your primary care doctor in person first. Online services work best for generally healthy men with straightforward cases.
Would you like more detail on any specific service?