
The use of sildenafil and an α1 blocker (typically prescribed for hypertension or for urologic conditions, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy) at the same time may lead to low blood pressure, but this effect does not occur if they are taken at least 4 hours apart. Concomitant use of nitric oxide donors, organic nitrites and nitrates,[30] such as: nitroglycerinisosorbide mononitrateisosorbide dinitratesodium nitroprussidealkyl nitrites (commonly known as "poppers") Concomitant use of soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat Sildenafil should not be used if sexual activity is inadvisable due to underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Sildenafil's popularity with young adults has increased over the years.
Take it as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually between 30 minutes to four hours before planned sexual activity. Do not take double or extra doses. For this use, take sildenafil as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually three times a day. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose.
Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure what to do after a missed dose. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department. Our friendly customer care team is standing by for support. This content is intended for counseling purposes only. This content is informational/educational and is not intended to treat or diagnose any disease or patient. [32] Sildenafil's brand name, Viagra, is widely recognized in popular culture, and the drug's association with treating erectile dysfunction has led to its recreational use.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 20 Pills | 40.52€ 38.59€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 30 + 2 Pills | 72.32€ 68.88€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 32 Pills | 125.88€ 119.89€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 379.76€ 361.68€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 270 + 8 Pills | 184.26€ 175.49€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 30 + 5 Sachets | 136.20€ 129.71€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 20 Pills | 37.74€ 35.94€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 125.56€ 119.58€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 272 + 12 Pills | 622.94€ 593.28€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 423.48€ 403.31€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 129.02€ 122.88€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 30 + 4 Pills | 60.91€ 58.01€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 180 + 6 Pills | 154.93€ 147.55€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 311.78€ 296.93€ |
[33] The reasons behind such use include the belief that the drug increases libido, improves sexual performance,[33] or permanently increases penis size.
[4] In October 2007, the FDA announced that the labeling for all PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil, required a more prominent warning of the potential risk of sudden hearing loss. Care should be exercised by people who are also taking protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV infection. Protease inhibitors inhibit the metabolism of sildenafil citrate 100 mg sildenafil, effectively multiplying the plasma levels of sildenafil, increasing the incidence and severity of side effects. Those using protease inhibitors are recommended to limit their use of sildenafil to no more than one 25 mg dose every 48 hours. [4] Other drugs that interfere with the metabolism of sildenafil include erythromycin and cimetidine, both of which can also lead to prolonged plasma half-life levels. [34] Studies on the effects of sildenafil when used recreationally are limited, but suggest it has little effect when used by those who do not have erectile dysfunction.
| Tip | Explanation | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Follow dosage instructions | Take exactly as prescribed | Prevent side effects or interactions |
| Be aware of side effects | Recognize common side effects and when to seek help | Ensure safety |
| Avoid alcohol and heavy meals | May decrease effectiveness or increase side effects | Maximize efficacy |
| Report health issues | Communicate with doctor about any adverse reactions or concerns | Maintain safety and treatment efficacy |
In one study, a 25 mg dose was shown to cause no significant change in erectile quality, but did reduce the postejaculatory refractory time.
[35] This study also noted a significant placebo effect in the control group.
| Use Case | Description | Typical Dosage | Onset of Action | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erectile Dysfunction | Helps achieve and maintain erections during sex | 125 mg | 30-60 minutes | Up to 4-6 hours |
| Pulmonary Hypertension | Relieves high blood pressure in lung arteries | 125 mg | 15-30 minutes | 4-6 hours |
| Off-Label Uses | Potential uses in other vascular conditions | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Unprescribed recreational use of sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitors is noted as particularly high among users of illegal drugs. [36] Sildenafil is sometimes used to counteract the effects of other substances, often illicit.
[5][8][11][12] In 2023, it was the 151st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions. [13][14] It is available as a generic medication. [15][16] In the United Kingdom, it is available as a pharmacy medicine. The primary indication of sildenafil is treatment of erectile dysfunction (inability to sustain a satisfactory erection to complete sexual intercourse). Its use is now one of the standard treatments for erectile dysfunction, including for males with diabetes mellitus.
Tentative evidence suggests that sildenafil may help males who experience antidepressant-induced erectile dysfunction. While sildenafil improves some markers of disease in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, it does not appear to affect the risk of death or serious side effects. Sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitors are used off-label to alleviate vasospasm and treat severe ischemia and ulcers in fingers and toes for people with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon;[9][21] these drugs have moderate efficacy for reducing the frequency and duration of vasospastic episodes. [9] As of 2016,[update] their role more generally in Raynaud's was not clear. Sildenafil has shown some potential for improving exercise performance at high altitudes. [33] Some users mix it with methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), other stimulants, or opiates in an attempt to compensate for the common side effect of erectile dysfunction, a combination known as "sextasy", "rockin' and rollin'", "hammerheading", or "trail mix".
No claims are made as to the safety or efficacy of mentioned preparations. The compounded medications featured in this content have been prescribed and/or administered by prescribers who work with Wedgewood Pharmacy. You are encouraged to speak with your prescriber as to the appropriate use of any medication. Wedgewood Pharmacy's compounded veterinary preparations are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals. All sildenafil chewable tablets product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders.
Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. [4][8] It is also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of certain symptoms in secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. [9] It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in females. [8] It can be taken orally (swallowed by mouth), intravenously (injection into a vein), or through the sublingual route (dissolved under the tongue). [33] Mixing it with amyl nitrite, another vasodilator, is particularly dangerous and potentially fatal.
However, its overall efficacy is not clear. Sildenafil has been studied for high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), but its use is currently not recommended for that indication. In clinical trials, the most common adverse effects of sildenafil use included headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, and impaired vision, including photophobia and blurred vision. [4] Some sildenafil users have complained of seeing everything tinted blue (cyanopsia). [24] This cyanopsia can be explained because sildenafil, while selective for PDE5, does have some affinity for PDE6, which is the phosphodiesterase found in the retina.
Patients thus taking the drug may experience colorvision abnormalities. Some complained of blurriness and loss of peripheral vision. In July 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated labeling for tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and sildenafil (Viagra) to reflect a small number of post-marketing reports of sudden vision loss, while acknowledging that "...it is not possible to determine whether these oral medicines for erectile dysfunction were the cause of the loss of eyesight or whether the problem is related to other factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or to a combination of these problems. "[25] A careful review of pooled data from clinical trials containing well documented information about the dose and duration of exposure to the drug for a large number of patients, yields no evidence for an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or other adverse ocular events associated with PDE5 inhibitor use. Rare but serious adverse effects found through postmarketing surveillance include prolonged erections, severe low blood pressure, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ventricular arrhythmias, stroke, increased intraocular pressure, and sudden hearing loss. The 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in aviation went to Patricia V. Agostino, Santiago A.
If you take sildenafil after you eat a high-fat meal, such as a burger and fries, it may take longer to start working. Your healthcare provider may recommend limiting or avoiding grapefruit while taking sildenafil. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise sildenafil levels in your body, which can increase the risk of side effects. There are no known interactions between sildenafil and alcohol. Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking sildenafil. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken. This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with sildenafil. If you or someone else has used too much sildenafil, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222. For this use, sildenafil is used only when needed. Plano, and Diego A.
[8][10] Onset when taken orally is typically within twenty minutes and lasts for about two hours. Common side effects include headaches, heartburn, and flushed skin. [8] Caution is advised in those with cardiovascular disease. [8] Rare but serious side effects include vision problems, hearing loss, and prolonged erection (priapism) that can lead to damage to the penis. [8] Sildenafil should not be taken by people on nitric oxide donors such as nitroglycerin, as this may result in a serious drop in blood pressure.
Sildenafil acts by blocking phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that promotes breakdown of cGMP, which regulates blood flow in the penis. [8] It requires sexual arousal to work, and does not by itself cause or increase sexual arousal. [8] It also results in dilation of the blood vessels in the lungs. Pfizer originally discovered the medication in 1989 while looking for a treatment for angina. [11] It was approved for medical use in the United States and in the European Union in 1998. Golombek of Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina, for their discovery that sildenafil helps treat jet lag recovery in hamsters.