Sildenafil is essentially the exact same medication as Viagra, which was the first major erectile dysfunction ED medication on the market and is made by Pfizer Inc. Once other companies could legally sell their own sildenafil tablets in , the options for consumers quickly expanded. The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer discovered the erectile dysfunction benefits of sildenafil by accident.
Researchers were testing the medication to treat high blood pressure and angina — chest pain associated with heart disease.
They found that the medication was especially effective at inducing erections. The Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra in , making it the first oral drug specifically prescribed for erectile dysfunction.
Pfizer was also the first to introduce generic Viagra through a subsidiary called Greenstone. Other companies around the world also manufacture sildenafil pills.
Sildenafil is best known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, the inability to get or keep an erection. Sildenafil should be taken prior to intercourse with the understanding that its effects last only a few hours. Sildenafil is also approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension PH — elevated blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs and in the right side of the heart. Revatio is the brand name of sildenafil prescribed for PH. Generic sildenafil is always sold as sildenafil. There are currently no other brand names for the drug, aside from Viagra and Revatio.
The United Kingdom allows for over-the-counter sales of the drug, in part to discourage the market for fake sildenafil, one of the most commonly counterfeited drugs in the world. While generic sildenafil and Viagra are equally safe and effective, there is one key difference between the medications: cost. It treats ED symptoms. It just helps control blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
Sildenafil is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 PDE5 inhibitors. These drugs restrict the action of phosphodiesterase enzymes PDEs , which degrade cGMP, a type of molecule that relaxes smooth muscle tissue in the body, such as those in the blood vessels that allow the penis to become erect. Taking sildenafil improves circulation by helping the arteries relax enough to fill more easily with blood. Sildenafil is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, reaching maximum concentration in about an hour for most users.
Sexual stimulation is still required. However, for most healthy people, sildenafil can make an erection easier to achieve. A 4-year study found that sildenafil is generally safe to use over the long-term. Sildenafil is available as a tablet in a range of doses. Like Viagra, generic sildenafil is sold in milligram mg , mg, mg, and mg tablets. The mg dose is standard, though some doctors start patients on a mg dose to see if that is sufficient.
For ED, sildenafil is taken on an as-needed basis, ideally an hour before intercourse. The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. What if I forget to take it? Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Taking too much sildenafil by accident can cause unpleasant side effects, such as: headaches dizziness indigestion blocked nose altered vision Talk to your doctor if you have taken too much sildenafil and you're worried about these side effects.
Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. If you get these side effects, keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: headaches feeling sick hot flushes, including facial flushing indigestion a colour tinge to your vision or blurred vision stuffy nose dizziness Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.
Stop taking sildenafil and call a doctor straight away if you get : chest pains - if this happens during or after sex, get into a semi-sitting position and try to relax; do not use nitrates to treat your chest pain prolonged and sometimes painful erections - if you have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, contact a doctor immediately a sudden decrease or loss of vision a serious skin reaction - symptoms may include fever, severe peeling and swelling of the skin, blistering of the mouth, genitals and around the eyes seizures Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to sildenafil.
These are not all the side effects of sildenafil. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. Sildenafil is not recommended in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Some medicines do not mix well with sildenafil. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start sildenafil : nitrates for chest pain riociguat for pulmonary hypertension recreational drugs called poppers, such as amyl nitrite Mixing sildenafil with herbal remedies and supplements Some complementary therapies may have ingredients that could interfere with sildenafil and cause side effects.
Important Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. How does sildenafil work? Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 PDE5 inhibitors. This increases the blood supply to the lungs and reduces the workload of the heart. How well does it work for erection problems? Sildenafil works well for erectile dysfunction.
In general, at least two-thirds of men say they have harder erections after taking it. If sildenafil does not work for you, it may be because: you have not waited long enough after taking it before trying to have sex you have waited too long after taking it to have sex the dose is not high enough you're not sexually aroused enough.
How long does it take to work? Sildenafil usually starts to work within 30 to 60 minutes. It's triggered by sexual stimulation, so you need to be aroused for it to work.
How long will it work for? You should be able to get an erection at any time between 1 and 4 hours after taking sildenafil. Your erection should go away after you have had sex. Can I take it as often as I want?
If you're taking sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, do not take it more than once a day. Is it safe to take it for a long time? Sildenafil is safe to take for a long time. There do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking it for many months and years. Are there any other medicines that can improve erections? If sildenafil does not work, there are other tablets you could try that work in a similar way, such as: tadalafil Cialis - can be taken up to 36 hours before sex avanafil Spedra - can be taken up to around 4 hours before sex vardenafil Levitra - can be taken up to around 4 hours before sex You could also try a medicine called alprostadil.
Alprostadil comes as: an injection directly into your penis a small pellet placed inside your urethra the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the tip of your penis If you cannot get erections because of a hormonal problem, your GP may refer you to an endocrinologist who specialises in the treatment of hormonal problems. Are there other treatments for erectile dysfunction? Other treatments for erectile dysfunction include: a vacuum pump psychological treatments penile implants pelvic floor muscle exercises Some complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, have claimed to treat erectile dysfunction.
Is there a herbal Viagra? There are lots of treatments that claim to be a "herbal Viagra". In fact, there's no such thing. A herbal Viagra has never been approved as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Plus, these treatments may be fake or unsafe. Can women use it? Women can use sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension. There's no good evidence that sildenafil works for women with sexual problems. Viagra works by inhibiting blocking the action of a certain enzyme in your body. If you have any bleeding problems, talk with your doctor about whether Viagra is safe for you. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Viagra.
However, the drug can help you to get and keep an erection. And studies have shown that Viagra can increase satisfaction from sex.
This may temporarily increase the size of your penis, until the erection goes away. The drug does have a few serious side effects, but these rarely occur. However, Viagra may not be safe to use if you have certain medical conditions, including heart disease. If this is the case, talk with your doctor about whether Viagra is safe for you.
Just be aware that taking the drug could cause your blood pressure to be lowered. These side effects can include dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting. But for other people, it may take a few times of trying the drug to get the desired effect. They may increase your dose of the drug or recommend that you try a different medication. It might. This drug is only approved to be taken by mouth. In comparison, in studies of men with ED due to:.
Yes, it can be used for this purpose. Yes, it could. In several studies , Viagra has been looked at as a possible treatment for premature ejaculation PE. With PE, you ejaculate before you want to. Some studies found that Viagra can help men with PE to delay ejaculation longer than they could without treatment. More research is needed to know for sure whether or not Viagra is effective for treating PE. However, Viagra is recommended in similar guidelines from the European Association of Urology.
Viagra is approved for use in males ages 18 years and older. This is because certain side effects of Viagra may be worsened by alcohol. This includes such side effects as headaches, flushing, and dizziness. Viagra can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
Below are lists of medications that can interact with Viagra. Before taking Viagra, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use.
Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This includes prescription medications, such as:. Taking Viagra with other ED medications increases your risk of certain side effects, such as low blood pressure and priapism. This includes certain prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin , used to treat angina a type of chest pain. It also includes certain illicit drugs called poppers , such as amyl nitrate.
Taking Viagra with nitrates can cause a dangerous drop in your blood pressure that can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Taking Viagra with these medications can cause your blood pressure to drop too low. Viagra can sometimes cause low blood pressure. Taking Viagra with drugs used to treat high blood pressure can cause your blood pressure to drop even lower. It could even make you faint.
If you take one of the drugs listed above, tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, or faint after taking Viagra. Poppers contain nitrate drugs such as amyl nitrate , alkyl nitrate, and butyl nitrate. Taking Viagra with poppers can cause a dangerous drop in your blood pressure that can lead to heart attack or stroke.
These drugs are called alpha-blockers. Taking Viagra with alpha-blockers can cause your blood pressure to drop even lower. This could make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, or even cause you to faint. And if you take one of the drugs listed above, tell your doctor if you feel very dizzy, lightheaded, or faint after taking Viagra. Adderall , which contains amphetamine salts, is approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Adderall has stimulant effects in your body, and it could cause serious heart-related side effects.
Viagra, on the other hand, may cause low blood pressure. Xanax , which is a benzodiazepine, contains the active drug alprazolam. Xanax can sometimes cause low blood pressure , dizziness, and fainting. Viagra may also lower your blood pressure. This is particularly true for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , such as sertraline Zoloft. If you have questions about whether you can take Viagra with an antidepressant, talk with your doctor.
Taking Viagra with certain antimicrobials drugs used to treat infection can slow the breakdown of Viagra in your body. This can cause Viagra to build up inside your body, which may increase your risk of side effects from the drug.
If you take one of the drugs listed above, your doctor will recommend you take a starting dose of 25 mg for Viagra. This is lower than the typical starting dose of Viagra. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Viagra. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Viagra, talk with your doctor.
Grapefruit juice can affect the levels of some medications in your body. One small study was done in This could possibly increase the risk of certain side effects such as headaches, flushing, or dizziness.
They can recommend whether this is safe for you to do. But Viagra can actually be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity. You can take Viagra either with or without food.
But if you take it with a meal, the drug may take about an hour longer than usual to start working. This is especially the case if you eat a high-fat meal, such as a cheeseburger with fries. Just be aware that it might take a bit longer for the drug to work.
And Viagra tablets are meant to be swallowed whole. If you have trouble swallowing Viagra tablets, you might find it easier to swallow the tablet with different drinks, such as water, juice, or milk. Or talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how else you can take the drug. If you want to crush, split, or chew Viagra tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist if this is safe to do. Viagra may also be used off-label for other conditions. ED can be caused by several different factors. These include psychological or emotional problems, such as:.
Viagra increases blood flow to your penis, which helps you have and maintain an erection. These success rates varied depending on the cause of their ED and the dosage of Viagra being used. Some studies looked at the effect of different doses of Viagra. These studies, which involved 1, men, lasted up to 6 months. Improved erections were reported in:.
For example, one study specifically looked at men with ED that was related to complications of diabetes. One study only involved men with ED that resulted from a spinal cord injury. In addition, men whose ED had psychological causes were specifically looked at as part of one study.
In addition to the use described above, Viagra may be used off-label. Below is an example of an off-label use for Viagra. These narrowed blood vessels restrict blood supply to your fingers or toes. This can cause your fingers and toes to look white and feel cold, painful, or numb. Episodes of spasm can be triggered by cold temperatures or emotional stress. PDE5 inhibitors describes a certain class of drugs.
Medications in the same class of drugs work in a similar way inside your body. And the drugs also decreased how long the episodes lasted. Viagra is only approved for use in adult males with ED. But you may have questions about whether Viagra can be used in women. Below, we provide answers to these questions. One review of studies showed that current research has conflicting results on how Viagra affects women. For example, in women with female sexual arousal disorder , the review showed the following findings:.
In men, Viagra improves blood flow to their penis by blocking the action of a chemical called PDE5. This chemical is also found in the vagina and the clitoris of women. So in theory, if a woman takes Viagra, it could increase blood flow to her genitals. This could explain why Viagra has less of a physical effect in women than it does in men. And keep in mind that sexual problems in women often have a lot to do with reduced sexual desire and arousal. Viagra is unlikely to address these issues.
Below, we describe the condition Addyi is approved to treat and how the drug works. Addyi contains the active drug flibanserin. The condition can have various physical or psychological causes.
Instead, Addyi affects the activity of certain neurotransmitters that are involved in sexual desire and arousal. Neurotransmitters are chemicals found in your brain. The neurotransmitters affected by Addyi include dopamine , noradrenaline, and serotonin. For some women with HDSS, Addyi can improve sexual desire and increase the number of sexually satisfying events. For example, in clinical studies , treatment with Addyi was compared with that of a placebo no active drug.
When you get Viagra from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.
How long a medication remains good also called shelf-life can depend on many factors. These factors include how and where you store the medication.
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