Sildenafil (Viagra) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to get or keep an erection) in men. Sildenafil is used to improve the ability to exercise in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Children should not usually take sildenafil, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that sildenafil is the best medication to treat a child’s condition. Sildenafil citrate is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Sildenafil tablets treats erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This increased blood flow can cause an erection. Sildenafil treats PAH by relaxing the blood vessels in the lungs to allow blood to flow easily. If you are taking sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, you should know that it does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire. Sildenafil citrate tablets does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

How to use?

Sildenafil comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take sildenafil as needed before sexual activity. The best time to take sildenafil is about 1 hour before sexual activity, but you can take the medication any time from 4 hours to 30 minutes before sexual activity. Sildenafil 100mg usually should not be taken more than once every 24 hours. If you have certain health conditions or are taking certain medications, your doctor may tell you to take sildenafil less often. You can take sildenafil with or without food. However, if you take sildenafil with a high-fat meal, it will take longer for the medication to start to work. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of sildenafil and increase or decrease your dose depending on your response to the medication. Tell your doctor if sildenafil citrate is not working well or if you are experiencing side effects.

Precautions:

Before taking sildenafil, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sildenafil, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in sildenafil products. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. do not take sildenafil if you are taking or have recently taken riociguat (Adempas) or nitrates. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with sildenafil, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD; blockage of veins in the lungs); a stomach ulcer; heart, kidney, or liver disease; a heart attack; an irregular heartbeat; a stroke; chest pain; high or low blood pressure; high cholesterol; a bleeding disorder; blood circulation problems;blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia (a disease of the red blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells), or leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells); conditions affecting the shape of the penis (e.g., angulation, cavernosal fibrosis, or Peyronie’s disease); or diabetes. Also tell your doctor if you or any of your family members have or have ever had an eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited eye condition that causes loss of vision) or if you have ever had sudden severe vision loss, especially if you were told that the vision loss was caused by a blockage of blood flow to the nerves that help you see. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking sildenafil. if you are taking sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, tell your doctor if you have ever been advised by a healthcare professional to avoid sexual activity for medical reasons or if you have ever experienced chest pain during sexual activity. Sexual activity may be a strain on your heart, especially if you have heart disease. If you experience chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sexual activity, call your doctor immediately and avoid sexual activity until your doctor tells you otherwise.

Side Effects:

Sildenafil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache heartburn diarrhea flushing (feeling of warmth) nosebleeds difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs muscle aches changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green) sensitivity to light Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: sudden severe loss of vision (see below for more information) blurred vision sudden decrease or loss of hearing ringing in ears dizziness or lightheadedness fainting chest pain worsening shortness of breath erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours itching or burning during urination rash Some patients experienced a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after they took sildenafil or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. The vision loss was permanent in some cases.