Sildenafil Information

This drug is used to increase blood flow to certain parts of the body and as a muscle relaxant. Also marketed as Viagra, it treats impotence or erectile dysfunction in men. Revatio is another brand of sildenafil used to improve exercise capacity and treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in both men and women.

You should not take sildenafil if you are taking any type of nitrate drug for heart problems or chest pain, including the following:

• Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid)
• Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket)
• Isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate)
• Recreational drugs such as nitrite (“poppers”) or amyl nitrate

If you take sildenafil in combination with a nitrate medicine, you may end up suffering a heart attack, stroke or fainting caused by a serious drop in blood pressure. A small percentage of individuals have experienced a sudden loss of eyesight caused by decreased blood flow to the eye’s optic nerve. It hasn’t been proven that sildenafil is the cause of this vision loss. Individuals who are older than 50, smokers or who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or certain pre-existing eye problems are more likely to experience a sudden vision loss after taking sildenafil.

If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to talk to your doctor before taking sildenafil:

• Heart rhythm problems
• Heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Liver disease
• High or low blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Blood cell disorder such as leukemia, sickle cell anemia or multiple myeloma
• Stomach ulcer
• Retinitis pigmentosa (inherited eye condition)
• Bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
• Physical deformity of the penis such as Peyronie's disease
• Recent history (within past 6 months) of a stoke, heart rhythm disorder or heart attack)
• Inability to engage in sexual intercourse for health reasons

If you suffer from any of the above conditions, you may require a dosage adjustment or special tests before taking sildenafil or you may not be recommended to take the drug. Although this medication is not proven to be harmful to unborn babies, you should not take sildenafil if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during treatment. It hasn’t been determined if sildenafil may harm a nursing baby by passing into the breast milk. If you’re breast feeding, make sure to discuss taking sildenafil with your doctor.

You should take each dose of sildenafil with a full glass of water and avoid eating high-fat foods beforehand as it may delay the amount of time required for the drug to take effect. Generally, you should take sildenafil 30 to 90 minutes before engaging in sexual activity. When combined with sexual stimulation, the drug can help men achieve an erection. Never take sildenafil more than once daily and wait 24 hours before taking another dose. You should also store the medication at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

Because you only take sildenafil or Viagra when needed, you aren’t likely to miss a dose. However, if you miss taking Revatio, you should take the missed dose immediately when you remember. If you are due shortly for your next dose, skip your missed dose and take the medication at your next scheduled time period. Never take extra medication to make up for a missed dose.

If you believe you may have taken too much sildenafil, seek medical attention immediately. Possible symptoms of a sildenafil overdose include fainting, a feeling of light-headedness, nausea, chest pain or an irregular heartbeat.

You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking sildenafil because it can increase some of the side effects of the drug. You should also avoid taking other medications used to treat impotence such as yohimbine (Yodoxin, Yocon) or alprostadil (Muse, Edex, Caverject).

Sildenafil can cause possible serious side effects. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Numbness, tingling or pain in your neck, arms, jaw or chest during sexual activity
• Sudden vision loss or vision changes
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the throat, tongue, face or lips, difficulty breathing or hives
• Swelling of your anklets, feet or hands
• A painful erection or one that lasts 4 hours or longer
• Headaches
• Back pain
• Upset stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Chest pain or a heavy, painful feeling spreading to your shoulder or arm
• Fainting or a feeling of light-headedness

If you experience less serious side effects such as a stuffy nose or redness or warmth in your chest, neck or face, you can continue taking sildenafil. However, you should consult with your doctor. If you experience any unusual or bothersome symptoms not listed, discuss them with your doctor.

If you are taking any of the following medications, you should avoid taking sildenafil:

• Alpha blockers used to treat an enlarged prostate or high blood pressure (Don’t take doses of sildenafil higher than 25 mg within 4 hours of taking alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (UroXatral®), terazosin (Hytrin®), prazosin (Minipress®) or doxazosin (Cardura®)
• Nitroglycerin-type drugs used to treat chest or heart pain such as nitroglycerin, amyl nitrite, isosorbide mononitrate or isosorbide dinitrate

Sildenafil may also cause interactions with any of the following medications:

• Certain drugs used to treat AIDS or HIV infections
• Certain drugs such as ketoconazole, fluconazole and voriconazole used to treat yeast or fungal infections
• Certain drugs such as fluvoxamine, nefazodone and fluoxetine used to treat anxiety, depression or other mood problems
• Cimetidine
• Mibefradil
• Erythromycin
• Cisapride
• Nitroprusside
• Grapefruit juice
• Rifampin
• Verapamil
• Diltiazem
• Clarithromycin
• Quinidine
• Rifabutin
• Certain drugs such as phenytoin, Phenobarbital and carbamazepine used to treat seizures

What is the shelf life of the pills?

The expiry date is listed on each blister. The date will vary depending on the particular batch. The shelf life is 2 years from the manufacturing date and varies depending on when the pills were manufactured.