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    Viagra

    Sildenafil

    Sildenafil (sil DEN a fil) oral tablet is prescribed for erectile dysfunction (also called impotence). It’s a generic version of the brand-name drug Viagra. Sildenafil belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.

    Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD on April 20, 2023
    Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD

    Introduction

    This article describes sildenafil oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Below you’ll find coupon options for sildenafil.

    This article doesn’t describe or provide coupons for all forms and uses of sildenafil. To find out more about sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension, see this article.

    Side effects of sildenafil

    Sildenafil may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of sildenafil oral tablet and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age and overall health and any other medications you take.

    To learn more about sildenafil oral tablet’s side effects, see this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read the prescribing information for sildenafil oral tablet.

    Mild side effects

    More common mild side effects reported with sildenafil oral tablet are listed below.

    With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

    Sildenafil oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

    • back pain
    • dizziness
    • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
    • headache
    • indigestion (upset stomach)
    • muscle aches
    • nausea
    • skin rash
    • stuffy nose
    • temporary vision problems
    • mild allergic reaction*

    * For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for sildenafil” section below.

    Serious side effects

    Serious side effects of sildenafil oral tablet are listed below. With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common.

    If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

    Sildenafil oral tablet’s serious side effects include:

    * For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for sildenafil” section below.

    Common questions about sildenafil

    Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about sildenafil oral tablet.

    How does sildenafil compare with other similar drugs, such as tadalafil?

    Sildenafil oral tablet (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) belong to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Drugs that are PDE5 inhibitors have very similar side effects and warnings. But their dosages can be different.

    Doctors can prescribe either sildenafil oral tablet or tadalafil to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). You take sildenafil oral tablet as needed for ED. With tadalafil, you take it every day or as needed for ED. This is because sildenafil oral tablet will work for up to 4 hours, while tadalafil’s effects can last up to 36 hours.

    Both sildenafil oral tablet and tadalafil have other uses, in addition to treating ED. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out more about how these drugs compare.

    Is sildenafil used for sexual problems in females?

    No, sildenafil oral tablet isn’t approved for sexual problems in females.* The drug is approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult males.* (With ED, you have trouble getting or keeping an erection.)

    Females can also have problems with sexual function or desire, and treatments are available. Talk with your doctor about treatment options if you’re having these problems.

    * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” and “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

    How does sildenafil work? And how long does it take to start working?

    Sildenafil oral tablet works by relaxing blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. This causes more blood to flow to the penis. Increased blood flow is what improves the ability to get and keep an erection.

    Sildenafil oral tablet should start to work within about an hour of taking it. For some people, it starts to work within 30 minutes. The effect should last up to 4 hours in most cases. Do not take sildenafil tablet more than once per day.

    To learn more about what you can expect with sildenafil oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

    Does sildenafil cause long-term side effects?

    Long-term side effects aren’t common with sildenafil oral tablet. Most of sildenafil’s side effects should go away as the dose wears off. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who took the drug for a long time.

    However, in rare cases, certain serious side effects of sildenafil can continue after the drug is out of your system. Examples include priapism (long lasting erection) and optic nerve damage, which may lead to vision loss.

    Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects with sildenafil.

    Is there a best time of day to take sildenafil? What should I do if I miss a dose?

    No, there isn’t a recommended time of day to take sildenafil oral tablet. Your doctor will recommend you take it as needed for sexual activity. You should take it about an hour before sex. You may find that you can take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sex, depending on how your body responds.

    Since you’ll use sildenafil oral tablet as needed, you’ll only take it when you’re ready to have sex. You can take a dose as soon as you remember if you’re going to have sex. Try to keep sildenafil oral tablet on hand so you have it when you need it for this use.

    You should not take the drug more than once per day. Take sildenafil tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes.

    Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about when to take sildenafil.

    Can sildenafil tablets be crushed, split, or chewed?

    The drugmaker doesn’t give any advice about crushing, splitting, or chewing sildenafil oral tablet. To be sure, ask your pharmacist before crushing, splitting, or chewing sildenafil oral tablet.

    Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble swallowing tablets. If you feel like the drug isn’t working fast enough, you can ask your doctor whether there are other treatment options that might work faster.

    Note: Crushing, splitting, or chewing sildenafil oral tablet won’t make its effects happen faster.

    Dosage of sildenafil

    The dosage of sildenafil oral tablet your doctor prescribes may vary based on your condition and certain other factors. Talk with your doctor about the dosage you should take.

    Taking sildenafil

    Sildenafil oral tablet is swallowed.

    Your doctor will talk with you about how to take sildenafil oral tablet. They’ll explain how much to take and how often. Always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

    Sildenafil oral tablet can be taken with or without food. However, if you take the drug right after a high fat meal, it can take longer to work. An example of a high fat meal is a cheeseburger and french fries.

    See the “Common questions about sildenafil” section for information on missed doses and the best time to take this drug.

    Overdose of sildenafil

    You should not take more sildenafil than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to serious side effects or overdose.

    If you think you’ve taken too much sildenafil, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

    Uses of sildenafil

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as sildenafil for certain conditions. Approved uses for sildenafil oral tablet are described below.

    Use for erectile dysfunction

    Doctors may prescribe sildenafil oral tablet for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). (ED is also known as impotence.) It’s used for this purpose in adult males.* It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

    With ED, you have trouble getting or keeping an erection. Taking sildenafil oral tablet can help improve the ability to get and keep an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse.

    * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

    Sildenafil coupon

    You may be able to save money on your prescription for sildenafil oral tablet by using our Perks discount coupons. These can be found at the end of this article.

    If you have questions about how to pay for sildenafil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more about the cost of sildenafil in this article.

    Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

    Interactions of sildenafil

    For some medications, certain things may affect how the drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

    Before you take sildenafil, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. They can check for interactions these items may cause with sildenafil. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

    • prescription medications*
    • over-the-counter medications
    • vitamins, herbs, or supplements

    To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for sildenafil” section below.

    * Doctors will not prescribe sildenafil with nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) or isosorbide (Monoket). They also won’t prescribe sildenafil with guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat (Adempas) or vericiguat (Verquvo). For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

    Warnings for sildenafil

    Sildenafil should not be taken by certain people. And some other people should cautiously take this drug. Precautions for taking this drug are described below.

    Warnings

    Sildenafil could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether sildenafil oral tablet is a safe option for you.

    Tell your doctor about your overall health and any past health conditions before you take sildenafil oral tablet. Health conditions and other factors you and your doctor should discuss include:

    Allergic reaction

    Sildenafil can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

    If you’ve had an allergic reaction to sildenafil or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe sildenafil. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

    A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

    A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

    • swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
    • swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

    If you have an allergic reaction to sildenafil, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

    Pregnancy or breastfeeding and sildenafil

    Information about sildenafil and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

    Sildenafil and pregnancy

    It’s not known whether sildenafil is safe to take during pregnancy.

    The drug hasn’t been studied in pregnant people. This is because sildenafil oral tablet (the generic version of Viagra) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult males.*

    * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

    Sildenafil and breastfeeding

    It’s not known whether sildenafil is safe to take while breastfeeding.

    Sildenafil may pass into breast milk. But researchers haven’t studied how or if this affects a child who is breastfed. This is because sildenafil oral tablet (the generic version of Viagra) is used to treat ED in adult males.*

    * Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

    What to ask your doctor

    This article describes sildenafil oral tablet’s uses and dosage, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about sildenafil or would like more details about it.

    Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

    • Can sildenafil tablets expire?
    • How does sildenafil oral tablet compare to other drugs that treat erectile dysfunction?
    • What other options do I have if sildenafil oral tablet isn’t working?

    Article resources

    Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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    • 100mg
    • 4 Tablets

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    Name

    Sildenafil Tablets (Erectile Dysfunction)

    Pronunciation

    (sil DEN a fil)

    Brand Names: US

    Viagra

    What is this drug used for?

    It is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

    What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug?

    If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have a health problem called pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). If you use drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite. If you are taking any of these drugs: Isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, nitroglycerin, riociguat, or ritonavir. If you are taking any of these drugs: Itraconazole or ketoconazole. If you are taking another drug that has the same drug in it. If you are taking another drug like this one that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or high pressure in the lungs. If you have been told that you are not healthy enough to have sex. If you are a woman. This drug is not approved for use in women. If the patient is a child. This drug is not approved for use in children. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

    What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug?

    Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this drug affects you. To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs. Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. Rarely, certain side effects like abnormal heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, bleeding in the lungs, and very bad high blood pressure have happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Most of the time, these problems happened in people who had heart problems before taking this drug. It is not known if this drug caused these problems. If you have questions, talk with the doctor. A very bad eye problem has rarely happened with this drug. This may lead to a change in eyesight and sometimes loss of eyesight, which may not come back. Talk with the doctor. If you have sickle cell disease, talk with your doctor. If you are 65 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects. This drug does not stop the spread of diseases like HIV or hepatitis that are passed through having sex. Do not have any kind of sex without using a latex or polyurethane condom. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.

    What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

    WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Chest pain or pressure. Fast or abnormal heartbeat. Dizziness or passing out. Very upset stomach or throwing up. Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight. Change in eyesight. Loss of eyesight. Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or any other changes in hearing. Trouble breathing that is new or worse. Swelling in the arms or legs. Fever. Any unexplained bruising or bleeding. Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex.

    What are some other side effects of this drug?

    All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Flushing. Headache. Heartburn. Upset stomach. Runny or stuffy nose. Muscle pain. Back pain. These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

    How is this drug best taken?

    Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Take with or without food. Take this drug before sex when you were told by your doctor. If you are not sure when to take this drug, talk with your doctor. Do not use more than what your doctor told you to use. Do not use more often or longer than what you were told. Doing any of these things may raise the chance of very bad side effects.

    What do I do if I miss a dose?

    This drug is used on an as needed basis. Do not use more often than told by the doctor. Do not take 2 doses on the same day.

    How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

    Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

    General drug facts

    If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor. Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs. Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider. If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

    Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

    This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

    This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.