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Brand name: Sildenafil Soft tabs
What is the most important information I should know about sildenafil?
- Do not take sildenafil ifyou are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Thisincludes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, andothers), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), andisosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found insome recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”).Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease inblood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
- If you become dizzy ornauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck,or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. Youcould be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.
- Do not take sildenafil morethan once a day. Allow 24 hours to pass between doses.
- Contact your doctor or seekemergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longerthan 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.
- A small number of patientshave had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking sildenafil. This type ofvision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of theeye. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual cause of such visionloss. Sudden vision loss with sildenafil use has occurred most often inpeople with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, highcholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smokeor are over 50 years old.
- Stop using sildenafil andget emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.
What is sildenafil?
- Sildenafil relaxes musclesand increases blood flow to particular areas of the body.
- Sildenafil is used to treaterectile dysfunction (impotence) in men. Another brand of sildenafil isRevatio, which is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension andimprove exercise capacity in men and women.
- Sildenafil may also be usedfor purposes other than those listed here.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sildenafil?
- Do not take sildenafil ifyou are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Thisincludes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, andothers), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), andisosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found insome recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”).Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease inblood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
- A small number of patientshave had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking sildenafil. This type ofvision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of theeye. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual cause of such visionloss. Sudden vision loss with sildenafil use has occurred most often inpeople with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, highcholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smokeor are over 50 years old.
- Before taking sildenafil,tell your doctor if you have:
- heart disease or heart rhythm problems;
- a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a heart attack, stroke, or heart rhythm disorder;
- congestive heart failure;
- high or low blood pressure;
- coronary artery disease;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;
- a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
- a stomach ulcer;
- retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);
- a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease); or
- if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.
- If you have any of theseconditions, you may not be able to use sildenafil or you may need a dosageadjustment or special tests during treatment.
- FDA pregnancy category B:This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do notuse sildenafil without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan tobecome pregnant during treatment.
- It is not known ifsildenafil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Donot use this medication without telling your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby.
How should I take sildenafil?
- Take sildenafil exactly asit was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longerthan recommended by your doctor.
- Revatio is usually taken threetimes each day, about 4 to 6 hours apart.
- Viagra is usually takenonly when needed, 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity. You maytake it up to 4 hours before sexual activity. Do not take Viagra more thanonce per day.
- Viagra can help you have anerection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur justby taking a pill. Follow your doctor's instructions.
- If you become dizzy ornauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck,or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. Youcould be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.
- Store this medication atroom temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Viagra is used as needed,so you are not likely to miss a dose.
- If you miss a dose ofRevatio, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almosttime for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at thenext regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to makeup the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medicalattention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptomsof a sildenafil overdose may include chest pain, nausea, irregularheartbeat, and feeling light-headed or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking sildenafil?
- Avoid drinking alcohol,which can increase some of the side effects of sildenafil.
- Avoid using other medicinesto treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) oryohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), without first talking to your doctor.
What are the possible side effects of sildenafil?
- If you become dizzy ornauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck,or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. Youcould be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.
- Stop using sildenafil andget emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.
- Get emergency medical helpif you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives;difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Stop using sildenafil andcall your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
- irregular heartbeat;
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
- shortness of breath;
- vision changes;
- feeling light-headed, fainting; or
- penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.
- Continue taking sildenafiland talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious sideeffects:
- warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest;
- stuffy nose;
- headache;
- upset stomach; or
- back pain.
- Side effects other thanthose listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any sideeffect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect sildenafil?
- Do not take sildenafil ifyou are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems,including nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid,Minitran, Deponit, Transderm-Nitro), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR,Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket),or recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”).
- Before taking sildenafil,tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:
- bosentan (Tracleer);
- cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
- an antibiotic such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
- doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), Terazosin (Hytrin);
- HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), tipranavir (Aptivus), darunavir (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), lopinavir/ ritonavir (Kaletra), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), ritonavir (Norvir), atazanavir (Reyataz), or nelfinavir (Viracept);
- an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
- carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), or phenytoin (Dilantin); or
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin).
- If you are using any ofthese drugs, you may not be able to take sildenafil, or you may needdosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
- There may be other drugsnot listed that can affect sildenafil. Tell your doctor about all theprescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includesvitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by otherdoctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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