Sildenafil 100 mg (Viagra) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to achieve or maintain an erection) in men. Sildenafil 100 mg (Revatio) is used to improve exercise capacity in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; pressure in the vessels that carry blood to the lungs and cause shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue). Sildenafil 100 mg is not typically taken by children, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that Sildenafil 100 mg (Revatio) is the best medicine to treat a child’s illness.
Condition
Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors.
Sildenafil 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 more easily. If you are taking sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, you should know that it does not cure erectile dysfunction or that sexual activity increases desire. Sildenafil does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
How Should This Medicine Be Used?
Sildenafil is available as a tablet and as a suspension (liquid; Revatio only) to take by mouth. If you are taking sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, follow your doctor’s instructions and the guidelines in this paragraph. Sildenafil as needed before sexual activity. The best time to take Sildenafil is about 1 hour before sexual activity, but you can take the drug anytime between 4 hours and 30 minutes before sexual activity.
Sildenafil 100 mg should not normally be taken more than once every 24 hours. If you have certain medical 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 drug to work.
If you are taking sildenafil to treat PAH, follow your doctor’s orders and the guidelines in this paragraph. You will likely take Sildenafil 100 mg three times a day with or without food. Take sildenafil around the same time each day and space your doses 4 to 6 hours apart. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part that you don’t understand. Take Sildenafil exactly as directed.
Do not take more, less, or more often than prescribed by your doctor. Before each use, shake the liquid well for 10 seconds to mix the medication evenly. Use the oral syringe that came with your medication to measure and take your dose. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use and clean the oral syringe. Do not mix the liquid with other medicines and do not add anything for taste.
Other Uses Of This Medicine
This medicine is sometimes prescribed for other uses; Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What Special Precautions Should Be Taken?
Before taking sildenafil, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sildenafil, other medications, or any ingredient in sildenafil products. Ask your pharmacist for a list of ingredients. Do not take sildenafil if you are allergic to it.
If you are a woman taking sildenafil to treat PAH, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking sildenafil, contact your doctor. For surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking sildenafil.
Have You Ever Had Chest Pains During Sexual Activity?
Sexual activity can put a strain on your heart, especially if you have heart disease. If you experience chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex, call your doctor right away and avoid sexual activity until your doctor tells you otherwise. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking sildenafil. If you ever need emergency medical treatment for a heart problem, your doctor needs to know when you last took Sildenafil 100 mg
What Are The Special Dietary Requirements?
Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication. What to do if a dose is missed? as needed, not on a regular dosing schedule. If you are taking sildenafil for PAH, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose if you have forgotten the previous one.
What Side Effects Can This Medication Cause?
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
If you experience sudden vision loss while taking Sildenafil 100 mg, contact your doctor immediately. Do not take any additional doses of Sildenafil 100 mg or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you have spoken to your doctor.
There have been reports of heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeats, bleeding in the brain or lungs, high blood pressure, and sudden death in men taking Sildenafil 100 mg for erectile dysfunction. Most, but not all, of these people had heart problems before taking Sildenafil 100 mg. It is not known whether these events were caused by Sildenafil 100 mg, sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these and other causes. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking Sildenafil 100 mg.
