What is the reason this medicine is recommended?
Sildenafil (Viagra) helps treat the problem of erectile dysfunction (impotence or inability to obtain or maintain an erection) in males. Sildenafil (Revatio) is used to enhance the ability to exercise in people suffering from the condition of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH or elevated blood pressure within the blood vessels that transport air to the lungs that cause dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue). Children shouldn’t normally take sildenafil. However, in some instances, doctors may determine to prescribe sildenafil (Revatio) as the most effective medicine to treat the child’s illness. Sildenafil is part of a class of medications known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Sildenafil helps treat erectile dysfunction by enhancing blood flow to the penis in the course of sexual stimulation. This increased blood flow could result in a sexual erection. Sildenafil helps treat PAH by relaxing veins in the lung, allowing blood to flow more easily.
If you’re taking sildenafil for the treatment of Erectile dysfunction, it is important to be aware that it doesn’t solve erectile dysfunction and does not increase the desire to sexually. Sildenafil doesn’t prevent pregnancy or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases like human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).
What is the best way for this medication to be employed?
Sildenafil is available as a tablet and suspension (liquid Revatio is the only) one to take orally.
If you’re taking sildenafil for the treatment of Erectile dysfunction, you must follow your doctor’s instructions and guidelines provided in this paragraph. Sildenafil is taken in the order that you require before sexual activities. The most effective moment to start taking sildenafil is approximately 1 hour before sexual activity, however, you may take the drug anytime from four hours up to thirty minutes before sexual activities. Sildenafil generally should not be taken more than one time per day for 24 hours. If you have particular medical conditions or take certain medications your physician may advise you to stop taking sildenafil more frequently. Sildenafil can be taken either with or without meals. But, if you consume sildenafil in conjunction with a high-fat diet it may be longer before the medicine begins to take effect.
If you’re taking sildenafil for the treatment of PAH be sure to adhere to the instructions of your physician as well as the guidelines contained in this paragraph. You will likely take sildenafil 3 times per day whether or not you eat it. Sildenafil is taken at the same time each day. Space your doses between 4 and 6 hours between each dose.
Follow the instructions on your prescription label attentively Ask your physician or pharmacist to clarify any portion you are unsure of. Sildenafil is taken exactly as it’s prescribed. Don’t take less or more of it, or take it more often than is prescribed by your physician.
Shake the liquid vigorously for 10 seconds before every use to ensure that the medication is evenly mixed. Utilize the oral syringe that comes in your prescription to determine and then take your dosage. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer to make use of and wash the syringe. Don’t mix the liquid with other medicines or add any flavoring to the medicine.
If you’re taking sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction The doctor you consult with will likely begin you on a standard dosage of sildenafil. They will then reduce or increase your dosage on your reaction to the drug. Inform your doctor when sildenafil is not working for you or if you’re experiencing any adverse reactions.
If you’re taking sildenafil to treat PAH it is important to be aware that sildenafil can control PAH but doesn’t eliminate it. Keep taking sildenafil even if you feel good. Don’t discontinue taking sildenafil before talking with your physician.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for copy detail of the manufacturer for the patient.
Additional uses for this medication
The medication may be used for different purposes consult your doctor or pharmacist for further information.
What are the special precautions that should I take?
before taking sildenafil,
- Inform your physician and pharmacist if you are an allergic person to sildenafil or any other medication as well as any components that are in the sildenafil product. Request your pharmacist’s details of ingredients.
- Don’t take sildenafil when you’re taking or have recently taken Riociguat (Adempas) or Nitrates (medications to treat chest pain) like isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) and Nitroglycerin (Minitran, Nitro-Dur Nitromist, Nitrostat, others). Nitrates are available as tablets and under-the-tongue (under the tongue) tablets sprays, patches, pastes, and Ointments. Talk to your doctor if aren’t sure if some of your medicines contain Nitrates.
- Don’t take street drugs that contain nitrates, like amyl nitrate or butyl nitrate (‘poppers’) while taking sildenafil.
- Inform your physician and pharmacist about the prescription and nonprescription medicines or vitamins you are taking and what nutritional supplements you’re taking or intend to use. Make sure to include all of them: Alpha blockers, such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral) or Doxazosin (Cardura) prazosin (Minipress) and Tamsulosin (Flomax in Jalyn) and terazosin, as well as amlodipine (Norvasc in Amturnide in Tekamlo) and certain antifungals like itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral) and anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain barbiturates like butalbital (in Butapap, in Fioricet and in Fiorinal, and others) as well as secobarbital (Seconal) beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin in Tenoretic) and labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol) as well as the nadolol (Corgard and Corzide) as well as propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal LA, InnoPran) bosentan (Tracleer) as well as cimetidine Efavirenz (Sustiva and Atripla) and Erythromycin (E.E.S. E-Mycin, Erythrocin); HIV protease inhibitors such as amprenavir (Agenerase not available from the U.S.), atazanavir (Reyataz in Evotaz) darunavir (Prezista in Prezcobix) fosamprenavir (Lexiva) Indinavir (Crixivan) as well as the lopinavir (in the Kaletra), Nelfinavir (Viracept), Ritonavir (Norvir in Kaletra) as well as Saquinavir (Invirase) along with tipranavir (Aptivus) (Aptivus); the drug nevirapine (Viramune) Other medications or devices used to treat Erectile dysfunction; medicines that treat hypertension; specific medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol Epitol Tegretol, among other) Phenobarbital, the phenytoin (Dilantin Phenytek, Dilantin) and the drug rifabutin (Mycobutin) and rifampin (Rifadin Rimactane, the form of Rifater, Rifamate). Your doctor might have to alter the doses of your medication or observe closely for any effects of your medications. Other medications can interfere with sildenafil. Therefore, make sure you inform your physician about every one of the medicines you take regardless of whether they don’t appear on this list.
- inform your physician of the herbs you’re using or planning to take, including St. John’s wort.
- Inform your physician if you smoke, if you’ve had an erection that lasts for more than an hour, and if you’ve recently experienced a loss of a significant amount of fluids in your body (dehydration). This could happen if you’re sick with diarrhea, fever, or vomiting; sweat frequently or do not drink enough fluids. Inform your doctor if you suffer from or have had pulmonary venous-occlusive disorder (PVOD which is a condition that causes blockage of veins in the lung) as well as stomach ulcers or heart, kidney, or liver disease; heart attack, an irregular heartbeat, stroke, or chest pains; low or high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol; bleeding problem; blood circulation issues; blood cell issues, such as sickle cell anemia (a condition that affects the blood vessels) or multi myeloma (cancer in the cells of plasma) also known as leukemia (cancer of white blood cells) and conditions that affect the penis’s shape (e.g. the angulation process or cavernosal fibrosis, also known as Peyronie’s Disease) or diabetes. Tell your doctor if any members of your family are suffering from or have had an eye disorder, like retinitis pigmentosa (an eye disease that is inherited and causes vision loss) or if you’ve suffered a sudden, severe vision loss, particularly when you were told the loss of vision resulted from an obstruction that impedes blood flow towards nerves that aid in seeing.
- If you’re a woman and taking sildenafil for the treatment of PAH, notify your doctor if you’re expecting, planning to be pregnant, or nursing. If you fall pregnant while you are taking sildenafil contact your physician.
- If you are undergoing procedures, including dental surgeries be sure to inform your dentist or doctor about the sildenafil you’re using.
- If you’re taking sildenafil for treating erectile dysfunction inform your doctor whether you’ve ever received advice from a medical specialist to refrain from sexual activity because of medical reasons, or if you’ve felt chest pains while engaging in sexual activity. Sexual activity can put stressing your heart, particularly in the case of heart disease. If you feel chest pain nausea, dizziness, or dizziness when you are sexually active, contact your doctor right away. Avoid any sexual activity until your doctor informs you otherwise.
- inform all of your healthcare providers that you’re taking sildenafil. If you ever require urgent medical care due to a heart issue or other medical issue, the doctors who are treating you must be aware of the date you last used sildenafil.
What specific dietary requirements should I be following?
Discuss with your physician about drinking grapefruit juice and eating grapefruit juice when you are taking this medication.
What can I do if I have forgotten the dose?
What adverse effects could this medication trigger?
Sildenafil may cause side effects. Consult your physician when one of the following symptoms appears serious or don’t go without treatment:
- headache
- heartburn
- diarrhea
- Flushing (feeling warm)
- nosebleeds
- difficulties getting to sleep or difficulty staying awake
- burning, numbness, or tingling sensations in the arms hands, feet, or legs
- Muscle aches
- Color vision changes (seeing blue tinges on objects or having trouble discerning the distinction between green and blue)
- The sensitivity of the skin to light
Certain side effects may be severe. If you notice any of the symptoms listed below, contact your doctor right away:
- sudden and severe loss of vision (see below for further details)
- blurred vision
- sudden loss or decrease in hearing
- Ears ringing
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- fainting
- chest pain
- more frequent breathlessness
- an erection that hurts or lasts for more than 4 hours
- burning or itching after itching or burning during
- Rash
Certain patients had an abrupt loss of all or all their vision after they used sildenafil or other medicines which are identical to sildenafil. The vision loss was lasting in some instances. It is unclear whether the loss of vision resulting from the medication. If you notice a sudden loss of vision when you’re taking sildenafil, consult your physician immediately. Don’t take any further doses of sildenafil, or similar medicines like tadalafil (Cialis) or Vardenafil (Levitra) up to the time you speak to your physician.
There were reports of heart attacks and stroke, irregular heartbeat bleeding in the lungs or the brain and high blood pressure, and sudden death among people who were taking sildenafil to treat Erectile dysfunction. The majority, however, did not of them suffer from heart issues before taking sildenafil. It’s unclear if the causes were sildenafil or sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these or other causes. Talk with your physician about the dangers of taking sildenafil.
A few patients noticed an immediate loss or reduction of hearing following the use of sildenafil, or other drugs that have a similarity to sildenafil. The loss of hearing usually affected only one ear, and was not always improved after the medication was discontinued. It isn’t known whether the loss of hearing results from the medication. If you notice a rapid loss of your hearing usually with a ringing in your ears or dizziness, when you’re taking sildenafil contact your doctor right away. If you’re using sildenafil (Viagra) to treat erectile dysfunction and are experiencing erectile dysfunction, you should not take any additional amounts that contain sildenafil (Viagra) or similar medicines like the tadalafil (Cialis) as well as the vardenafil (Levitra) till you speak with your physician. If you’re using sildenafil (Revatio) to treat PAH, you should not stop taking the medication until you speak with your physician.
Sildenafil could cause other negative side negative effects. Consult your physician if you are experiencing any unusual symptoms during your use of this drug.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online.
What do I need to know about how to store and dispose of this medicine?
Store the medicine in the container that it came in, securely sealed, and away from the children’s reach. Keep the tablets at room temperature, and free of humidity and heat (not within bathrooms). Keep the suspension at ambient temperatures or inside a fridge, however, do not keep it frozen. Remove any suspension that isn’t used within 60 days.
It is crucial to keep all medications away from the children’s reach since numerous containers (such as daily pill minders, as well as drops for the eye patches, creams, or Inhalers) are not safe for children and children can open them with ease. To guard children against poisoning, make sure to lock the caps that protect you from poisoning and place the medication in a secure area one that is high and away, and out of their reach and view.
The medication that is not needed is best disposed of with special methods to make sure that pets, children, and others are not able to consume the drugs. However, you shouldn’t flush them into the drain. Instead, the most efficient way to get rid of the medication is to use a take-back program. Consult your pharmacist or call your local garbage/recycling department to find out about programs for take-back within your area.
In the event of an emergency or overdose
If the person has collapsed or suffered a seizure is having breathing problems or isn’t able to be re-awakened immediately dial emergency assistance.
What other details do I need to be aware of?
Always keep all appointments with your physician.
Don’t allow anyone else to use your medication. Talk to your doctor about any concerns regarding refilling your prescription.
It is crucial to keep a detailed record of all prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, along with all products, such as minerals, vitamins, and other dietary supplements. It is recommended to bring this list every when you see a doctor or are admitted to an inpatient hospital. This is also a crucial list to keep in the event of an emergency.