Sildenafil

Sildenafil dosage forms & strength

Sildenafil contraindications

• you are already taking medication for erectile dysfunction, which include any
• topical creams or ointments
• you have previously had an allergic reaction to it
• you have been advised by your doctor to avoid sexual activity
• you have recently been diagnosed with heart problems, have had a heart
• attack or a stroke
• you have low blood pressure or high blood pressure that is not well controlled
• you suffer from certain inherited eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa or
• optic neuropathy
• you have any disease or deformity of the penis (e.g. Peyronie’s Disease)
• you are a woman
• you are under 18 years of age

Sildenafil interactions

• medicines for chest pain (‘angina’) or heart failure, such as nitrates (e.g.glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide dinitrate) or nitric aciddonors (e.g. amyl nitrate or “poppers”, nicorandil, sodium nitroprusside).Sildenafil can cause a substantial drop in blood pressure when taken incombination with these medicines.
• medicines for arterial pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in thelungs) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (high bloodpressure in the lungs due to blood clots), such as riociguat (or other drugs thatbelong the same group called guanylate cyclase stimulators).
• a medicine called ritonavir for HIV infection

Who can take Sildenafil?

Sildenafil is not suitable for everyone. You should check with your doctor first, before using Sildenafil if:

• you have a problem with the valves in your heart (valvular heart disease)
• you have a condition that causes the heart muscle to become inflamed (cardiomyopathy)
• you have had any surgery to correct or improve blood flow to your heart
• you have previously had high blood pressure that is now under control
• you have ever had a prolonged erection (priapism) that lasted more than 4hours or any health condition that could cause priapism, such as sickle cellanaemia (abnormal red blood cells), leukaemia (cancer of the blood) ormultiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow)
• you have a stomach ulcer or a bleeding disorder (haemophilia)
• you have been diagnosed with serious liver or kidney problems

Taking other medications with Sildenafil

Other medicines may affect the way Sildenafil works. Check with us or your GP first ifyou are already taking any of the following medicines:

• alpha-blockers (e.g. alfuzosin, doxazosin or tamsulosin) to treat urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or high blood pressure
• protease inhibitors used to treat HIV infection
• cimetidine used to treat heartburn
• itraconazole or ketoconazole used to treat fungal infections
• erythromycin, an antibiotic, used to treat bacterial infections

Alcohol and Sildenafil

Driving and using machines

How to use Sildenafil

What to expect with Sildenafil

Possible side effects of Sildenafil:

• An allergic reaction, the symptoms of which include sudden wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips or throat;
• Chest pain, which is uncommon, but if it occurs during or after sex, you should get into a comfortable sitting position, breath deeply and try to relax. Do not take nitrates to treat your chest pain.
• A sudden decrease in vision or a sudden loss of vision.
• Ringing in your ears, dizziness, a severe skin rash, seizures or an erection that lasts longer than four hours.

Your 6 month check up

It is important for you to have a check up with your GP within 6 months of using Sildenafil, even if you feel healthy and well. This is because erectile dysfunction could be an early warning sign of other underlying health issues, such as heart and blood pressure problems, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

What else can I do to help my ED?

• Exercising regularly
• Reducing your stress levels
• Stop smoking
• Avoid drinking excessive alcohol.
• Improve your mental health (particularly if you are anxious or depressed)