Description
Sildenafil contains the active substance sildenafil (as citrate), which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. It works by helping to relax the blood vessels in your penis, allowing blood to flow into your penis when you get sexually excited. This medicine will only help you to get an erection if you are sexually stimulated. This medicine is a treatment for adult men with erectile dysfunction, sometimes known as impotence. This is when a man cannot get, or keep a hard, erect penis suitable for sexual activity.
This is a generic product, therefore depending on availability, the brand you receive may not be the same as the one pictured but will be equally effective.
Uses / Instructions
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The recommended starting dose is 50 mg. You should not take Sildenafil more than once a day.
You should take this medicine about one hour before you plan to have sex. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. If you feel that the effect of this medicine is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or
pharmacist.
This medicine will only help you to get an erection if you are sexually stimulated. The amount of time this medicine takes to work varies from person to person, but it normally takes between half an hour and one hour. You may find that this medicine takes longer to work if you take it with a heavy meal.
Warnings
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Sildenafil
- If you have sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), leukaemia (cancer of blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow).
- If you have a deformity of your penis or Peyronie’s Disease.
- If you have problems with your heart. Your doctor should carefully check whether your heart can take the additional strain of having sex.
- If you currently have a stomach ulcer, or a bleeding problem (such as haemophilia).
- If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
You should not use this medicine with any other oral or local treatments for erectile dysfunction.
- You should not use this medicine with treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) containing sildenafil or any other PDE5 inhibitors.
- You should not take Sildenafil if you do not have erectile dysfunction.
- You should not take Sildenafil if you are a woman.
Special considerations for patients with kidney or liver problems
You should tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems. Your doctor may decide on a lower dose for you.
Side Effects
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- nausea
- facial flushing
- hot flush (symptoms include a sudden feeling of heat in your upper body)
- indigestion
- colour tinge to vision
blurred vision
- visual disturbance
- stuffy nose
- dizziness
For a full list see the patient information leaflet
