Sildenafil : Before Using

Sildenafil - Systemic

Brand Names

Viagra Sildenafil *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For sildenafil, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to sildenafil. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Sildenafil is not indicated for use in women. Sildenafil has not been studied in pregnant women. However, sildenafil has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether sildenafil passes into breast milk. Sildenafil is not indicated for use in women.

Elderly care

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of sildenafil, which may increase their risk of having side effects. Patients 65 years of age and older are started on a low dose, 25 mg, of sildenafil. The dose may be increased by a family doctor as needed and tolerated.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking sildenafil, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Cimetidine - Tagamet
Erythromycin - E.E.S. or Ery-Tab
Itraconazole - Sporanox
Ketaconazole - Nizoral
Mibefradil - Posicor
Ritonavir - Norvir
Saquinavir - Fortovase or Invirase These medication may increase the unwanted effects of sildenafil, unless lower starting doses of sildenafil are using

Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin - Nitrostat or Transderm-Nitro Sildenafil increases the lowering of blood pressure by nitrates too much and their use together is not recommended

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of sildenafil. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Arrhythmias - irregular heartbeat
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack, history of - within the last 6 months
High blood pressure
Low blood pressure
Stroke, history of - within the last 6 months Chance of problems occurring may be increased

Abnormal penis, including curved penis and birth defects of the penis Chance of problems occurring may be increased

Bleeding problems
Retinitis pigmentosa Chance of problems occurring may be increased. It is not known if the drug is safe for use in these diseaseds

Conditions causing thickened blood or slower blood flow, including leukemia; multiple myeloma - tumors of the bone marrow; or polycythemia, sickle cell disease and thrombocythemia - blood problems
Priapism - history of Although sildenafil does not cause priapism - erection lasting longer than 6 hours, diseaseds with these conditions have an increased risk of priapism and it could occur while using sildenafil

Heart or blood disease Sexual activity increases the heart rate and blood flow and can increase the risk of problems occurring for some diseaseds who use any type of drug, including sildenafil, that increases sexual ability

Kidney problems - severe
Liver problems - severe Chance of problems occurring may be increased. Lower starting doses may be using and doses increased as needed and as tolerated