Sildenafil Instructions

Treat ED with Proper Sildenafil Use

Men suffering from ED (erectile dysfunction) can receive treatment for their conditions. One of the most commonly used oral medications for ED is sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Before you begin this treatment, understanding how to appropriately take the medication is important if you want to receive the most benefits. Below are instructions you need to know when starting this prescription.

Dosage & Storage Information

Sildenafil is available in three dosage options: 25, 50, and 100 milligrams. Only one tablet should be taken per day. Generally, patients should begin taking the lowest dosage option then the dose can be adjusted until satisfactory reports are achieved. The prescription should be stored at room temperatures, preferably away from high humidity.

How to Take Sildenafil

Sildenafil does not need to be taken daily. Instead, this is a treatment taken as needed. You should take the medication 30 minutes to four hours before you want to engage in sexual activity. An erection will not occur automatically; you will also need the sexual stimulation. The medication can be taken with or without food so you don’t need to plan your intimacy around your meals.

Side Effects of Sildenafil

Viagra’s active ingredient can cause a number of different mild side effects, including headaches, nasal congestion, flushing and blurred vision. Other complaints that have been associated with sildenafil include vision issues, such as cyanopsia (a blue tint to a person’s vision) and peripheral vision loss. In some rare instances, Sildenafil has been associated with more serious vision probems, such as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Some patients have also suffered from priapism, a condition in which the erection lasts for more than four hours. This condition requires medication attention. Additional serious side effects associated with Sildenafi include a sudden loss of hearing, strokes, and heart attacks.

Other Drug Information

Although Sildenafil is safe for most patients, there are a few instances when taking the medication could be dangerous. People who are already using HIV treatments known as protease inhibitors must be careful to keep the dose they take to a minimum because this could multiply the side effects caused by those medications.

Individuals who have cardiovascular problems, such as recent heart attacks or low blood pressure, should be careful when using Sildenafil because they may not be healthy enough to engage in sexual activity. People who need to take alpha blockers may cause their blood pressure to drop if they take Sildenafil within four hours of the alpha blockers.