How to Take Sildenafil for Best Results

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. SILDENAFIL (sil DEN a fil) treats erectile dysfunction (ED). It works by increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps to maintain an erection. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. They need to know if you have any of these conditions: History of blood diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or leukemia Stomach ulcers, other stomach or intestine problems An unusual or allergic reaction to sildenafil, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water.

• Sildenafil can sometimes cause flushing and nasal congestion.
• It is not a cure for erectile dysfunction, only a treatment option.
• Psychological factors can also affect erectile performance alongside medication.
• Sildenafil may sometimes interact with foods that contain high fat content.
• Regular exercise and stress management can complement treatment with sildenafil.
• The medication should be stored safely out of children's reach.
• Reporting side effects to a healthcare provider is important for safety.
• Sildenafil is typically started at a low dose, gradually increased if needed.
• It is important to follow the prescribed timing for medication intake.
• Discontinuing sildenafil should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Follow the directions on the prescription label.

Condition	Risk	Recommendation
Nitrate use	Severe hypotension	Do not take with nitrates
Heart Disease	Cardiovascular risk	Consult doctor before use
Kidney or Liver impairment	Altered drug metabolism	Dosage adjustment recommended
Retinitis Pigmentosa	Vision issues	Use with caution

The dose is usually taken 1 hour before sexual activity.

• Sildenafil may improve confidence and sexual satisfaction in men with ED.
• The medication is also being researched for pulmonary hypertension treatment.
• Common side effects include dizziness, upset stomach, and vision changes.
• Rare side effects can include priapism, a painful prolonged erection.
• Alcohol can interfere with sildenafil's effectiveness and increase side effects.
• Patients should disclose any heart conditions before using sildenafil.
• Sildenafil may interact with other medications such as alpha-blockers.
• It is not suitable for individuals with severe liver or kidney problems.
• Taking large doses does not necessarily improve efficacy and increases risk.
• Always follow the prescribed dosage and discontinue if adverse effects occur.

You should not take the dose more than once per day.

Age Range	Suitability	Notes
18-50 years	Usually suitable	Under doctor supervision
51-70 years	Caution advised	Dose adjustment may be needed
Over 70 years	Use with caution	Potential drug interactions

Do not take your medication more often than directed.

Sildenafil Pricing in India

Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider. If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened. This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information.

Your expert team

It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient.

Where do I get this medication?

UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at "Rank" refers to the frequency that a given medication is prescribed within a calendar year compared to all other medications. A rank of "4" would indicate that the medication was the fourth most commonly prescribed medication. Cost Per Prescription Fill: Average cost per filled prescription regardless of how many days of therapy the prescription is filled for (e.g. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. This medication is not used in children for this condition.

Product	Dosage	Quantity + Bonus	Price
Kamagra	100mg	32 Pills	121.24€ 115.47€	Buy
Viagra Generic	50mg	120 + 6 Pills	129.64€ 123.47€	Buy
Viagra Generic	150mg	10 Pills	36.73€ 34.98€	Buy
Viagra Generic	100mg	60 + 4 Pills	96.36€ 91.77€	Buy
Viagra Generic	25mg	10 Pills	25.19€ 23.99€	Buy
Viagra Generic	50mg	20 Pills	40.52€ 38.59€	Buy
Viagra Generic	200mg	60 + 4 Pills	125.19€ 119.23€	Buy
Kamagra Oral Jelly	100mg	110 + 9 Sachets	334.87€ 318.92€	Buy
Viagra Generic	200mg	270 + 10 Pills	379.76€ 361.68€	Buy
Kamagra	100mg	12 Pills	55.64€ 52.99€	Buy
Kamagra Soft Tabs	100mg	12 Pills	57.55€ 54.81€	Buy
Kamagra Soft Tabs	100mg	84 + 4 Pills	233.05€ 221.95€	Buy
Viagra Generic	50mg	360 + 10 Pills	225.33€ 214.60€	Buy

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

other ED treatments

Read more about the ClinCalc DrugStats database. All ClinCalc DrugStats figures and graphs on this page are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sildenafil sildenafil 100 mg tab is a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It works by increasing blood flow to your penis. The brand name for this medication is Viagra®. Do not take double or extra doses. Do not take this medication with any of the following: Nitrates, such as amyl nitrite, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, nitroglycerin This medication may also interact with the following: Other medications may affect the way this medication works. Talk with your care team about all of the medications you take. They may suggest changes to your treatment plan to lower the risk of side effects and to make sure your medications work as intended. This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine. Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

• Sildenafil is available in different strengths to tailor treatment.
• It is often used in clinical settings for ED diagnosis and management.
• Men taking sildenafil should avoid heavy meals shortly before dosing.
• The drug's effectiveness can be influenced by age and overall health.
• Combining sildenafil with recreational drugs can be dangerous.
• Some users report that sildenafil enhances spontaneous sexual activity.
• It is important to only use sildenafil that has been prescribed by a healthcare provider.
• The medication’s cost varies based on brand, dosage, and pharmacy.
• Sildenafil may cause transient eye color changes due to blood vessel effects.
• Patients should keep track of dosage and side effects experienced.

Tell your care team right away if you have any change in your eyesight or hearing.

Brand Name	Manufacturer	Price Range (per pill)	Availability	Notes
Viagra	Pfizer	$10 - $30	Widely available	Most popular brand
Kamagra	Ajanta Pharma	$2 - $8	Online, some stores	Cheaper alternative
Sildenafil Citrate	Generic	$1 - $5	Online, pharmacies	Generic form available

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment.

Does Dual Combination Therapy Work?

Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or any other changes in hearing. Trouble breathing that is new or worse. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child gets a painful erection (hard penis) or gets an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and your child may not be able to have sex in the future. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects.

More common

Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away: These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to your national health agency. Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor.

IV Administration

Give this drug with or without food. Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well. Be sure you know what type of measuring device to use and how to measure the dose. If you are not sure, talk with the doctor or pharmacist. Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

Why is this medication prescribed?

If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time. Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses. Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do. Store at room temperature or in a refrigerator. Throw away any unused part 60 days after this drug was mixed.

Pulmonary hypertension

Talk with your pharmacist if you are not sure when this is. Store at room temperature in a dry place. If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.

How to Take Sildenafil

Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area. If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor. Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child. Contact your care team right away if you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours or if it becomes painful. This may be a sign of a serious problem and must be treated right away to prevent permanent damage. If you experience symptoms of nausea, dizziness, chest pain or arm pain upon initiation of sexual activity after taking this medication, you should refrain from further activity and call your care team as soon as possible. Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible: Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, sildenafil 12 5 mg change in vision Sudden vision loss in one or both eyes Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): This list may not describe all possible side effects. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

When to See a Doctor

10 days, 30 days, 90 days, etc.) Cost per Day of Therapy: The average cost per prescription fill divided by the days of therapy. For example, a 10-day antibiotic course costing $30 would be $3 per day. Similarly, a 30-day supply of an oral antihypertensive costing $30 would be $1 per day. Total cost: The average total cost of the medication including the out-of-pocket cost (see below) plus the amount paid by other parties (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, Veterans Administration, TRICARE, other state/federal sources, Worker's compensation, and other miscellaneous sources) Out-of-pocket cost: The average payment made by the patient which may include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or the cash price paid without insurance coverage. "Days supply" is defined as the number of days that a prescription should last.

Dangerous Interactions

For example, a prescription of 60 tablets that is taken twice daily has a day supply of 30 days. Drug synonyms are used during the sanitation and standardization process of "cleaning" the original data source (MEPS). Occassionally, brand names may be listed below that are no longer on the market or are very infrequently used. Prescription data source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2014-2023. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F).