Sildenafil Oral Tablet

Sildenafil is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This condition causes high blood pressure in your lungs. Sildenafil slows down the worsening of your illness. It also makes you more able to exercise.

This drug comes in the form of a tablet and suspension (liquid) you take by mouth. It also comes as an injection that’s only given by a doctor.

Sildenafil is available as a brand-name drug called Revatio. It’s also available as a generic drug.

The more common side effects of this drug include nosebleeds, headaches, upset stomach, or flushing (reddening and warming of the face). They also include trouble sleeping, fever, or erections that last longer than normal.

In some cases, sildenafil can cause serious side effects. These can include sudden vision loss, hearing loss, or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Priapism (an erection that won’t go away) See Details

• Sudden vision loss See Details

• Sudden hearing loss See Details

• Not for use in children See Details

What is sildenafil?

Sildenafil is a prescription drug. It comes in the form of a tablet and suspension (liquid). Both are taken by mouth. This drug is also available in an intravenous (IV) form, which is only given by a doctor.

Sildenafil is available as a brand-name drug called Revatio. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. Talk to your doctor to see if the generic version will work for you.

Why it's used

This drug is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults. With this condition, the blood pressure in your lungs is too high. Your heart has to work very hard to pump blood into your lungs. 

This drug slows down how fast your illness worsens. It also makes you more able to exercise.

How it works

This drug belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

This drug works by relaxing the muscles and opening up the blood vessels in your lungs. This decreases the blood pressure in your lungs.

More Common Side Effects

The more common side effects of sildenafil can include:

• nosebleeds

• headaches

• upset stomach

• flushing (reddening and warming of the face)

• trouble sleeping

• fever

• an erection that lasts longer than normal

• respiratory infection

• nausea

• vomiting

• bronchitis

• pharyngitis (sore throat)

• runny nose

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious Side Effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 9-1-1 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Low blood pressure. Symptoms can include:

  • blurry vision
  • confusion
  • dizziness
  • fainting
  • lightheadedness
  • nausea or vomiting
  • sleepiness
  • weakness

• Increased shortness of breath or trouble breathing

• Priapism (an erection that won’t go away). Symptoms can include:

  • an erection that lasts more than 4 hours

• Vision problems. Symptoms can include:

  • sudden vision loss in one or both eyes

• Hearing problems. Symptoms can include:

  • sudden hearing loss
  • tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
  • dizziness

• Heart problems, such as heart attack, stroke, or irregular heart rate. Symptoms can include:

  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • trouble speaking
  • confusion
  • nausea or vomiting
  • feeling lightheaded

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Sildenafil can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. 

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

The use of drinks that contain alcohol raises your risk of low blood pressure from this drug. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor. You may need to have your blood pressure monitored.

Medications that might interact with this drug

Drugs you should not use with sildenafil

Do not take these drugs with sildenafil. Doing so can cause dangerous effects in the body. Examples of these drugs include:

• Nitrates, such as isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, or nitroglycerin. 
  • Taking these drugs with sildenafil can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level. 
• Guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat. 
  • Taking these drugs with sildenafil can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level.

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects

Side effects from sildenafil: Taking sildenafil with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from sildenafil. This is because the amount of sildenafil in your body is increased. Examples of these drugs include: 

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drugs, such as ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, or atazanavir. 
  • Increased side effects can include low blood pressure, dizziness, or vision problems. They can also include erections that last longer than normal.
• Certain antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, telithromycin, or erythromycin.
  • Increased side effects can include low blood pressure, dizziness, or vision problems. They can also include erections that last longer than normal.
• Certain antifungals, such as ketoconazole or itraconazole.
  • Increased side effects can include low blood pressure, dizziness, or vision problems. They can also include erections that last longer than normal.

Side effects from other drugs: Taking sildenafil with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. Examples of these drugs include:

• Alpha-blockers, such as terazosin, tamsulosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, or silodosin.
  • Increased side effects can include a drop in blood pressure, or fainting. 
• Blood pressure drugs, such as amlodipine.
  • Increased side effects can include blood pressure that’s too low.
• Drugs for erectile dysfunction, such as avanafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil.
  • Increased side effects can include low blood pressure or erections that last longer than normal.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Sildenafil warnings

People with heart problems

This drug can lower your blood pressure. If you’ve had certain heart problems in the last 6 months, ask your doctor whether this drug is safe for you. These problems include a heart attack, stroke, or life-threatening heart rhythm problem. Also talk with your doctor if you have a low or high resting blood pressure, or a history of heart failure or coronary artery disease.

People with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD)

If you have PVOD, taking this drug may worsen your heart function. You should not take this drug.

People with eye problems

This drug may cause sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. This may be a sign of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). If you’ve already had NAION or have crowded optic disc, you may have a higher risk of NAION and vision changes with this drug.

People with problems with the shape of their penis

If you have a problem with the shape of your penis, such as Peyronie’s disease, this drug raises your risk of having an erection that lasts more than 4 hours.

People with a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding

This drug raises your risk of stomach bleeding, ulcers, or small holes in the lining of your digestive system. These events can be fatal (cause death). They can happen at any time, with or without symptoms.

People with sickle cell anemia

This drug may cause a common painful complication of sickle cell anemia called vaso-occlusive crisis. If you have sickle cell anemia, ask your doctor whether this drug is safe for you.

Pregnant women

This drug is a category B pregnancy drug. That means two things: 

1. Research in animals has not shown a risk to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
2. There aren’t enough studies done in humans to show if the drug poses a risk to the fetus.

Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It appears unlikely that this drug will harm a fetus. However, this drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed.

Women who are breast-feeding

This drug may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breast-fed.

Talk to your doctor if you breast-feed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breast-feeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors

The kidneys, liver, or heart of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

For children

This drug isn’t recommended in children younger than 18 years of age. In one study, children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who took this drug had an increased chance of death.

When to call the doctor

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this drug.

Allergies

This drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include: 

• trouble breathing
• swelling of your throat or tongue 

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. 

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

What are you taking this medication for?

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

Brand: Revatio

Form: Oral tablet Strengths: 20 mg Form: Oral suspension Strengths: 10 mg/mL

Generic: sildenafil

Form: Oral tablet Strengths: 20 mg Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical dosage: 5 or 20 mg, taken 3 times per day.
• Maximum dosage: 20 mg, taken 3 times per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

This drug shouldn’t be used in people younger than 18 years of age.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys, liver, or heart of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose of sildenafil. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up in your body.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Important considerations for taking sildenafil

You can take this drug with or without food

Take this drug 3 times per day about 4–6 hours apart. Take it at the same times every day

You can cut or crush the tablet

Store this drug carefully

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A prescription for this medication is refillable

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Travel

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Clinical monitoring

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Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead

Insurance

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Are there any alternatives?