Risk factors: History of a heart condition Recent heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months High or low blood pressure Before taking sildenafil (Viagra), tell your prescriber if you have any heart problems. Having sex can be risky for people with certain heart conditions. Because of this, it might not be the best choice for people whose prescriber has told them not to have sex to be safe. In addition, sildenafil (Viagra) hasn't been studied in people who've had a heart attack, stroke, or irregular heart rhythm in the last 6 months. It also hasn't been studied in people with heart failure or unstable angina (chest pain). If you have a heart problem, talk to your prescriber to find out if this medication is safe for you. Risk factors: Taking alpha blockers Taking medications for high blood pressure or chest pain (angina) Taking ritonavir (Norvir) Sildenafil (Viagra) can cause temporary low blood pressure. But it can for people with health conditions that are sensitive to changes in blood pressure. Keep in mind that your blood pressure can get too low if you take sildenafil (Viagra) with certain medications.
Be sure to continue to practice safe sex and use a condom. Sildenafil (Viagra) doesn't stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sildenafil (Viagra) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options. It also includes alpha blockers like tamsulosin (Flomax). You should never take sildenafil (Viagra) when taking a nitrate medication for chest pain (angina). This combination can make your blood pressure drop dangerously low.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: burning feeling in the chest or stomach burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings decrease in amount of urine or the frequency of urination dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position dryness, redness, scaling, or peeling of the skin increase in the size of the pupil redness, burning, or swelling of the eyes redness, itching, or tearing of the eyes seeing shades of colors differently than before swelling of the face, hands, feet, or lower legs unusual feeling of burning or stinging of the skin Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones diarrhea or stomach cramps (severe or continuing) numbness or tingling of the hands, legs, or feet redness, soreness, swelling, or bleeding of the gums sensation of motion, usually whirling, either of one's self or of one's surroundings sexual problems in men (continuing), including failure to experience a sexual orgasm sores in the mouth and on the lips Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. Tell your prescriber about all your health problems and medications you take.
If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Can take it 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity Comes in different strengths, so you and your prescriber can find which works best for you Can take up to an hour to get its full effect Higher risk of side effects for people 65 years and older Not recommended if you've had a heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months Can't take if you've recently taken nitrates like isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) or nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) It's best to take sildenafil (Viagra) about 1 hour before sex. But you can also take it anywhere between 30 minutes and 4 hours before you need it. Your prescriber can check that sildenafil (Viagra) is safe for you to take. If you take this medication, be very careful getting up after sitting or lying down. This can help prevent you from feeling dizzy from low blood pressure and possibly falling. Risk factors: Medical conditions that affect the penis Sickle cell anemia Multiple myeloma Leukemia It's not common, but some people who took sildenafil (Viagra) have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours (priapism).
Sildenafil (Viagra) can interact with many medications, including blood pressure medications. It can make your blood pressure drop too low. Your care team can make sure your medications are safe for you to take together. If you have an erection for more than 4 hours or if you feel pain with the erection after taking sildenafil (Viagra), go to the emergency room right away. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to your penis. If it's not treated in time, it can lead to permanent damage to your penis. Tell your prescriber about your medical conditions. You're at higher risk of priapism if you have other conditions affecting your penis. The risk might also be higher if you have sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia. If you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours or a painful erection, get medical help right away. If you suddenly notice changes in your vision in one or both of your eyes, go to the emergency room or call your prescriber right away. Although this is rare, sildenafil (Viagra) might raise the risk of eye damage.
You can take sildenafil (Viagra) with or without food, but it usually works best when taken on an empty stomach. The medication might take a little longer to start working after you eat a high-fat meal (like a cheeseburger with fries). Otherwise, it can raise your risk of serious side effects, such as dangerously low blood pressure and vision problems. Ask your prescriber what's a safe amount of alcohol to drink while taking sildenafil (Viagra). They might recommend that you drink less or avoid alcohol altogether. This can potentially lead to permanent vision loss. Before starting sildenafil (Viagra), tell your prescriber about your full medical history. If your eye specialist has told you that you have a "crowded" optic disc, you might be at higher risk of vision changes with this medication. Your prescriber can decide if sildenafil (Viagra) is right for you based on the risks and benefits. Some people who took sildenafil (Viagra) had problems with hearing. Sometimes, this happened along with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and dizziness. It's not clear if these problems are directly related to sildenafil (Viagra). If you notice any changes in your hearing in one or both of your ears, stop taking this medication and call your prescriber right away. Risk factors: Taking nitrate medications Taking blood pressure medications Taking alpha blockers Taking certain antifungals or antivirals Taking other ED medications at the same time Sildenafil (Viagra) can interact with certain medications. These drug interactions can raise your risk of side effects, including dangerously low blood pressure. These include nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil).
Alcohol can make some side effects worse. This can include dizziness, flushing, and stomach upset. Heavy drinking can also actually worsen ED. Let your prescribers and pharmacists know you're taking sildenafil (Viagra). Also tell them about all your other medications. It can cause your blood pressure to drop too low. Sildenafil (Viagra) can also interact with blood pressure medications. Other drug interactions are with certain antifungals and antivirals like ritonavir (Norvir). They can raise the risk of side effects like headaches and flushing. It's important to tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the medications you take and plan to take. They can make sure all your medications are safe to take together and adjust them to keep you safe if needed. The typical dose is 50 mg taken by mouth about 1 hour before sex, as needed. You can also take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sex. Your dose might be lower if you're an older adult or if you have liver or kidney problems. Your prescriber can also adjust the dose depending on how it works for you and if you have side effects. The maximum recommended dose is 100 mg. GoodRx has partnered with to provide reviews on the different aspects of Sildenafil (Viagra).
When this happens, you have an erection. The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time. Changes in vision (e.g., color tinge, blurry vision, light sensitivity; 1-11%) Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following. Priapism: painful erection lasting for more than 4 hours Eye problems: vision loss, can't see as clearly, bloodshot eyes, burning feeling in the eye, eye swelling or pressure Dangerously low blood pressure: feeling faint, weak, or dizzy; blurry vision; racing heart; feeling confused Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Learn more about the effectiveness of Sildenafil (Viagra) based on real life experiences. Based on 14 people taking this medication Based on 28 people taking this medication Based on 34 people who have taken this medication Based on 76 people who have taken this medication Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.