It is perfectly fine to take sildenafil with food, but taking it without food means a shorter effect time. If you take it right before or during your meal, it will not get absorbed into your system as quickly, because your stomach is busy digesting the meal. This is especially true if you
Sildenafil Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions
Are you thinking about Sildenafil Citrate to treat your erectile dysfunction? You’re not alone. Sildenafil citrate is one of the most successful drugs in history. Thousands of men have used it with good results, and thousands of women are just as pleased.
What Is Sildenafil?
Sildenafil is the is the generic name for the drug Viagra. It was originally developed as a treatment for high and low blood pressure, but achieved great success as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Today, it is used to treat both erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, low and high blood pressure in the lungs. Because generic medications are cheaper than brand names, sildenafil costs much less than Viagra. Generic Sildenafil is available in the United States.
How Does It Work?
Put simply, Sildenafil allows the smooth muscles in the penis to relax, so that a man can achieve an erection. The more detailed process is as follows: Sildenafil inhibits an enzyme called PDE5. Inhibiting PDE5 allows levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to increase. When cGMP levels get high enough, the smooth muscles of the penis will relax.
Sildenafil does not cause you to be sexually aroused. It will only help you achieve an erection when you do become aroused.
Sildenafil Dosage
Sildenafil requires different dosages depending on what you are using it for. Here are the most recommended dosages for each condition sildenafil treats:
For Erectile Dysfunction
Sildenafil does not have to be taken every day to treat erectile dysfunction. You can use it only when you want to have sex (though it’s perfectly fine is that is every day).
Use | Initial Dose | Maintenance Dose |
---|---|---|
As needed for ED | 50mg once daily as needed prior to sexual activity | 25mg to 100mg once daily prior to sexual activity |
Once a day for ED | 25mg once daily at the same time every day | 25mg to 50mg once daily at the same time every day |
Daily for ED and BPH | 25mg to 200mg once daily for up to 16 weeks | Dosages of up to 200mg once daily |
The typical starting dose for an adult is 50 mg whenever you need it. It is best to take the drug one hour before sexual activity, but it can be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity. After taking your first dose, determine whether that dose is about right, or if you should decrease or increase. Some men can take only 25 mg and still experience good results. It is best to take a lower dosage, if possible. But if you find 50 mg is not sufficient, you could decrease or increase your dose up to 100 mg.
For Pulmonary Hypertension
If taking the Viagra medication orally, the typical adult dose for pulmonary hypertension is between 25 and 50 mg three times a day, four to six hours apart. The maximum dosage is 20 mg three times a day. Clinical trials have found that increasing the dose around 50 mg does not increase the effectiveness of the drug.
There is also an injectable version used for treating pulmonary hypertension. The typical injectable dose is 25 or 50 mg IV bolus three times a day. Ten mg of the injectable medication provides the same effect as 100 mg of the oral medication. Shelf life is 2 years.
Sildenafil Side Effects
The most common side effects of Sildenafil citrate are headaches, flushing, upset stomach, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, muscle pain, nausea, dizziness, and rash. These were seen in more than 2 percent of patients in clinical trials:
- heartburn;
- belching;
- upset stomach;
- nosebleeds;
- dry, itchy eyes;
- congestion; and
- dry mouth.
Less common side effects (which less than 2 percent of patients experienced) include chest pain, an extreme drop in blood pressure, sudden loss of hearing, migraines, vomiting, vertigo, unusual dreams, frequent urination, anemia, chills, thirst, dry eyes, and eye pain. You should stop taking the medication if it is causing a significant amount of pain, or generally making you feel unwell.
Another less common side effect of this medication is priapism, an erection that lasts longer than four hours. Though this side effect is not common, it is serious. If you do experience an erection that lasts longer than four hours, seek medical help immediately. There could be permanent damage if you do not address it right away.
Sildenafil Interactions
As show customer reviews – Sildenafil can interact with other drugs you might be taking. The most important interaction you should know is the interaction with nitrates. You should not take Sildenafil if you are taking nitrates, because this combination can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure.
You should also take precautions if you are taking alpha-blockers or amlodipine. Interactions with these drugs have the potential to make your blood pressure drop too much. If you are using either of those medications and still want to take Sildenafil, you should definitely start with only 25 mg.
The antiretroviral ritonavir can amplify the effects of sildenafil. If you take ritonavir, you should only take a maximum of 25 mg of Viagra. Try to think about how work will affect your relationships.
With Dapoxetine
Dapoxetine, marketed as Priligy, is a drug approved for treating premature ejaculation. Many men who have erectile dysfunction also suffer from premature ejaculation so it may be tempting to take these medications together to address both problems including erectile dysfunction. However, because both of these medications lower blood pressure, taking them together (Super Viagra) could cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure.
If you do have both erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, it is recommended that you focus on treating the erectile dysfunction. Sometimes the erectile dysfunction treatment will also address the premature ejaculation.
With Alcohol
Clinical trials have indicated that drugs and alcohol do not interact with Sildenafil. One does not make the other more potent, and taking them together does not cause blood pressure to drop dangerously. Keep in mind: these studied dealt with participants who reached a mean maximum blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent.
Even though alcohol and sildenafil to not interact, you should still be aware that alcohol can inhibit sexual performance. If you take sildenafil and then drink too much, you may end up with the same problem you tried to prevent with the sildenafil.
With Food
It is perfectly fine to take sildenafil with food, but taking it without food means a shorter effect time. If you take it right before or during your meal, it will not get absorbed into your system as quickly, because your stomach is busy digesting the meal. This is especially true if you eat a meal with high-fat content. If you plan to take Viagra with food, give it more time to work.
Other Sildenafil Effects
Sildenafil is one of the best selling drugs in history because it addresses a common problem, and it delivers results. It can revitalize your sex life and bring satisfaction to a relationship that might not satisfy you currently. Get your free Viagra samples now!