• the effect is achieved within 60 minutes
• works as long as 4 hours
• available in 50mg and 100mg tablets
• less expensive than the original Viagra but offers same effect

Generic name: Sildenafil

What is Sildenafil?

SILDENAFIL (Viagra®) is used to treat erection problems in men.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• anatomical deformity of the penis, Peyronie's disease, or ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
• benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
• bleeding disorder
• cancer
• diabetes
• frequent heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• heart disease, angina, high or low blood pressure, a history of heart attack, or other heart problems
• high cholesterol
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• sickle cell disease
• stomach or intestinal ulcer
• stroke
• eye or vision problems, including a rare inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa
• an unusual or allergic reaction to sildenafil, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take sildenafil tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. The dose is usually taken 1 hour before sexual activity. You should not take this dose more than once per day. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not take double or extra doses.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

What drug(s) may interact with sildenafil?

Do not take sildenafil if you are taking the following medications:

• nitroglycerin-type drugs for the heart or chest pain such as amyl nitrite, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, nitroglycerin, even if these are only taken occasionally

Sildenafil may also interact with the following medications:

• alpha blockers, used for high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate. NOTE: Do not take doses of sildenafil higher than 25 mg within 4 hours of taking alpha blockers, such as alfuzosin (UroXatral®), doxazosin (Cardura®), prazosin (Minipress®), or terazosin (Hytrin®).

• bosentan
• certain drugs used for seizures such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital
• certain drugs used for fungal or yeast infections, such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, and voriconazole
• certain drugs for the treatment of HIV infection or AIDS
• cimetidine
• cisapride
• clarithromycin
• diltiazem
• erythromycin
• grapefruit juice
• mibefradil
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Azilect®, Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®, Zelapar.)
• nitroprusside
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• quinidine
• some drugs for treating depression, anxiety or other mood problems (examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone)
• verapamil

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking sildenafil?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• changes in hearing such as loss of hearing or ringing in ears
• changes in vision such as loss of vision, blurred vision, eyes being more sensitive to light, or trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or objects having a blue color tinge to them
• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• chest pain or palpitations
• prolonged erection (lasting longer than 4 hours)
• skin rash, itching

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• flushing
• headache
• indigestion
• nasal congestion

What should I watch for while taking sildenafil?

If you notice any changes in your vision while taking this drug, notify your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible. Stop using sildenafil right away if you have a loss of sight in one or both eyes. Contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Contact you physician immediately if the erection lasts longer than 4 hours or if it becomes painful. This may be a sign of priapism and must be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage.

If you experience symptoms of nausea, dizziness, chest pain or arm pain upon initiation of sexual activity after sildenafil use, you should refrain from further activity and should discuss the episode with your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible.

Do not change the dose of your medication. Please call your prescriber or health care professional to determine if your dose needs to be reevaluated.

Using Viagra® (sildenafil) does not protect you or your partner against HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.