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Important Information
Description
Who should not take it?
How should I take it?
What happens if I miss a dose?
What happens if I overdose?
What should I avoid while taking it?
What are the side effects?
What other drugs will affect it?
Where can I get more information?
| What is the most important
information I should know about sildenafil? |
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Do not take sildenafil if you are
using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Nitrates include
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran,
Deponit, Transderm-Nitro, others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR,
Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket).
Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate
or nitrite ("poppers"). |
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Contact your doctor or seek emergency
medical attention for any erection that lasts longer than 4 hours. A
sustained erection can damage the penis. |
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Refrain from further sexual activity
and notify your doctor it you develop dizziness, nausea, or angina
(pain, tightness, discomfort, numbness, or tingling in the chest, arms,
neck, or jaw) during sexual activity. |
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Do not take sildenafil more than once
a day. |
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Sildenafil relaxes muscles within the
penis. This allows increased blood flow into the penis, necessary to
achieve and maintain an erection. |
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Sildenafil is used to treat erectile
dysfunction (impotence). |
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Sildenafil may also be used for
purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. |
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| What should I discuss with my
healthcare provider before taking sildenafil? |
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Do not take sildenafil if you are
using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Nitrates include
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran,
Deponit, Transderm-Nitro, others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR,
Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket).
Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate
or nitrite ("poppers"). |
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Before taking sildenafil, tell your
doctor if you |
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have had a heart attack, stroke, or
life-threatening irregular heartbeats within the last six months; |
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have a history of heart failure; |
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have coronary artery disease; |
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have high or low blood pressure; |
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have ever had blood problems,
including sickle cell anemia or leukemia; |
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have a bleeding disorder; |
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have retinitis pigmentosa (an
inherited condition of the eye); |
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have a physical deformity of the penis
such as Peyronie's disease; |
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have a condition that could lead to
prolonged and painful erections, such as a tumor of the bone marrow,
sickle cell anemia, or leukemia; or |
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are taking another medicine to treat
impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon,
Yodoxin, others). |
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You may not be able to take sildenafil,
or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. |
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Although sildenafil is not indicated
for use by women, it is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that
sildenafil is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Sildenafil
should not be taken by women. |
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It is not known whether sildenafil
passes into breast milk. Sildenafil should not be taken by women. |
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If you are over 65 years of age, you
may be more likely to experience side effects from sildenafil. Your
doctor may prescribe a lower dose of this medication. |
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| How should I take sildenafil? |
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Take sildenafil exactly as directed by
your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your
pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of
water. |
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Sildenafil is usually taken when
needed. It can be taken anywhere from 4 hours to one-half hour before
sexual activity. Generally, it is taken 1 hour before sexual activity.
The medication can help achieve an erection when sexual stimulation
occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill. Follow your
doctor's instructions. |
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Taking sildenafil after eating a
high-fat meal (such as a cheeseburger and french fries) may cause the
medication to take a little longer to start working. |
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Do not take sildenafil more than once
a day. |
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If you develop dizziness, nausea, or
angina (pain, tightness, discomfort, numbness, or tingling in the chest,
arms, neck, or jaw) during sexual activity, refrain from further sexual
activity and notify your doctor. |
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Contact your doctor or seek emergency
medical attention for any erection that lasts longer than 4 hours. A
sustained erection can damage the penis. |
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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may
interact with sildenafil. The interaction could lead to potentially
adverse effects. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit
juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of
grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor. |
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Store this medication at room
temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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| What happens if I miss a dose? |
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Sildenafil is used as needed, so you
are not likely to miss a dose. |
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| What happens if I overdose? |
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Seek emergency medical attention. |
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Symptoms of a sildenafil overdose are
not known, but are likely to include chest pain, dizziness, an irregular
heartbeat, and swelling of the ankles or legs. |
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| What should I avoid while
taking sildenafil? |
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Do not take any other drug used to
treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or
yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), without first talking to your
doctor. |
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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may
interact with sildenafil. The interaction could lead to potentially
adverse effects. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit
juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of
grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor. |
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| What are the possible side
effects of sildenafil? |
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If you experience any of the following
serious side effects, stop taking sildenafil and seek emergency medical
attention or notify your doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty
breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face;
or hives); |
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chest pain or an irregular heartbeat; |
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swelling of the ankles or legs; |
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prolonged or severe dizziness; |
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a prolonged (lasting longer than 4
hours) or painful erection; or |
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dizziness, nausea, or angina (pain,
tightness, discomfort, numbness, or tingling in the chest, arms, neck,
or jaw). |
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Other, less serious side effects may
be more likely to occur. Continue to take sildenafil and talk to your
doctor if you experience |
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temporary blue tint in vision or other
vision abnormalities; or |
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Side effects other than those listed
here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that
seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. |
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| What other drugs will affect
sildenafil? |
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Do not take sildenafil if you are
using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. Nitrates include
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran,
Deponit, Transderm-Nitro, others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR,
Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket).
Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate
or nitrite ("poppers"). |
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• |
Before taking sildenafil, tell your
doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: |
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any other drug used to treat
impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon,
Yodoxin, others); |
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the antibiotic drugs clarithromycin (Biaxin),
erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab, others), or troleandomycin (TAO); |
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an antifungal medication such as
itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); |
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the HIV medications amprenavir (Agenerase),
delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept),
ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); |
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cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); |
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phenobarbital (Luminal); |
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carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin
(Dilantin); or |
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rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate) or
rifabutin (Mycobutin). |
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You may not be able to take sildenafil,
or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may
also interact with sildenafil or affect your condition. Talk to your
doctor or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter
medicines, including herbal products. |
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| Where can I get more
information? |
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Your pharmacist has additional
information about sildenafil written for health professionals that you
may read. |
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Remember, keep this
and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your
medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication
prescribed. |
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