What is it used for?
Like most ED drugs, Viagra is used for helping males gain an erection. But the difference is that the effects of Viagra can last for up to 4 hours keeping you ready for more action.
How do I use it?
Different people have different reaction times when they use Viagra. For some people one dose taken 15 to 30 minutes prior to sexual activity works fine. In others a dose taken before 4 hours work equally well.
Viagra may be taken either with a meal or without one. Meals high in fat are best avoided before or after using Viagra.
But doctors strictly advice against using more than one dose in a 24 hour period.
What if I miss a dose?
Sexual enhancement drugs like Viagra are used only when required. You do not have to use it daily or regularly if you do not plan to have sex daily. So, the question of missing a dose does not arise.
Drug Class and Mechanism
PDE5 inhibitors are a group of drugs that enhance the flow of blood into the veins of the penis. And Viagra belongs to this group of drugs.
How do I store Viagra?
Viagra must be stored in the original container that it came in at room temperature. Occasional storage at temperatures lower than room temperature may be permitted. You can read the medicine label for more information on storage.
One thing that you must be careful about is to store it in a cool dark place that is well protected from direct sunlight and/or moisture.
Safety Information/ Warning Precautions
When your physician or doctor prescribes any new medication or drug, your complete medical history must be discussed in detail. This will help him rule out any therapy that may cause an unwanted reaction.
Is there any reason to avoid Viagra?
You must avoid using Viagra if sexual activity is restricted to you due to cardiac complications and/or if you are using nitrates (e.g., isosorbide, nitroglycerin) in any form. This includes pills, ointments, patches etc.
Certain recreational drugs called Poppers contain amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate. So avoid using Viagra if you use these.
Also avoid it if you have liver disease; kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia; a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; a stomach ulcer; retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye), a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease).
Can I have alcohol while using Viagra?
Viagra is known to cause drowsiness or dizziness and blurred vision in some people. These effects will only aggravate if you consume alcohol along with Viagra. So, tasks like driving, handling heavy machinery etc are best avoided until you know how your body will react to Viagra.
These effects may also get aggravated due to hot weather or fever or severe exercise. So, be cautious when you stand up after a long time or sit down suddenly. If you notice any of these signs, then sit down or lie down immediately.
Do I need to be careful about medicine interactions?
Yes. You need to clearly mention to your doctor all medications (prescription and over the counter) that you are taking currently. This also includes vitamins, health supplements, herbal supplements and minerals.
Besides this, mention if you are taking medications like bosentan (Tracleer); a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); an antibiotic such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) or clarithromycin (Biaxin); doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), Terazosin (Hytrin); HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), tipranavir (Aptivus), darunavir (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), ritonavir (Norvir), atazanavir (Reyataz), or nelfinavir (Viracept);
an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), or phenytoin (Dilantin); or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin).
Are there any risks while using Viagra?
If you have cardiac problems or a history of such problems then it is best that you avoid using Viagra because there may always be a risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Some early signs of a heart attack are chest, shoulder, neck, or jaw pain; numbness of an arm or leg; severe dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting; fainting; or vision changes. Whereas a stroke will have symptoms like confusion, vision or speech changes, one-sided weakness, or fainting. Contact an emergency medical center immediately if you notice any such symptoms.
In some extremely rare cases, Viagra is known to cause a long lasting painful erection. This condition, if not treated immediately may cause permanent damage to the penile tissues. Hence, please contact your doctor immediately if this happens.
Other similar medications must be avoided completely while using Viagra.
Elderly people who use Viagras may be more prone to the side effects of it.
Viagra must not be used in children or women.
Safe Sex and Viagra
While Viagra is extremely effective in curing erectile dysfunction, it does not offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV or protect your partner against an unwanted pregnancy. Always ensure that you use an effective means of protection and/or birth control.
Pregnancy and Viagra
Viagra is not to be used by women. If you are pregnant already or are planning to become pregnant, then contact your doctor and discuss the potential risks to the baby. It is not clear whether Viagra is found in breast milk. Discuss this with your doctor as well.
Side Effects
It is not uncommon for patients to experience certain side effects when starting therapy with a new drug. So, you may experience some common side effects like warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest; stuffy nose; headache; upset stomach; or back pain.
But these side effects require no special medical attention and usually go away after some time. In the rare case that they do not subside or start to bother you, contact a doctor.
In some rare cases, some patients are also known to experience certain serious side effects like sudden vision loss; ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss; chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; irregular heartbeat; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; shortness of breath; vision changes; feeling light-headed, fainting; or penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer. Please contact your doctor immediately if you notice any serious side effects.
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