VIAGRA®
sildenafil citrate
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Viagra.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Viagra against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
As Viagra is a prescription medicine, it should be used only under strict medical supervision.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Viagra is used for
Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction, more commonly known as impotence, in men. This is when a man cannot get, or keep, a hard erect penis suitable for sexual activity.
Viagra belongs to a new group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
It works by relaxing the blood vessels in your penis when you are sexually excited. This allows blood to flow into your penis, allowing you to get an erection in the natural way.
Viagra will work only if you are sexually excited.
Viagra will not increase your sex drive
Viagra is not approved for use in women.
Before you take Viagra
You must not take Viagra if you are taking any Nitrate medication. It may lead to a severe drop in your blood pressure, which may be difficult to treat.
Because sexual activity may place a strain on your heart, your doctor will need to check whether you are fit enough to use Viagra.
When you must not take it
Do not take Viagra if:
- you are being treated for:
- angina (chest pain) or other heart conditions with certain medicines called nitrates. Nitrate medicines include glyceryl trinitrate (also called nitroglycerine). Common tradenames include tablets; such as Anginine and Tridil; patches such as Nitro-Dur, Nitradisc, Transiderm-Nitro, Nitroderm TTS, Minitran, Nitrocor; sprays such as Nitrolingual and injections such as Nitronal.
Nitrate medicines include glyceryl trinitrate (also called nitroglycerine). Common tradenames include tablets; such as Anginine and Tridil; patches such as Nitro-Dur, Nitradisc, Transiderm-Nitro, Nitrocor, Nitroderm TTS, Minitran, Nitrocor; sprays such as Nitrolingual and injections such as Nitronal.
Common tradenames for other nitrate preparations include tablets such as Imdur Durule, Sorbidin, Isordil, Carvasin, Corangin, ISMO 20, Imtrate, Coronex, Duride, Ikorel and Sodium Nitroprusside.
There may be other tradenames not listed here.
- you are using amyl nitrite
- you have heart or blood vessel problems that make sexual intercourse inadvisable
- you have suffered a heart attack or stroke in the last 6 months
- you have severe liver problems
- your blood pressure is unusually high or low or is not effectively treated
- you have an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa
- you have an allergy to:
- Viagra or similar medicines
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
An allergic reaction can include:
- hives, itching or skin rash
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing
- the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right
- the expiry date on the pack has passed
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes
- you have any other heart or blood vessel problems
- you have any of the following medical conditions:
- diabetes, especially if you also have eye problems
- kidney or liver problems
- leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells)
- multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow)
- any disease or deformity of your penis
- any bleeding disorder such as haemophilia
- stomach ulcer
- a disease of the blood called sickle cell anaemia
- colour vision problems
- you are receiving any other treatment for impotence
- you have any other medical conditions
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Viagra.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Do not take Viagra if you are using nitrate medicines for angina.
Some medicines and Viagra may interfere with each other. These include:
- cimetidine, a medicine used to treat ulcers
- some medicines used to treat fungal infections including ketoconazole and itraconazole
- some antibiotics including erythromycin and rifampicin
- some protease inhibitors such as ritonavir and saquinavir for the treatment of HIV infection
You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines. They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Viagra.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist, if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.
How to take Viagra
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The dose ranges from 25 mg to 100 mg, to be taken about one hour before you expect to have sex.
Do not take more than one dose of Viagra a day.
Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you depending on your condition and response.
When to take it
Take your dose of Viagra about one hour before you expect to have sex.
The amount of time Viagra takes to start working varies from person to person, but it normally takes between half an hour and one hour.
You may find Viagra takes longer to work if you take it with a heavy meal.
Swallow the tablets whole with water.
Viagra will work only if you are sexually excited.
If you take too much (Overdose)
If you take too much, you are more likely to experience side effects.
Immediately telephone your doctor for advice if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Viagra. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort.
While you are using it
Things you must do
If Viagra does not help you get an erection, or if your erection does not last long enough to complete sexual intercourse, tell your doctor.
In these cases, your doctor may decide that you need a higher dose.
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, especially nitrates, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Viagra.
See "Before you take Viagra" for a list of common nitrate medications.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Viagra.
Things you must not do
Do not use the unregistered drug amyl nitrite (sometimes called "poppers") while you are taking Viagra.
If you get an angina attack do not take nitrate medicines to relieve the pain but tell your doctor immediately. Make sure your doctor knows you are taking Viagra.
Do not give Viagra to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Viagra.
Drinking alcohol can temporarily impair the ability to get an erection. To reduce impairment do not drink large amounts of alcohol before sexual activity.
If you experience changes in vision, or dizziness, when taking Viagra, you should not drive or operate machinery.
Side effects
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Viagra, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.
Like other medicines, Viagra can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- headache
- dizziness
- flushing
- indigestion
- stuffy nose
- changes in vision such as blurring, a blue colour to your vision or a greater awareness of light
- diarrhoea
- urinary tract infection
- rash
Very rarely, your erection may persist for longer than usual. If your erection continues for four hours, or sooner if there is pain, you should seek medical attention urgently.
Some people may get other side effects while taking Viagra.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not get any of them.
After using Viagra
Storage
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least 1½ metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Viagra in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C (86°F). Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep the tablets in their pack until it is time to take them.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Viagra, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Viagra tablets are available in three strengths:
- Viagra 25 mg - blue, rounded-diamond shaped tablets marked VGR 25 on one side and PFIZER on the other
- Viagra 50 mg - blue, rounded-diamond shaped tablets marked VGR 50 on one side and PFIZER on the other
- Viagra 100 mg - blue, rounded-diamond shaped tablets marked VGR 100 on one side and PFIZER on the other
All strengths come in blister packs of 4.
Ingredients
Active ingredients:
- Viagra 25 mg - sildenafil 25 mg
- Viagra 50 mg - sildenafil 50 mg
- Viagra 100 mg - sildenafil 100 mg
Other ingredients:
- microcrystalline cellulose
- calcium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous
- croscarmellose sodium
- magnesium stearate
- hypromellose
- titanium dioxide (E171)
- lactose
- glycerol triacetate
- indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132)
- PF0102
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