Sildenafil Side Effects: What You Need to Know
Sildenafil Side Effects What You Need to Know
Sildenafil comes under a medicinal group known as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5), inhibiting the quick working of a phosphodiesterase 5 enzyme. Sildenafil is used to prevent pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction.
If you are using it for pulmonary hypertension, it will treat the disease by relaxing your chest’s blood vessels. However, in erectile dysfunction (sexual impotence), Sildenafil increases blood flow to your penis and causes an erection.
Sildenafil is a prescribed medicine and you can buy it in the form of liquid, standard tablets, or chewable tablets. Are there any side effects of Sildenafil? What precautionary measures should I take before taking Sildenafil? Scroll down and solve all your queries!
Who Can/Cannot Take Sildenafil?
Men at the age of 18 or over can take Sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, adults and children of 1 year can take Sildenafil to combat pulmonary hypertension. Besides this, you must not take this medicine if you:
Are allergic to Sildenafil
Have stomach ulcer, hemophilia, liver/heart problems, low blood pressure (hypotension), or retinitis pigmentosa (genetic eye disease).
Are taking medicines for angina/chest pain.
Have leukemia, sickle cell anemia (red blood cells abnormality), multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow), or curved/deformed penis (Peyronie’s disease).
Sildenafil Side Effects
The most common side effects of Sildenafil are:
- Dyspepsia
- Diarrhea
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Headache
- Numbness
- Indigestion
- Visual disturbances
- Muscle or back pain
- Low blood pressure
- Nasal congestion
- Insomnia
- Runny nose
- Heartburn
- Nose bleeding
- Light sensitivity
- Sudden hearing loss
Rare/serious side effects of Sildenafil are:
- Painful erections
- Sudden loss of hearing
- Dizziness/fainting
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rash
- Itching
- Ringing in ears
- Sudden death
If you experience serious side effects, consult your doctor immediately and report to the FDA (food and drug administrations).
Effect of Sildenafil on Pregnancy, Fertility, And Breastfeeding
Let’s discuss the effect of Sildenafil on pregnancy, fertility, and breastfeeding!
Pregnancy
If you have pulmonary hypertension, consult your doctor and take Sildenafil throughout your pregnancy. Moreover, you must consult your doctor/pharmacist and ask him to give you additional care and review you in a special heart and pregnancy clinic.
Fertility
The effect of Sildenafil on fertility is unknown. It is not clear whether Sildenafil reduces fertility in men or women. So, consult your pharmacist before trying it.
Breastfeeding
Sildenafil passes via breast milk in a small amount so it does not cause any side effects. So, you can consume Sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension while breastfeeding.
However, if you feel changes in baby behavior like unusual sleep, pale color, or flushing, consult your doctor.
Interaction of Sildenafil with Other Medicines
Sildenafil can interact with other medicines, resulting in low working and increased side effects. Sildenafil can also inhibit CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2C9.
Any drug that is a substrate of any of these enzymes can interact with Sildenafil. So to manage drug interaction, consult your doctor. The medicines that react with Sildenafil are:
- Alpha-blocker (doxazosin, alfuzosin, tamsulosin, prazosin, or terazosin)
- Nitrates ( isosorbide dinitrate, amyl nitrate, nitroglycerin, or isosorbide mononitrate)
- Alpha-agonist (methyldopa or clonidine)
- Antidepressant (sertraline, desipramine, or St. John's Wort)
- Antibiotics (clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin, norfloxacin, metronidazole, rifabutin, tetracycline, or rifampin)
- Antifungal medication ( ketoconazole, itraconazole, or voriconazole)
- Blood thinner (warfarin)
- Beta-blocker (propranolol/atenolol)
- Cimetidine
- Epilepsy medication (oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital)
- Cystic fibrosis medication (ivacaftor)
- Other erectile dysfunction medication (Cialis, alprostadil, or vardenafil)
- HIV medication ( delavirdine, atazanavir, efavirenz, indinavir, fosamprenavir, etravirine, nevirapine, ritonavir, or tipranavir)
- Heart medications (amiodarone, amlodipine, bosentan, atenolol, candesartan, clonidine, or captopril)
- Others such as butalbital, aprepitant, cimetidine, riociguat, cyclosporine, or imatinib.
Storage and Disposal of Sildenafil
How to store Sildenafil? How to dispose of Sildenafil? Let’s jump into it!
Storage:
You must store Sildenafil in an air-tight container and out of reach of children. You can store Sildenafil tablets at room temperature and ensure there is no moisture, light,ord heat around them (but not in the bathroom).
For Sildenafil suspension, you must store it in the refrigerator but not in the freezer.
Disposal
You must dispose of any unused Sildenafil suspension after 60 days. However, ensure that the disposal is out of reach of pets and other people.
Do not discard the medicine in the toilet, the best way is to dispose of Sildenafil via a medicine take-back program.
The Verdict
Sildenafil is an effective way to treat pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction. However, you must follow some precautionary measures and guidelines for quick action and to avoid any side effects. So, consult your doctor, improve your health, and give your life a new chance!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do You Feel When You First Take Sildenafil?
When you take Sildenafil for the first time, you will experience mild side effects such as headache, dizziness, flushing, etc. However, these side effects settle within a few hours.
What Should You Monitor While Taking Sildenafil?
You should monitor your health while taking Sildenafil. If you face mild side effects, let them settle within a few hours. If you experience serious health issues, consult your doctor.
