Viagra is a treatment for frequent erectile dysfunction in adult men.
It was produced for specific cases and it is important to respect the precautions in order to maximise its effectiveness and reduce the risk of adverse effects. Here is some information about when it is inappropriate to take Viagra.
A list of cases in which you should not take Viagra
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Some medications can cause unpleasant or dangerous side effects when taken alongside Viagra. Tell your doctor about any medications you are currently taking, especially if you have been prescribed riociguat (Adempas).
Do not take Viagra if you are also taking treatments containing nitrates for chest pain or heart problems, including nitro-glycerine, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and recreational drugs such as “poppers”. Taking Viagra with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious drop in your blood pressure.
Contact your doctor and stop taking Viagra if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage your penis. Also, stop taking the treatment and seek emergency medical help if you experience a sudden loss of vision.
Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms
To make sure that Viagra is safe for your health, tell your doctor if any of these conditions occur or have occurred:
Heart disease or heart rhythm problems, coronary artery disease; a recent heart attack (within the past 90 days); a recent history (in the past 6 months) of stroke or congestive heart failure; angina (chest pain), high or low blood pressure; kidney or liver disease (or if you are on dialysis); a disorder such as sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, leukaemia; a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia; a stomach ulcer; retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye); a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peronei’s disease); or if you have already been told you that you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.
Viagra can decrease blood flow to the eye’s optic nerve, which can cause a sudden loss of vision. This has occurred in a small number of people taking Viagra or other medications like sildenafil. Most of these patients also had some pre-existing eye problems or were high-risk in terms of blood vessel disorders (such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, smoking, or over 50 years of age). Scientists cannot yet confirm whether or not Viagra is the actual cause of vision loss.
Sildenafil should not harm a foetus. If you or your partner is pregnant or if she plans to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. We do not yet know if sildenafil can be transferred into breast milk or if it could harm the baby, so tell your doctor if you are currently breastfeeding. In any case, remember that Viagra is only for men aged over 18 and has not been developed for female use.
Precautions to follow when taking Viagra
Drinking alcohol with this medication can cause negative effects. It is best to avoid taking a pill containing sildenafil if you are planning to drink a lot of alcohol.
Grapefruit and its juice may interact with sildenafil and lead to undesirable side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products whilst taking Viagra.
Finally, avoid taking other erectile dysfunction medication such as alprostadil or yohimbine in conjunction without talking to your doctor first.
Side effects of Viagra
Seek emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction to Viagra: rashes; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
Stop taking Viagra and immediately seek a doctor’s advice if you experience: symptoms of a heart attack (chest pain or pressure, pain in the jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating); changes in vision or sudden vision loss; a painful erection or an erection that lasts more than 4 hours (a prolonged erection can damage the penis permanently).
Call your doctor immediately if you have: ringing in the ears, sudden hearing loss; irregular heartbeat; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; shortness of breath; convulsions; or if you feel lightheaded as if you are going to faint.
Common side effects from taking Viagra may include: feeling faint (warmth, redness, tingling sensation); headache, dizziness; visual disturbances (blurred vision, colour changes in vision); stuffy nose; muscle pain, back pain; or stomach upset.
Finally, you should not take Viagra with similar drugs like avanafil (Spedra), Tadalafil (Cialis) or Vardenafil (Levitra). Tell your doctor if you are taking any other erectile dysfunction drug.
Tell your doctor about all current medications you are starting to take or stopping taking, especially: antibiotics like clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin; antifungal drugs ketoconazole or itraconazole; medication to treat HIV / AIDS, such as atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir; or medications to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder.
In any case, when you have your medical consultation for your Viagra prescription, give your doctor a complete list of medications that you are taking; your medical history; allergies; hereditary diseases in your family.
Warning: Never buy Viagra without a prescription and without your doctor’s medical advice.
Medical review on March 10, 2017 by Dr. Davis Taylor
