Sildenafil

Sildenafil is a drug for men suffering from erectile dysfunction (or impotence).

Erectile dysfunction involves the persistent and recurrent inability to achieve a penile erection, or to maintain it long enough for the individual to fully enjoy sex. Do not confuse erectile dysfunction with premature ejaculation, which describes the inability to prevent early ejaculation. There are other treatments available for this problem.

Sildenafil is produced by several recognised laboratories (Biogaran, Pfizer, Mylan etc.) and has the same composition as Viagra (which is marketed exclusively by Pfizer), so is therefore considered to be its generic form. It has guaranteed reliability and traceability.

Its active ingredient is Sildenafil citrate, which plays a key role in recovering the individual’s full erectile capabilities. It is not only useful to treat erectile dysfunction, but also pulmonary abnormalities and hypertension.

How does it work?

Sildenafil is an oral treatment for erectile dysfunction that helps prevent its consequences.

The reason for specifying the ‘consequences’ is that this drug is not a long-term treatment; nor will it cure your problem. Rather, it allows you to counter the effects of erectile dysfunction. This is because erectile dysfunction often has psychological causes, such as stress or the societal pressure to perform.

Note: it can be provoked by other things, especially following an illness or operation, which can cause erectile problems

To understand how sildenafil citrate works, you need to understand what happens during a normal erection. When a man is sexually stimulated, nerves in his brain send signals to the penis through the pelvic floor muscles.

These pulses cause the corpus cavernosum to relax and make way for its arteries to expand (which then starts to fill the corpus cavernosa to create a normal erection). They increase in diameter and an increased blood flow to the arteries causes the corpus cavernosa to become rigid and hence form a penile erection. In short, an influx of blood causes the penis to become erect.

However, when someone is suffering from erectile dysfunction, their brain fails to send the penis signals, which can happen for a number of reasons (alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, diabetes…) which all disrupt activity in the nervous system.

Sildenafil citrate blocks the effect of an enzyme called PDE-5, which prevents the transmission of signals and stops the muscles from relaxing, so is hence known as a type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitor, as it stops the enzyme from working and helps to create an erection.

Sildenafil counters its effects and thus allows the cavernous wall to relax, allowing the arteries to direct blood flow into the penile system. The arteries become stiff from increased blood pressure and forms an erection.

To maintain the erection for some time pressure in the venous system is also increased and allows an influx of blood flow into the penile system, thus contributing to the erection’s sustainability.

Dosage

Sildenafil comes in the form of an orodispersible tablet, which you should swallow one hour before intercourse. It is more effective to take it between meals, but it is still possible swallow the tablet with food if you desire.

How much should I take and who is it for?

Each blue tablet is breakable and contains 50mg dose of sildenafil. Recommended doses can vary up to a maximum of 100mg. However, doctors usually recommend a single daily dose of either 25mg, 50mg or 100mg. In other words, it is not advisable to take two whole pills, even if the total dose does not exceed 100mg. There are hence two limitations to sildenafil: quantity and frequency.

Your recommended dosage will be defined by your doctor, but in general it depends on how serious your problem is:

• Weak: 25mg
• Moderate: 50mg
• Strong: 100mg

Therefore, the power and endurance of your erection does not depend on the dosage you swallow: If you have a low-level erectile disorder and you take 100 mg of sildenafil, it will not lead to a longer or more rigid erection.

Another important point is that the dosage prescribed is also linked to health of the patient, as well as the cause of his erectile dysfunction; i.e. whether it is a bodily or psychological problem. The origin will partly determine its level of severity and therefore how much the patient will need to take to get an erection. It is important to discuss the dosage with your doctor when you first get the prescription so that he/she will inform you of the most appropriate dosage for your problem, as well as to avoid an overdose and any side effects.

Other information: you must sexually stimulate yourself as well as taking this treatment for erectile dysfunction. The patient must be in a state of sexual excitement to get an erection. It is important to be aware that this treatment will not cure libido problems.

Side effects

Sildenafil’s side effects have varying levels of frequency depending on the individual’s body and health. The list below is not exhaustive, so pay attention to any symptom you experience whilst taking this treatment and speak to your doctor.

The most frequent side effect is headaches, which may occur abruptly after your body absorbs Sildenafil. This is fairly common and there is usually no need to worry. However, if the problem persists, you must seek the advice of your doctor.

Some users report allergic reactions such as flushing, itching, hives and sometimes swelling in the mouth.

Sildenafil can also cause visual problems, especially with discerning the difference between colours (blue and green in particular). You may also experience nasal congestion or discharge.

Digestive problems are moderately common when taking Sildenafil. Some side effects include pain during digestion, nausea and heartburn. Finally, some users experience dizziness and vertigo after taking this erectile dysfunction treatment.

Muscle pain is a less frequent effect. This problem is never persistent or paralysing.

Very rarely, some men reported the occurrence of a prolonged erection and penile pain. This symptom is never permanent, but you should speak to your doctor if you ever experience such a problem.

There have been some isolated cases of strokes, cerebral bleeding and arrhythmias. Another very rare side effect was an abnormal heart rhythm. Finally, Sildenafil may cause convulsive episodes, memory loss and fainting. Fainting and strokes remain very rare side effects and mostly concern people categorised as “at risk”.

Please note: by purchasing this drug through a licensed online pharmacy, you must carry out a consultation with a certified doctor who will ensure that you avoid any risk of experiencing unpleasant side effects. If the doctor considers there to be any risk to your health, they will recommend a different treatment for erectile dysfunction.

We remind you to be careful when taking this treatment.

Precautions of use and contraindications

Some men are more at risk due to their condition of health. As we previously mentioned, this is particularly the case for men suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and cardiovascular problems. This is because sildenafil dilates the arteries and can cause phases of decreased blood pressure, which can trigger heart attacks and potentially fatal strokes and attacks. Thus, the drug is not recommended for individuals with a history of heart problems or low blood pressure.

There are also some drug interactions with medication used to treat heart disease and angina, in which case Sildenafil is not advised.

These drugs often contain nitrate, which, when combined with sildenafil citrate, will lower your blood pressure. This can be a problem for those who are already exposed to blood pressure problems. It is, therefore, important to tell your doctor if you take any of these drugs so that he/she can carry out a cardiac evaluation to determine whether or not you should take Sildenafil.

Remember that sexual activity itself carries cardiac risks, which is doubly dangerous for people with heart problems. An examination of your cardiac function is essential, and do not hesitate to mention any family history and any of your own cardiac issues.

This erectile dysfunction drug can also affect your vision. Therefore, if you already suffer from a loss of vision due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) you should certainly not take sildenafil.

Take extra care if you have severe kidney disease or a history of this condition. You should take special precautions with dosage. Similarly, patients suffering or having suffered from severe liver disease should inform their doctor and be cautious about using sildenafil.

Finally, there are other populations at risk who should monitor their use carefully or who should avoid taking this medication altogether due to drug interactions. Men who take alpha blockers treatments to treat high blood pressure or prostate adenoma are subject to special monitoring because sildenafil interacts with these drugs and may cause orthostatic hypotension. The doctor will do an assessment to ensure that the patient has a stable blood pressure and will administer a dose of 25mg to introduce the patient to Sildenafil, if necessary.

Increased monitoring and small-dose initiation may also be applicable if you take drugs containing CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as treatment for peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux with cimetidine. This is also the case for antibiotics containing erythromycin to treat lung infections, as well as treatments containing ketoconazole to treat seborrheic dermatitis in adults.

Sildenafil is completely banned if you take medication such as ritonavir, which is used to treat HIV. Finally, men with severe penile defects or anatomical abnormalities are not advised to use Sildenafil.

Where can I buy Sildenafil online in Australia?

You should be able to find Sildenafil in any traditional pharmacy (i.e. physical pharmacy), provided that you can present a valid prescription.

Buy Sildenafil online in Australia

You can also buy Sildenafil online through an online pharmacy. You may choose to do this for a number of reasons, such as attractive prices, express delivery, free online prescription service, you want to preserve your anonymity) but it can carry certain risks. These risks include buying an expired product, or worse, a fake drug, so it is necessary to only buy medication online from a licensed pharmacy.

When you choose a website, try to avoid clicking on promotions that claim they sell cheaper Sildenafil or that they will even allow you to purchase it without a prescription.

Reminder: If you want to completely avoid risks you need to go to a validated pharmacy.

What is the price of Sildenafil in Australia?

Unlike other drugs on the market that treat erectile dysfunction, you can actually find the different dosages at exactly the same price:

• 25mg: 4 tablets for the price of £35
• 50mg: 4 tablets for the price of £45
• 100 mg: 4 tablets for the price of £49

Reminder: If you want to completely avoid risk, you need to go through a licensed pharmacy! This price indicator can help you to avoid sites that claim to sell the drug at extremely low prices in comparison. Licensed pharmacies cannot afford to sell treatment at cheaper prices!

[su_box title=”Sources ” box_color=”#1eb0bc” radius=”0″ border-color: #e8e8e8;]

• Sildenafil 100mg film-coated tablets: Medicines
• Possible side effects of sildenafil: Drugs

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Medical review on March 10, 2017 by Dr. Davis Taylor