43 Oral Sildenafil in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

Heart problems, such as heart rhythm problems, chest pain, or heart failure Heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery within the past six months High blood pressure that is still too high despite taking medicines for it Peyronie's disease, or a penis with an abnormal curve or shape An erection lasting longer than four hours A blood disorder, such as sickle cell anemia An inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa Vision loss, or a problem with the nerve between your eyes and brain (optic nerve) Health conditions or factors that raise the risk of optic nerve problems, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, being older than 50, or having a “crowded disc,” which is something an eye doctor may see in an eye exam Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, a condition where blood vessels in the lungs are blocked It is not known if or how sildenafil could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby.

Authors' objectives

Before taking sildenafil, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details. Do not take sildenafil unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Do not share sildenafil with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. Keep sildenafil out of the reach of children.

IV Administration

If you keep sildenafil oral liquid in a refrigerator, make sure to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator. Sexual activity can put extra strain on your heart, which may be unsafe for people with certain health problems, such as a recent heart attack. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if your heart is strong enough for sex. If you feel chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex, stop and contact your healthcare provider right away. Sildenafil does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Tell your healthcare provider if sildenafil for women you are or plan to become pregnant.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take sildenafil while breastfeeding. If you take sildenafil after you eat a high-fat meal, such as a burger and fries, it may take longer to start working.

Your healthcare provider may recommend limiting or avoiding grapefruit while taking sildenafil. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise sildenafil levels in your body, which can increase the risk of side effects.

This formulation may be used in cases where the risk-benefit profile for a specific pediatric patient is acceptable.

Artificial intelligence in drug research and development: a review of methods and applications in drug repurposing, Briefings in Bioinformatics, 27, 3, (2026). Endocrine-metabolic crosstalk in erectile dysfunction: mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications, International Journal of Impotence Research, (2026). Therapeutic applications of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in male reproductive health: narrative review, Sexual Medicine Reviews, 14, 2, (2026). Oral suspension versus tablet sildenafil for erectile dysfunction: a prospective multicenter comparative study on patient satisfaction, International Journal of Impotence Research, (2026). Low‐intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction: An abridged Cochrane review, BJU International, 137, 6, (949-957), (2026).

How is sildenafil supplied (dosage forms)?

Current state of the problem, Andrology and Genital Surgery, 25, 4, (33-40), (2026). Emerging Trends and Research Focus in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment: A 1993–2023 Bibliometric Analysis, Andrologia, 2026, 1, (2026). Sildenafil is commonly used for the following conditions. Erectile dysfunction, a condition where you have trouble getting or keeping an erection Pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition where you have high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your lungs Sildenafil may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. Sildenafil works by blocking an enzyme in the body called PDE5, which helps relax certain blood vessels. There are no known interactions between sildenafil and alcohol.

• The medication may cause a sudden decrease in blood pressure in some users.
• Use sildenafil cautiously if you are also taking blood pressure medications.
• Do not share your medication with others to prevent misuse.

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking sildenafil. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

Section snippets

For erectile dysfunction, it increases blood flow to the penis when aroused. This makes it easier to get and keep an erection. For pulmonary arterial hypertension, sildenafil relaxes the blood vessels in the lungs. This lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart. 10 mg/mL powder for oral suspension 20 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg oral tablets Sildenafil is also available in an injectable form that is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic.

Sildenafil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

Sildenafil oral tablets should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Sildenafil oral liquid should be stored at room temperature below 86 F (30 C) or in the refrigerator, between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Throw away any remaining liquid 60 days after it has been mixed for you by a pharmacist or healthcare professional. Sildenafil injection is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with sildenafil. If you or someone else has used too much sildenafil, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

• Sildenafil is sometimes used off-label for other medical conditions.
• Continuous use without medical supervision is not recommended.
• Follow your provider's instructions for frequency of use.

For this use, sildenafil is used only when needed.

About this article

Sildenafil may cause a mild and temporary drop in blood pressure. You may be at a higher risk if you have certain health conditions or take blood pressure medicines. If you feel faint or dizzy, lie down. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of low blood pressure. You may be at higher risk for this if you take a blood thinner medicine.

Postmarketing Reports

Tell your healthcare provider if you get nosebleeds often while sildenafil syrup taking sildenafil. If your nosebleed is severe or will not stop after applying pressure, get help right away. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take sildenafil. Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific sildenafil products they stock. Sildenafil should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Take it as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually between 30 minutes to four hours before planned sexual activity.

Study selection

Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines, known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension. You should not take more than one PDE-5 inhibitor medicine. Medicines in this group include avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio, and others), tadalafil (Cialis and others), and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn). Use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose of sildenafil oral liquid. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose.

Missed Dose

Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device. Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if sildenafil is right for you. In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following. Do not take double or extra doses.

See also:

Stop taking sildenafil and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives Sildenafil may cause an unwanted erection that is persistent, painful, and that may occur without sexual arousal. Permanent damage to the penis may occur if priapism is not treated quickly. Stop taking sildenafil and get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of priapism. Erection lasting for more than four hours Erection that is unrelated to sexual stimulation Sildenafil can cause mild, temporary vision changes such as seeing a blue tint, abnormal colors, blurry vision, or sensitivity to light.

How were differences between studies investigated?

Though rare, some people have reported permanent vision loss. Stop taking sildenafil and get help right away if you have sudden vision loss in one or both eyes. Sudden hearing loss has been reported after taking sildenafil. This may occur along with dizziness and ringing in the ears. Stop taking sildenafil and get help right away if you have sudden hearing loss or suddenly have trouble hearing as well as usual. For this use, take sildenafil as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually three times a day. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

• Sildenafil may cause dizziness; avoid driving until effects are known.
• Seek immediate medical help if an erection lasts more than 4 hours.
• Do not mix sildenafil with other ED medications unless directed.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose.

What other drugs will affect sildenafil?

You will not store it at home. The most common side effects of sildenafil are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on the condition that is being treated. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you. Pain sildenafil 100 mg cost in your muscles, back, arms, or legs There may be other side effects of sildenafil that are not listed here.

Participants included in the review

Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at or by calling 866-234-2345. While less common, the most serious side effects of sildenafil are described below, along with what to do if they happen. Sildenafil may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious.