Viagra

Viagra is an erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment for men who need help getting and maintaining an erection during sex. It can only help you get an erection if you’re sexually stimulated.

Viagra is a branded treatment and contains the active ingredient sildenafil. It’s a prescription-only medication and must be approved by a doctor before use.

Sildenafil, the active ingredient, belongs to a group of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. It works by relaxing the blood vessels in your penis, allowing better blood flow when you’re sexually aroused. Long-term studies show it’s effective for 74% of men.

It takes around 30-60 minutes to work and lasts for 4 to 6 hours.

1. Take your tablet about 1 hour before you’re going to have sex.
2. Swallow it whole, with a glass of water. Eatinga heavy meal before taking it can increase the time it takes to work.
3. Viagra will only help you get an erection if you’re sexually stimulated. Try engaging in foreplay once you feel ready to have sex.

Avoid grapefruit juice, as this can increase your exposure to sildenafil. We also recommend avoiding alcohol as it can make Viagra take longer to work and make it harder to get an erection. Both can increase the likelihood and severity of side effects.

Do not take it more than once per day, even if it didn’t work the first time or you didn’t last as long as you’d like.

Viagra, like all medications, comes with a risk of side effects, although not everyone will get them. Most reported side effects of Viagra are mild to moderate in severity and only last for a short duration.

If you notice any of the following serious side effects of Viagra, stop taking it and call 999 or go to A&E straight away:

• an allergic reaction (uncommon) – may cause wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and swelling in the face, lips, or throat
• chest pains (uncommon) – if this happens during or after sex, get in a semi-seated position and try to relax. Don’t use nitrates to treat chest pain.
• prolonged erection (longer than 4 hours), which can sometimes be painful (rare)
• a sudden decrease or total loss of vision (rare)
• serious skin reactions (rare) – may cause swelling or severe peeling of the skin, fever, and blistering of the mouth, genitals, or around the eyes
• seizures (fits) (rare)
• stroke or heart attack (rare)

Very common Viagra side effects include:

• headaches

Common Viagra side effects include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• facial flushing
• hot flush
• indigestion
• visual disturbances, such as a colour tinge or blurred vision
• stuffy nose
• dizziness

Uncommon Viagra side effects include:

• vomiting (being sick)
• skin rash
• eye irritation, bloodshot eyes, red eyes, or eye pain
• seeing flashes of light
• visual brightness
• light sensitivity
• watery eyes
• pounding or rapid heartbeat
• a change in blood pressure (high or low)
• muscle pain
• fatigue
• reduced sense of touch
• vertigo
• ringing in the ears
• dry mouth
• blocked or stuffy sinuses
• inflammation of the lining of the nose
• upper abdominal pain
• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which can cause heartburn, acid reflux, nausea, and bloating
• blood in urine
• pain in the arms or legs
• nosebleed
• feeling hot

Rare Viagra side effects include:

• fainting
• irregular heartbeat
• temporary decreased blood flow to parts of the brain
• feeling of tightening of the throat
• numb mouth
• bleeding at the back of the eye
• vision problems, such as reduced sharpness, double vision, small particles or spots, or seeing halos around lights
• eye problems, such as abnormal sensations, swelling of the eye or eyelid, dilation of the pupil or discolouration of the whites of the eye
• penile bleeding
• presence of blood in semen
• dry nose
• swelling of the inside of the nose
• feeling irritable
• a sudden decrease or loss of hearing

If you get any side effects of Viagra, speak to your doctor. Mild side effects usually go away on their own, but if they don’t, let your doctor know. Some side effects will only happen for a few hours after taking Viagra and go away as the effects of the medication begin to wear off.

You should not take Viagra if you:

• are a woman
• are under 18
• have an allergy to sildenafil, or any other non-active ingredient in a Viagra tablet
• have severe liver or heart problems
• have recently had a heart attack or stroke
• have low blood pressure
• have certain rare inherited eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa
• have ever had vision loss caused by non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

You should also let your doctor know if you have any other medical conditions, especially:

• certain types of cancer, including sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, or multiple myeloma
• a deformity of the penis
• Peyronie’s disease, a condition that causes a curve in the penis and affects the length and girth
• heart problems – your doctor will be able to advise whether having sex and taking Viagra isn’t likely to worsen these problems
• a stomach ulcer
• bleeding problems, such as haemophilia

You shouldn’t take Viagra if you take:

• medications used to treat chest pain, called nitrates – these can lower your blood pressure too much, which can be dangerous
• medicines known as nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrate or ‘poppers’ – this can also cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure

Let your doctor know if you’re taking, or have recently been taking any medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal treatments, especially:

• riociguat
• protease inhibitors or alpha-blockers – you may need a lower dose
• medicines containing sacubitril or valsartan, which are used to treat heart failure

Sildenafil

Generic Viagra. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work and lasts 4 to 6 hours.

Viagra Connect

Over-the-counter 50mg tablets. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work and lasts 4 to 6 hours.

Tadalafil

A generic tablet.It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work and lasts for up to 36 hours.

Levitra

A branded medication containing vardenafil. It takes up to 1 hour to work and lasts 4 to 6 hours.

Spedra

A branded medication containing avanafil. Works within 15 to 30 minutes and lasts for around 4 hours.

Vitaros cream

A branded treatment containing alprostadil. It takes 5 to 30 minutes to work and lasts for 1 to 2 hours.