Viagra

What is Viagra?

Viagra is a treatment for erectile dysfunction. In combination with sexual stimulation, it helps a man to achieve and maintain an erection for long enough to engage in sexual activity.

What is Viagra Used for?

Viagra is used for treating erectile dysfunction in men. The active ingredient Sildenafil can also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension in men and women, but is sold under the brand name Revatio. 

How does Viagra work?

Viagra contains Sildenafil, a type of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, which works by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the penis. Viagra does not increased increase sexual desire, but works when a man becomes sexually stimulated, enabling him to maintain an erection.

How effective is Viagra?

Viagra is effective in 65% of people who take it. It is not uncommon to try several different types of ED medication before finding one that suits you, so speak to your doctor if you feel that Viagra is not working for you.

Viagra and psychological ED

Often, erectile dysfunction has a psychological cause, such as anxiety or depression. In this case, counselling can be an effective treatment. This approach can take time and Viagra is often recommended for use in the short term, although it is important not to allow treatment to mask the problem.

Is Viagra safe?

When used correctly, Viagra is a safe and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Viagra are microcrystalline cellulose,calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), lactose monohydrate, triacetin, and indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132).

Viagra dosage

The recommended starting dose for Viagra is 50 mg no more than once daily. Your doctor will be able to adjust your dose if you feel that it is too strong or too weak. Increasing the dosage past 100 mg per day will not increase the effectiveness of Viagra.

Starting Viagra

You can start taking Viagra at any convenient time. You may not experience the effects straight away and it is recommended that you trial Viagra for at least a week before switching treatments.

How to take Viagra

Always take Viagra as instructed by a doctor or pharmacist, who will also instruct you on your dosage. Swallow one tablet whole with a glass of water approximately an hour before sexual activity. Viagra may take longer to work if you have just eaten a heavy or fatty meal. If you feel that your dose is too weak or too strong, your doctor may alter your dosage. Do not take Viagra more than once a per day, as taking too much will increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects.

How to get an erection whilst taking Viagra

If taken 25 to 50 minutes before sexual activity, Viagra can enhance your ability to achieve and maintain an erection when aroused.

Viagra Misuse

Viagra is a convenient and effective treatment for ED but should not be overused or used recreationally. Viagra is a prescription-only medication and should only be used when prescribed to you personally by a doctor. Purchasing viagra illegally from an unregistered source is very risky as you can never be sure of what you are taking. Viagra should never be used where it is not necessary, as improper use puts you at risk of increased side effects and dependency. 

Viagra side effects

Like all medications, Viagra can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking Viagra and seek medical help immediately:

• An allergic reaction with symptoms including wheezing, difficulty breathing and swelling of the eyelids, face, lips or throat
• Chest pain. If this occurs during or after intercourse, get into a semi-sitting position and try to relax, and do NOT use nitrates to treat your chest pain.
• Prolonged or sometimes painful erections
• Sudden decrease or loss of vision
• Serious skin reaction including severe peeling, swelling, blistering of the mouth, genitals or skin around the eyes, and fever
• Seizures or fits

Headaches may affect 1 in 10 people who use Viagra. Other common side effects (up to 1 in 10 cases) include:

• Nausea
• Facial flushing
• Hot flush
• Indigestion
• Colour tinge to vision
• Blurred vision
• Visual disturbance
• Congested nose
• Dizziness

Uncommon side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 side effects) include:

• Vomiting
• Skin rash
• Eye irritation
• Bloodshot or red eyes
• Seeing flashes of light
• Visual brightness
• Light sensitivity
• Watery eyes
• Pounding or rapid heartbeat
• High or low blood pressure
• Muscle pain
• Sleepiness
• Reduced sense of touch
• Vertigo
• Ringing in the ears
• Dry mouth
• Blocked sinuses
• Sinusitis
• Upper-abdominal pain
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• Blood in the urine
• Pain in the arms or legs 
• Nosebleed
• Feeling hot or tired

Rarely (1 in 1,000), the following side effects may be experienced:

• Fainting
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Irregular heartbeat
• Temporary decreased blood flow to parts of the brain
• Tightening of the throat
• Numb mouth
• Bleeding at the back of the eye
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Abnormal sensation in the eye
• Swelling of the eye or eyelid
• Small particles or spots in your vision
• Seeing halos around lights
• Dilation of the pupil of the eye
• DIscolouration of the white of the eye
• Penile bleeding
• Blood in the semen
• Dry nose
• Swelling of the inside of the nose
• Feeling irritable
• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing

Contraindications

Do NOT take Viagra if:

• You are allergic to sildenafil or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You have severe heart or liver problems
• You have recently had a stroke or heart attack
• You have or have had low blood pressure
• You have a family history of degenerative eye diseases
• You have ever had a condition involving loss of vision due to damage of the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply known as non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• You do not have erectile dysfunction
• You are female

You should inform your doctor and take particular care when taking Viagra if:

• You have sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia or multiple myeloma
• You have problems with your heart
• You currently have a stomach ulcer or a bleeding problem such as haemophilia

Drug interactions

Before taking Viagra, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription. Do NOT take Viagra in combination with:

• Any other treatment for erectile dysfunction
• Medicines containing nitrates, such as glycerol trinitrate for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrate
• Riociguat, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
• PDE-5 inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Additionally, inform your doctor if you are taking:

• Protease inhibitors, such as for the treatment of HIV
• Alpha-blockers

Viagra and alcohol

Drinking alcohol can inhibit your ability to get an erection. In order to experience the best effects of Viagra, it is recommended that you limit the amount of alcohol that you drink.

Viagra and heavy machinery / driving

Viagra can cause dizziness and disturbances to vision. If you experience either of these side effects, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.

Lifestyle changes to improve ED

Erectile dysfunction can have both physical and psychological causes. Exercise, eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking can help improve underlying physical causes of ED. 

The root cause of erectile dysfunction is often psychological. Finding ways to reduce stress in your life can be extremely beneficial, as can maintaining a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly. Anxiety may also contribute and can be further exacerbated by difficulties with sexual performance. Being open with your partner about your anxieties can often help you to relax. For advice on dealing with anxiety or depression, speak to a doctor or nurse.

Viagra vs Viagra Connect

Viagra and Viagra Connect contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil. Viagra Connect can be purchased over the counter without a prescription and was approved to reduce the number of men purchasing Viagra from illegal sources online. Viagra Connect works in the same way to Viagra, but is only available at a dosage of 50 mg. Although it is prescription-free, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist before purchasing Viagra Connect.

Viagra vs Sildenafil

Viagra and Sildenafil both contain the ativeingreident sildenafil and work in exactly the same way. Viagra is the brand name for Sildenafil, which is the generic drug.

Viagra vs other ED medications

Viagra is the most well-known and popular treatment for erectile dysfunction. Since it was first approved in 1998, other ED treatments that work in similar ways have been developed. Like Viagra, Cialis (Tadalafil) and Levitra (Vardenafil) are PDE-5 inhibitors that work by increasing blood flow to the penis in the event of sexual stimulation. Cialis has a longer action time and ca remain effective for up to 36 hours. The most recent treatment for ED is Spendra (Avanafil), a fast-acting variant which can take as little as 15 minutes to become effective.

What if Viagra doesn’t work for me?

Different erectile dysfunction treatments are better suited to different people, and it is not uncommon to try a few different treatments to begin with. If Viagra does not work for you, speak to a doctor about alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Can I buy Viagra online?

Viagra can be purchased online but only from a registered pharmacy such as Dr Felix. Buying Viagra from unregistered on illegal websites can be dangerous, and you can never be sure what you are buying.

Do I need a prescription for Viagra?

In the UK, Viagra is available on prescription at a range of doses, however a 50mg version of Viagra - Viagra Connect - is available over-the-counter without a prescription. 

Who makes Viagra?

Viagra is made and sold by Pfizer, but the generic Sildenafil has been produced by other companies since the patent expired in 2017.

How can I tell if my Viagra is genuine?

Viagra is a prescription-only medication in the UK and cannot be purchased legally without a prescription. The best way to make sure your Viagra is genuine is to purchase it on prescription from a registered pharmacy following consultation with a doctor.

Is Viagra a cure?

Viagra is not a cure for erectile dysfunction, the root cause of which is often psychological. However, it can relieve some of the stress and worry associated with ED in the short term.

Will Viagra give me an erection for hours?

While Viagra can remain effective for up to 5 hours after administration, it only works in combination with sexual stimulation. If a man becomes aroused within this time period, Viagra will help him to achieve and maintain an erection. A very rare side effect of Viagra is prolonged and sometimes painful erections. If this happens, stop taking Viagra and seek medical attention.

Is Viagra safe for long-term use?

Viagra is safe for long-term use, but it is important to be aware that this can lead to psychological dependency. ED often has a psychological cause, such as anxiety, depression or stress, and long-term use of treatments such as Viagra can mask these issues and prevent the user from pursuing long-term, psychological help.

Can women take Viagra?

Viagra should not be used by women, and there is little evidence to suggest that it has any affect on female libido or sexual enjoyment. Sildenafil is used to treat pulmonary hypertension in men and women but only under the brand name Revatio.

Will Viagra show up on a drug test?

Viagra can stay in the bloodstream for up to 8 hours and may show up in a drug test.

Sources

• Patient Information Leaflet
• NHS > Viagra
• Drugs.com > Sildenafil