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Precautions Before Using This Medicine
Before taking Viagra,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Viagra or any other drugs.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a bleeding disorder; heart, kidney,
or liver disease; a heart attack; irregular heartbeats; angina; a stroke; high or low blood pressure; sickle cell anemia; multiple myeloma; leukemia; conditions affecting the shape of the penis (e.g.,
angulation, cavernosal fibrosa, or Peyronie's disease); or a condition known as retinitis pigmentosa.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you ta
ke Viagra.
tell your doctor if you use amyl nitrate, amyl nitrite, or butyl nitrate.
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What is this Drug
Viagra is the first oral drug for male impotence. It works by dilating blood vessels in the penis, allowing the inflow of blood needed for an erection.
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Precautions while Using this Medicine
Viagra has not been studied with other medicines used for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Presently, using them together is not recommended .
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- Use Viagra exactly as directed by your doc
tor. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. If too much is used, the chance of side effects is increased.
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If you experience a prolonged or painful erec
tion for 4 hours or more, contact your doctor immediately. This condition may require prompt medical treatment to prevent tissue damage of the penis and possible permanent impotence.
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How to Use
Doses range from 25 milligrams to 100 milligrams, depending on the drug's effect. The usual dose is 50 milligrams. If you are over 65, have liver or kidney problems, or are taking erythromycin, ketoco
nazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, or saquinavir a dose of 25 milligrams may be sufficient. Your doctor will adjust the dosage if the drug is not working properly for you.
Take Viagra only bef
ore sexual activity. The manufacturer recommends a maximum of 1 dose per day (1 dose every 2 days for those taking ritonavir).
To avoid low blood pressure, do not take the 50-milligram or 10
0-milligram dose of Viagra within 4 hours of taking an alpha-blocking drug such as Cardura.
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Possible Side Effect
Less common to rare side effects may include:
- Abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, abnormal ejaculation, allergic reactions, anxiety, asthma, bloodshot eyes, bone pain, breast enlargement, cataract
s, chest pain, chills, coordination problems, cough, depression, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, dilated pupils, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, dry eyes, dry mouth, emotional or me
ntal disturbances, eye inflammation or pain, other eye disorders, fainting, falling, genital problems, gout, gum inflammation, heart problems, increased night-time urination, increased pressure in the
eyes,
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Drug Interactions
When you are taking Viagra, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet)
- Erythromycin (e.g.,
E.E.S. or Ery-Tab)
- Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox)
- Ketaconazole (e.g., Nizoral)
- Mibefradil (e.g., Posicor)
- Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir)
- Saquinavir (e.g., Fortovase or Inv
irase)¡XThese medicines may increase the unwanted effects of Viagra, unless lower starting doses of Viagra are used
- Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (e.g., Nitrostat or Transderm-Nitro)¡XViagra
creases the lowering of blood pressure by nitrates too much and their use together is not recommended
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