Suhagra 50mg

What is SUHAGRA (sildenafil)?

Sildenafil relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body.

Sildenafil under the name Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men. Another brand of sildenafil is Revatio, which is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and improve exercise capacity in men and women.

Do not take Viagra while also taking Revatio, unless your doctor tells you to.

Sildenafil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about oral sildenafil?

You should not use sildenafil if you are allergic to it.

Do not take sildenafil if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate. Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure.

Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.

Stop using sildenafil and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking oral sildenafil?

You should not use sildenafil if you are allergic to it.

Do not take sildenafil if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate. Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure.

To make sure sildenafil is safe for you, tell your doctor about your other medical conditions, especially:

• heart disease or heart rhythm problems, coronary artery disease;

• a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a heart attack, stroke, or congestive heart failure;

• high or low blood pressure;

• liver or kidney disease;

• a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;

• a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;

• a stomach ulcer;

• retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);

• a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease); or

• if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.

Sildenafil can decrease blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye, causing sudden vision loss. This has occurred in a small number of people taking sildenafil, most of whom also had heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual cause of vision loss. Stop using sildenafil and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.

FDA pregnancy category B: This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use sildenafil without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether sildenafil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

How should I take oral sildenafil?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Revatio is usually taken three times each day, about 4 to 6 hours apart.

Viagra is usually taken only when needed, 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity. You may take it up to 4 hours before sexual activity. Do not take Viagra more than once per day.

Viagra can help you have an erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill. Follow your doctor's instructions.

During sexual activity, if you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Viagra is used as needed, you are not likely to miss a dose.

If you miss a dose of Revatio, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at .

What should I avoid while taking oral sildenafil?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with sildenafil and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking sildenafil.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of sildenafil.

Avoid using any other medicines to treat impotence, such as alprostadil or yohimbine, without first talking to your doctor.

Oral sildenafil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.

Stop using sildenafil and call your doctor at once if you have:

• vision changes or sudden vision loss;

• ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss;

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;

• irregular heartbeat;

• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;

• shortness of breath; or

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects may include:

• warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest;

• headache;

• upset stomach; or

• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at .

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

Sildenafil dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Erectile Dysfunction:

Initial (oral): 50 mg orally administered as needed 1 hour prior to anticipated sexual activity. A maximum of one dose per day is recommended.
Maintenance (oral): 25 to 100 mg orally as needed 30 minutes to 4 hours prior to anticipated sexual activity. A maximum of one dose per day is recommended.

Usual Adult Dose for Pulmonary Hypertension:

Oral: 5 mg or 20 mg three times a day taken at least 4 to 6 hours apart.
Injection: 2.5 mg or 10 mg administered as an intravenous bolus injection three times a day. The injection dose does not need to be adjusted for body weight.

A 10 mg dose of the injection is predicted to provide pharmacological effect of sildenafil and its N-desmethyl metabolite equivalent to that of a 20 mg oral dose. The injection is for the continued treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who are currently prescribed oral sildenafil and who are temporarily unable to take oral medication.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Erectile Dysfunction:

25 mg orally as needed 1 hour prior to anticipated sexual activity.

What other drugs will affect oral sildenafil?

Do not take sildenafil with similar medications such as avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra). Tell your doctor about all other medications you use for erectile dysfunction.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with sildenafil, especially:

• cimetidine;

• bosentan;

• imatinib;

• nefazodone;

• St. John's wort;

• an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

• antifungal medication--fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

• heart or blood pressure medication--amlodipine, amiodarone, nicardipine, quinidine;

• hepatitis C medications--boceprevir, telaprevir;

• HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir;

• seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone; or

• tuberculosis medication--isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with sildenafil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.