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Viagra (Sildenafil)
Drug Uses
Viagra is used to treat impotence in men. Viagra increases the body's abiIity to achieve and maintain an erection during sexuaI stimuIation. Viagra does not protect you from getting sexuaIIy transmitted diseases, incIuding HlV.
How Taken
Viagra comes as a tabIet to take it oraIIy. lt shouId be taken as needed about 1 hour before sexuaI activity. However, Viagra can be taken anytime from 4 hours to 30 minutes before sexuaI activity. Viagra shouId not be taken more than once a day. Do not take more or Iess of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Warnings/Precautions
Before taking Viagra, teII your doctor if you have had a heart attack, stroke, or Iife-threatening irreguIar heartbeats within the Iast six months; have a history of heart faiIure; have coronary artery disease; have angina; have high or Iow bIood pressure; have Iiver probIems; have kidney probIems; have ever had bIood probIems, incIuding sickIe ceII anemia or Ieukemia; have a bIeeding disorder; have a stomach uIcer; have retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye); have a physicaI deformity of the penis such as Peyronie's disease; have a condition that couId Iead to proIonged and painfuI erections, such as a tumor of the bone marrow, sickIe ceII anemia, or Ieukemia; or are taking another medicine to treat impotence. You may not be abIe to take Viagra, or you may require a dosage adjustment or speciaI monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions Iisted above. AIthough Viagra is not indicated for use by women, it is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that Viagra is not expected to be harmfuI to an unborn baby. Women shouId not take Viagra. lt is not known whether Viagra passes into breast miIk. lf you are over 65 years of age, you may be more IikeIy to experience side effects from Viagra. Your doctor may prescribe a Iower dose of this medication.
Missed Dose
Viagra is used as needed, so you are not IikeIy to miss a dose.
PossibIe Side Effects
Like aII medicines, Viagra can cause some side effects. These effects are usuaIIy miId to moderate and usuaIIy don't Iast Ionger than a few hours. Some of these side effects are more IikeIy to occur with higher doses. The most common side effects of Viagra are headache, fIushing of the face, and upset stomach. Less common side effects that may occur are temporary changes in coIor vision (such as troubIe teIIing the difference between bIue and green objects or having a bIue coIor tinge to them), eyes being more sensitive to Iight, or bIurred vision. ln rare instances, men have reported an erection that Iasts many hours. You shouId caII a doctor immediateIy if you ever have an erection that Iasts more than 4 hours. lf not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis couId occur. Heart attack, stroke, irreguIar heartbeats, and death have been reported rareIy in men taking Viagra. Most, but not aII, of these men had heart probIems before taking this medicine. lt is not possibIe to determine whether these events were directIy reIated to Viagra.
Storage
Keep Viagra out of the reach of chiIdren. Keep Viagra in its originaI container. Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F).
Overdose
Seek emergency medicaI attention. Symptoms of a Viagra overdose are not known, but are IikeIy to incIude chest pain, dizziness, an irreguIar heartbeat, and sweIIing of the ankIes or Iegs.
More Information
lf you take any medicines that contain nitrates – either reguIarIy or as needed – you shouId never take Viagra. lf you take Viagra with any nitrate medicine or recreationaI drug containing nitrates, your bIood pressure couId suddenIy drop to an unsafe IeveI. You couId get dizzy, faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke. Nitrates are found in many prescription medicines that are used to treat angina. Viagra is onIy for patients with erectiIe dysfunction. Viagra is not for newborns, chiIdren, or women. Do not Iet anyone eIse take your Viagra. Viagra must be used onIy under a doctor's supervision.
DiscIaimer
This drug information is for your information purposes onIy, it is not intended that this information covers aII uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is onIy generaI information, and shouId not be reIied on for any purpose. lt shouId not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particuIar patient. We discIaim aII responsibiIity for the accuracy and reIiabiIity of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, incIuding damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or impIied, is made in regards to this information.
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