Sildenafil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
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- headache
- heartburn
- diarrhea
- flushing (feeling of warmth)
- nosebleeds
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
- muscle aches
- changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
- sensitivity to light
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- sudden severe loss of vision (see below for more information)
- blurred vision
- sudden decrease or loss of hearing
- ringing in ears
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- fainting
- chest pain
- worsening shortness of breath
- erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours
- itching or burning during urination
- rash
Some patients experienced a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after they took sildenafil or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. The vision loss was permanent in some cases. It is not known if the vision loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of vision while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of sildenafil or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.
There have been reports of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, bleeding in the brain or lungs, high blood pressure, and sudden death in men who took sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. Most, but not all, of these people had heart problems before taking sildenafil. It is not known whether these events were caused by sildenafil, sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these and other causes.Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking sildenafil.
Some patients experienced a sudden decrease or loss of hearing after they took sildenafil or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. The hearing loss usually involved only one ear and did not always improve when the medication was stopped. It is not known if the hearing loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. If you are taking sildenafil (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction, do not take any more doses of sildenafil (Viagra) or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor. If you are taking sildenafil (Revatio) for PAH, do not stop taking your medication until you talk to your doctor.
Sildenafil may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Viagra Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, sildenafil (the active ingredient contained in Viagra) may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking sildenafil:
Less common
- Bladder pain
- burning feeling in the chest or stomach
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
- cloudy or bloody urine
- dizziness
- increased frequency of urination
- indigestion
- pain on urination
- stomach upset
- tenderness in the stomach area
Rare
- Abnormal vision
- anxiety
- behavior change similar to drunkenness
- bleeding of the eye
- blurred vision
- bone pain
- breast enlargement
- chest pain
- chills
- cold sweats
- confusion
- convulsions (seizures)
- cool and pale skin
- deafness or hearing loss
- decrease in amount of urine or the frequency of urination
- decreased vision
- difficulty in concentrating
- dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- double vision
- drowsiness
- dry eyes
- dry mouth
- dryness, redness, scaling, or peeling of the skin
- excessive hunger
- eye pain
- fainting or faintness
- fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
- feeling of something in the eye
- fever or chills
- headache (severe or continuing)
- increase in the size of the pupil
- increased sweating
- increased thirst
- lower back or side pain
- migraine headache
- nausea (severe or continuing)
- nervousness
- nightmares
- numbness of the hands
- painful, swollen joints
- prolonged, painful erection of penis
- redness, burning, or swelling of the eyes
- redness, itching, or tearing of the eyes
- restless sleep
- seeing shades of colors differently than before
- sensitivity to light
- shakiness
- skin lesions with swelling
- skin paleness
- skin rash, hives, or itching
- skin ulcers
- slurred speech
- sore throat
- sudden weakness
- swelling of the face, hands, feet, or lower legs
- trouble breathing
- twitching of the muscles
- unusual feeling of burning or stinging of the skin
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vision changes
- vision loss, temporary
Incidence not known
- Blindness
Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention
Some side effects of sildenafil may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Aches or pains in the muscles
- bloody nose
- diarrhea
- difficult or labored breathing
- flushing
- headache
- pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- redness of the skin
- sneezing
- stomach discomfort following meals
- stuffy or runny nose
- trouble sleeping
- unusually warm skin
Rare
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- abnormal dreams
- anxiety
- clumsiness or unsteadiness
- cough
- diarrhea or stomach cramps (severe or continuing)
- difficulty in swallowing
- ear pain
- increased amount of saliva
- increased skin sensitivity
- lack of coordination
- loss of bladder control
- mental depression
- nausea
- numbness or tingling of the hands, legs, or feet
- rectal bleeding
- redness or irritation of the tongue
- redness, soreness, swelling, or bleeding of the gums
- ringing or buzzing in the ears
- sensation of motion, usually whirling, either of one’s self or of one’s surroundings
- sexual problems in men (continuing), including failure to experience a sexual orgasm
- sleepiness
- sores in the mouth and on the lips
- tense muscles
- trembling and shaking
- vomiting
- waking to urinate at night
- worsening of asthma
Circulatory system
It takes a finely choreographed series of events to produce an erection. It begins with arousal signals from your brain, and it all hinges on good blood flow to the penis.
Within the penis are two chambers called the corpora cavernosa. Nitric oxide (NO) is released in the chambers during sexual stimulation. NO activates an enzyme called guanylate cyclase. That increases levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which causes muscles to relax.
The chambers also contain a network of blood vessels. When those blood vessels relax and widen, blood rushes in. The resulting pressure is what causes an erection.
PDE5 can dampen the effect of cGMP. Viagra works by inhibiting PDE5.
Viagra is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Maximum concentrations are reached within about an hour.
One of the more common side effects is flushing, or redness.
This medication can also cause a decrease in blood pressure, particularly 1 to 2 hours after taking it. If you already have low blood pressure, discuss the pros and cons of Viagra with your doctor.
For most people, sexual activity is good for cardiovascular health. However, if you have cardiovascular disease, ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to take Viagra. You should also avoid Viagra if your doctor advised you to not have sex.
You should not take Viagra if you’ve had a stroke or heart attack or if you have unstable angina.
Certain drug interactions can harm your heart. Avoid taking PDE5 inhibitors if you also use long-lasting alpha-blockers or take medications that contain nitrates.
Reproductive system
Viagra can be quite effective, but it’s no magic pill. It does nothing for the libido. You still need some kind of stimulation to get an erection.
The effects of Viagra usually last about 4 hours, though they may last longer for some men. A rare, but serious side effect, is priapism. That’s when you get an erection that lasts for a long period of time. It can become quite painful.
If you have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical attention.
You should also be wary of PDE5 inhibitors if you have an anatomical abnormality of the penis. If you have Peyronie’s disease, your doctor may advise against taking Viagra.
Viagra is a temporary fix and does not cure ED. It offers no protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Central nervous system
Viagra helps to improve blood flow to the penis, but your brain is still your most valuable sex organ. Viagra will not work if you’re not in the mood.
Some potential side effects of Viagra are headache, runny or blocked nose, or a nosebleed. Some men feel lightheaded or dizzy. In rare cases, Viagra can cause fainting. Some men taking PDE5 inhibitors report back or muscle pain.
It’s not common, but some men experience ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or vision loss after taking PDE5 inhibitors.
Avoid PDE5 inhibitors if you have a history of an eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION is characterized by the interruption of blood flow to the optic nerve.
If you have hearing or vision loss while taking Viagra, seek immediate medical help.
Excretory and digestive system
Viagra is dispensed in a film-coated tablet. You can take Viagra with or without food, and it’s best to take it about an hour before you plan to have sex.
Do not take Viagra more than once per day.
About 80 percent of Viagra leaves your body in your feces. The rest is washed out with your urine.
One fairly common side effect of Viagra is indigestion or stomach upset. PDE5 inhibitors can sometimes cause nausea or vomiting.
7 Common Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Medication
Erectile dysfunction medications
Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called impotence, can affect your quality of life by decreasing your satisfaction from sex. ED can have many causes, both psychological and physical. ED from physical causes is fairly common in men as they age. Medications are available that can help treat ED for many men.
The most well-known ED medications include:
-
-
- tadalafil (Cialis)
- sildenafil (Viagra)
- vardenafil (Levitra)
- avanafil (Stendra)
-
These prescription drugs increase the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, meaning it makes your blood vessels widen to help increase the blood flow. These drugs are especially effective at widening the blood vessels in your penis. More blood in your penis makes it much easier for you to get and maintain an erection when you are sexually aroused.
However, these drugs can also cause side some effects. Here are seven of the most common side effects from ED medications.
Headaches
Headaches are the most common side effect associated with ED medications. The sudden change in blood flow from the increased levels of nitric oxide causes the headaches.
This side effect is common with all forms of ED medications, so switching brands won’t necessarily alleviate your symptoms. If you have headaches from your ED drug, talk to your doctor about how to prevent them.
Body aches and pains
Some people have muscle aches and pains throughout their bodies while taking ED medications. Others have reported specific pain in their lower back. If you have these types of pain while taking ED medication, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may help.
However, you should talk to your doctor about other possible causes of your pain. Your doctor can help you choose an OTC medication that is safe to take with your ED medications and with any other medications you take.
Digestive system problems
Your ED medication may cause uncomfortable digestive system side effects. The most common are indigestion and diarrhea.
To help relieve minor problems, consider making dietary changes to reduce upset stomach. Drinking water instead of caffeinated beverages, alcohol, or juice may help. If changing your diet doesn’t work, talk to your doctor about OTC remedies that may help.
Dizziness
An increase in nitric oxide can cause some men to become dizzy. The dizziness caused by ED medications is generally mild. However, any dizziness can cause discomfort during everyday activities.
In rare cases, dizziness from ED medications has led to fainting, which can become a serious health issue. You should tell your doctor if you experience dizziness while taking ED medications. If you faint while taking these medications, see your doctor right away.
Vision changes
ED medications can change the way you see things — literally. They can temporarily alter your eyesight and even cause blurry vision. ED medications aren’t recommended if you have had vision loss, or a retinal disorder called retinitis pigmentosa.
A complete loss of vision or changes that don’t go away can signify a more serious issue with your ED medication. Seek emergency medical care if you experience these symptoms.
Flushes
Flushes are temporary periods of redness of the skin. Flushes usually develop on your face and may also spread to parts of your body. Flushes can be mild, like blotchy skin, or severe, like rashes. Although the appearance may make you uncomfortable, flushes typically aren’t harmful.
Flushes from ED medications may get worse when you:
-
-
- eat hot or spicy foods
- drink alcohol
- are outside in warm temperatures
-
Congestion and runny nose
Congestion or a runny or stuffy nose can be a common symptom of ED medications. In most cases, these side effects go away without treatment. Talk to your doctor if they persist.
Recognizing uncommon, severe side effects
Minor side effects are common when taking ED medication. Still, there are a few side effects that aren’t as common, and some can even be dangerous. Severe side effects of ED medications can include:
-
-
- priapism (erections that last longer than 4 hours)
- sudden changes in hearing
- vision loss
-
Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these severe side effects.
Certain men are more at risk of these side effects than others. This may be because of other conditions they have or other medications they take.
When discussing ED treatment with your doctor, it’s important to tell them about all drugs that you take and other health conditions you have. If ED drugs aren’t right for you, your doctor may suggest other treatment options, such as surgery or vacuum pumps.