Sildenafil (Generic Viagra) Tablets

Sildenafil works by opening up your blood vessels to allow more blood to flow to the penis. This blood flow triggers an erection and makes sildenafil an ideal treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Sildenafil blocks PDE-5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) enzymes in your penis to widen your blood vessels. There are other medicines that work in the same way, and these are called ‘PDE-5 inhibitors’.

Generally, you must be sexually aroused to start with for sildenafil to work and give you an erection.

For best results, you should take sildenafil 1 hour before having sex. The effects of sildenafil can last for up to 4 to 5 hours.

You should not take more than 1 sildenafil tablet a day, and you should swallow it whole without chewing or crushing it. A glass of water will help you swallow it but you do not need to take it with food.

To help get the best results when taking sildenafil:

• avoid drinking grapefruit juice
• only have small amounts of alcohol (up to 3 units per day), as having a large amount of alcohol might make it difficult to get an erection
• take sildenafil on an empty stomach, as eating before taking sildenafil can make it work slower

If you have taken sildenafil and still cannot get an erection, do not take another dose. Try again the next day and make sure you avoid fatty foods and alcohol.

Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be caused by an underlying health reason, so speak to your doctor about a health check and other options if Sildenafil does not work.

Should sildenafil be taken on an empty stomach?

You can take sildenafil on an empty stomach but it is not necessary. Taking sildenafil with food or after eating a meal may cause it to work more slowly.

How long does sildenafil last?

Sildenafil lasts for around 4 hours after you take it. You can have more than 1 erection during this time, but only if you are sexually aroused.

Can sildenafil be taken daily?

Sildenafil can be taken daily, but you should not take more than 1 sildenafil tablet in 24 hours. For example, if you take sildenafil at night, you can not use it again the next morning. You will have to wait until night time the next day to take another tablet.

You can not take sildenafil with other erectile dysfunction treatments, because it can be harmful to your health.

If your sildenafil tablet is not working 4 hours after taking it, do not take anything else. You can try taking another tablet after 24 hours. Try to avoid greasy or oily meals when trying again, and make sure you are sexually aroused. If you still can not get an erection, you may need to speak to your doctor to try a different erectile dysfunction medication.

You should take 1 sildenafil tablet around 30 to 60 minutes before you want to have sex, and there are 3 sildenafil dosages available. You can choose from 25mg, 50mg and 100mg of sildenafil.

Your doctor may suggest you start with the 50mg dose, and this can go up to 100mg or down to 25mg depending on how you get on with your sildenafil tablets.

You might need to switch to 25mg of sildenafil if the 50mg tablets are causing side effects, such as making you feel dizzy.

100mg sildenafil tablets may be the right dose for you if the 50mg tablets are not enough to get an erection. Whilst a higher dose may increase your chance of getting an erection, it might also increase the likelihood of side effects.

You should not take more than 1 sildenafil tablet a day, even if you are on the lowest strength of 25mg.

A doctor can help you find out which sildenafil dose is right for you.

You may be able to take sildenafil if you are over 18 years old and have erectile dysfunction.

You should not take sildenafil if you:

• are taking medication for chest pain (nitrates)
• ever had an allergic reaction to sildenafil or Viagra
• have low blood pressure
• have heart or kidney problems
• have recently had breast cancer or a stroke
• have a rare inherited eye disease

You should be careful about taking sildenafil and speak to a doctor first if you have:

• a stomach ulcer
• bleeding problems, or haemophilia
• sickle cell anaemia
• multiple myeloma
• any deformities in your penis, such as Peyronie's disease (curved penis)

Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you, to make sure that sildenafil is right for you.

Common side effects

You might have some side effects when taking sildenafil, but most of the time they should be minor.

Common side effects of taking sildenafil include:

• nausea
• headaches
• indigestion
• hot flushes
• dizziness
• stuffy nose
• blurry vision

If you experience side effects that are uncomfortable or do not get better with time, you should speak to a doctor.

Uncommon and rare side effects

Uncommon side effects of taking sildenafil include:

• skin reactions, such as peeling or swollen skin
• seizures
• a painful erection that lasts over 4 hours
• chest pain
• changes in eyesight

If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking sildenafil immediately and contact your doctor or call 999.

You should also call 999 if you have a rare allergic reaction to sildenafil, where you may get these symptoms:

• wheezing
• tightness in your chest or throat
• trouble talking or breathing
• skin rash, such as red or itchy skin
• swelling of your face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat

After filling in our online questionnaire, you can buy sildenafil online from ZAVA Online Doctor, even though it is a prescription only medicine.

ZAVA is a UK pharmacy registered with the GPhC, which regulates the legal sale of prescription medicines online. This means buying sildenafil from ZAVA is safe and reliable, as a doctor has to approve the prescription before we can send you a pack in the post.

You can not buy sildenafil without a prescription, but you can get it online with ZAVA.

Sildenafil is available through the NHS. You’ll need to book an appointment with your doctor to get a prescription.

Viagra Connect (50mg sildenafil) is available without a prescription, as it is an over the counter version of Viagra that you can buy online or in a pharmacy.

Sildenafil is just as effective as Viagra because sildenafil and Viagra both contain the same active ingredient (sildenafil) and work the same way.

Viagra is the brand name version of sildenafil, and they both have the exact same amount of sildenafil in each tablet and work for the same amount of time.

Sildenafil cannot make you last longer in bed. When you are aroused, Sildenafil can help you get and maintain an erection but it can not stop you from ejaculating.

Premature ejaculation is when you ejaculate too early during sex. If you find you are ejaculating within the first few minutes of sex, there are other treatments you can try, such as Emla cream or Priligy tablets.