Spedra

Spedra contains the active ingredient avanafil, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Medicines which belong to the group of PDE5 - inhibitors are primarily prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. Avanafil causes the blood vessels in your penis to relax and improves the blood flow to the penis. As a result, you will find it easier to gain and maintain an erection. However, against popular belief, Spedra will not cause an erection without sexual stimulation.

You need to take one Spedra tablet approximately half an hour before intercourse. You can take it independently of your meals. However, taking the tablet with food means that it may take longer to take effect. You must not take more than one Spedra tablet per day. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Spedra, as it increases your risk of side effects such as dizziness, headaches and low blood pressure. Alcohol also has a negative impact on your ability to gain an erection.

Avanafil interacts with grapefruit juice. You should avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice 24 hours before taking a Spedra tablet.

• 50 mg avanafil tablets
• 100 mg avanafil tablets
• 200 mg avanafil tablets

Some patients notice side effects while taking Spedra. Read the patient leaflet for a complete list of all known side effects of avanafil. If you experience any side effects not listed on the patient leaflet, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

• feeling dizzy
• hot flushes
• increased heart beat
• palpitations
• visual disturbances and blurry vision
• nausea
• indigestion
• raised liver enzymes
• tiredness or sleepiness
• sinus congestion
• back pain
• breathlessness upon exertion
• changes in your heart beat which may show on an ECG

• you’re taking any nitrate medicines
• you’re taking ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir or atazanavir to treat HIV or AIDS
• you’re taking an antifungal such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole
• you ‘re taking an antibiotic such as clarithromycin or telithromycin
• you have a heart problem
• you’ve had a stroke or a heart attack in the past 6 months
• you have an irregular heartbeat
• you suffer from low or high blood pressure which is not effectively controlled with medication
• you suffer from angina or notice chest pain during intercourse
• you have a kidney or liver problem
• you suffer from non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy [NAION] (an eye condition which means that there is not enough blood going to your eye)
• you have a family history of serious eye conditions, for example retinitis pigmentosa

• you have any heart problems
• you suffer persistent erections which last for over four hours (this condition called priapism often affects men suffering from sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma or leukaemia)
• you suffer from any condition which affects the shape of your penis (including angulation, Peyronie’s disease and cavernosal fibrosis)
• you suffer from a bleeding disorder or suffer from active peptic ulceration

Spedra interacts with certain medications. Your prescribing doctor will ask which medications you are currently taking and check whether they interact with Spedra.

Medications known to interact with Spedra tablets include:

• alpha-blockers (prescribed for certain conditions affecting the prostate as well as hypertension)
• certain medications used to treat an irregular heartbeat (such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol)
• the antibiotic erythromycin
• the medicine carbamazepine, which is used to treat epilepsy, certain mood disorders and pain
• the epilepsy medications phenobarbital and primidone
• the medicines amprenavir, diltiazem, aprepitant, fluconazole verapamil and fosamprenavir, which can reduce the breakdown of avanafil in your body

For a list of all known side effects and warnings read the patient leaflet supplied with your medication.