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By Vitality Rx Staff

What Is Sildenafil: All You Need to Know and FAQs

Sildenafil was discovered in the early 1990s by a group of scientists, which led to its approval for use as the first oral erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment. It’s since become one of the most popular ED drugs on Earth. In addition, the drug has been approved for use in two conditions: erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men who also have symptoms of ED. This article will explain what Sildenafil is and answer the most frequently asked questions regarding the drug and the conditions it treats.

Erectile Dysfunction and How Sildenafil Can Help

Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that many men suffer from. The specific definition of erectile dysfunction is when a man cannot reach or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Other times, a man may be able to have sex, but his erections are not firm enough and don’t last long enough for both partners’ satisfaction. ED can be caused by a physical problem with the body rather than any emotional problems or stress issues. Many things can cause ED, including:

  • High blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Taking certain medications, such as some recreational drugs (for example, marijuana, ecstasy) and some antidepressants (for example, MAOIs)
  • Surgery in the pelvic area, such as prostate surgery and radical prostatectomy
  • Being overweight or obese (that is, having a high body mass index or BMI)
  • Hormonal problems, such as low testosterone levels in men.

The good news is that several treatments are available for erectile dysfunction, and the most effective one is sildenafil citrate. But what is Sildenafil, and what exactly does it do?

The drug helps to relax muscles that surround blood vessels in the body, including muscles around those in your penis. When the muscles relax, it allows more blood to flow into your penis to cause an erection.

Positive and Negative Effects of Sildenafil

Below are the most common positive and negative effects of Sildenafil. Before taking this medication, talk to a specialized doctor about your health problems. ED experts might recommend a personalized optimization plan for better sex and a higher-quality lifestyle.

Sildenafil Positive Effects

  1. Erectile dysfunction can negatively impact a man’s quality of life regarding the satisfaction gained and his sexual relationship with his partner. Sildenafil can help with these issues.
  2. Heart attack or stroke risk increases in men with ED. This is because erections are physically demanding, as blood pressure and heart rate have to increase to allow for an erection to occur. Having an erection for long enough can stress your heart, leading to cardiovascular problems such as angina pectoris and even heart attack or stroke. In addition, it can increase the risk of getting an infection in your urinary tract (for example, a kidney infection, bladder infection, or sexually transmitted infection). Since Sildenafil alleviates the root problem, you will experience improved health overall.
  3. Men with ED often complain about effects such as loss of muscle strength, lower back pain, exhaustion, and mental and mood issues (for example, anxiety and low self-esteem). Sildenafil can help cause positive changes, such as feeling more confident or better about yourself.
  4. Sildenafil helps many men gain better control over their erections and make sex a more pleasurable experience for them, their partner, and their relationship.
  5. Cuts impotence diagnosis and treatment costs.
  6. The drug is highly effective and has been proven to work in many people.
  7. Firm erections that can last as long as four hours.

Sildenafil Negative Effects

  1. Sildenafil may cause some side effects that other ED medications don’t have. For example, you may experience nausea and headaches. There’s also a chance of developing blood in your urine while on Sildenafil. However, most side effects are minor or mild (for example, headache).
  2. It’s available only with a prescription, so you’ll need to see your doctor for approval before taking it.
  3. The drug is not to be used by women, and it’s not safe for use by people younger than 18 years old.
  4. It can interact with certain medications, so you should take care to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or medications you’re on.
  5. Some drugs shouldn’t be taken with Sildenafil, including drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction and other erectile problems. They can cause adverse effects when taken with Sildenafil; you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are unsure about taking other treatments together with Sildenafil.
  6. It works best on an empty stomach, so you should avoid taking it with food. It may not work well (slower effects) if you take it before or after a meal. You should also avoid eating high-fat foods during the Sildenafil treatment.
  7. The drug is only for short-term use (for example, four to six weeks). If you take it for more than six weeks, you may develop a tolerance to the drug, which won’t work either. It would be best to speak with your doctor about your specific concerns and treatment goals before deciding how long you’ll take the drug.

Who Can Use Sildenafil?

Sildenafil is approved as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The drug is a proven treatment for erectile dysfunction. In addition, it offers an accessible alternative to most other treatments for ED for those who cannot take other medications.

Sildenafil has also been proven an effective treatment option for BPH — a condition that causes issues like urine flow rate and force. It can also help relieve the symptoms of BPH in men with ED. Regarding who can take Sildenafil, men with any of the conditions listed above can use the drug.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sildenafil

Below are some commonly asked questions about sildenafil citrate, which will help you understand it better.

1. How Long Does Sildenafil Last?

It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for Sildenafil to start working if taking the oral medication. If taking a sublingual troche, it can be as little as 15 minutes. Its effects can last from four to six hours. That said, it can take up to 24 hours for the drug’s effects to go away completely and for you to return to your normal state.

2. What Is Sildenafil Used For?

Sildenafil is a drug primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction. It’s also used to treat BPH, which is a condition that causes issues like urinary flow rate and force of urine flow. Erectile dysfunction takes the lead among all of the uses for Sildenafil.

4. How Should I Take Sildenafil?

It’s important to take Sildenafil exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Sildenafil usually comes in pill form. This medication is usually taken orally with water; however, it may also be taken as a sublingual troche that dissolves under the tongue. 

5. How Long Does Sildenafil Make You Last?

Sildenafil is often used with other medications to treat ED to improve the length of time you can maintain an erection. The drug comes as a tablet that’s taken by mouth. You should take it about 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity and expect the effects to last up to four hours.

6. What Happens When You Take Sildenafil?

Sildenafil’s action mechanism is to relax muscles in the penis to allow for better blood flow into the penis, allowing an erection. The drug also acts on the nervous system and increases blood flow to your penis.

7. What Is the Difference Between Viagra and Sildenafil?

Sildenafil citrate is the generic version of Viagra. The chemical name for this drug is 1-{4-[p-fluorophenyl] sulfonyl)-3(phenyl) methyl} piperazine citrate. It’s an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and BPH in men.

Viagra is the brand name for sildenafil citrate. It was first used to treat erectile dysfunction in 1998 with great success. The drug has since gained popularity and has become a popular ED treatment option — with many men even taking the drug recreationally. Sildenafil citrate is also used to treat BPH and other conditions, such as high blood pressure and chest pain.

The main difference between the two drugs is in their components. Sildenafil is a modification of sildenafil citrate, which also has other components. The other components in Sildenafil (which are not present in Viagra) include:

  • Pyridoxine hydrochloride (also known as vitamin B6)
  • L-arginine hydrochloride
  • Carrageenan
  • Taurine
  • Sodium phenylacetate

Viagra is primarily formulated to treat erectile dysfunction by acting on the nerves, muscles, and blood vessels in the penis. Sildenafil also relaxes the muscles it works with to help with blood flow. However, Viagra uses the presence of nitric oxide to help it do this — and that’s where the major difference between the two is found. Sildenafil citrate is also a PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5 is an enzyme). So the drug works by blocking PDE5, which results in the relaxation of muscles in the penis and increased blood flow.

8. Can You Take Sildenafil Every Day?

There’s some concern that Sildenafil could become less effective over time. It was reported that the drug might lose some of its potency after a few months. However, this has not been proven true. One possible reason why Sildenafil might not be as effective over time is because of the presence of other ingredients in the pills (such as taurine), which can hurt the function of sildenafil citrate.

9. Can You Buy Sildenafil Over the Counter?

Sildenafil is generally only available by prescription. However, it may be available over the counter in some countries. It is also available as an injection (intracavernosal injection) for BPH and other conditions.

10. How Do You Know If Sildenafil Is Working?

The timeframe for Sildenafil is not always predictable. The drug works in various ways, and it’s different for every man. In addition, the response will also depend on your body’s ability to absorb the drug. If you take Sildenafil at one time and see no results, try taking it again at a different time.

Sildenafil is often used with other medications to treat ED to improve the length of time you can maintain an erection. The drug comes as a tablet that’s taken by mouth. You should take it about 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.

11. Can I Take Sildenafil with Alcohol?

Sildenafil is not recommended when you’re drinking alcohol. The combination may cause a dangerous condition in the body – too much blood in your penis. Alcohol can also decrease the effectiveness or increase some side effects of Sildenafil, including headaches and dizziness.

12. Does Drinking Coffee Influence the Effects of Sildenafil?

Coffee (which is an antioxidant) can have a positive effect on the effects of Sildenafil, making it more effective. It may also help with sexual performance and could even help you last longer.

13. What Are Sildenafil Tabs?

Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra. The chemical name for this drug is 1-{4-[p-fluorophenyl] sulfonyl)-3(phenyl)methyl} piperazine citrate. It’s an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and BPH in men. The tabs combine the active ingredient (Sildenafil or Sildenafil citrate) and another chemical (aposide). These two drugs, sildenafil citrate and dibenzyl guanidine, work to help you achieve an erection when these specific conditions are met:

  • You’re not sexually aroused
  • You have no physical problems with your prostate
  • You’re not on any medications for erectile dysfunction

14. What Are Sildenafil Troches?

Sildenafil troches are a form of Sildenafil used to treat erectile dysfunction. They are dissolvable tablets that contain sildenafil citrate and come in the form of a troche or lozenge. They dissolve upon contact with saliva and stay in your mouth for about 20 to 30 minutes.

15. Who Can Prescribe Sildenafil to You?

Sildenafil is a prescription drug, which means only your doctor can prescribe it to you after a thorough evaluation of your condition. However, your doctor can determine if Sildenafil is right for you based on your medical history and symptoms. If you are in the U.S., Sildenafil can be prescribed by a doctor certified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Conclusion

So, what is Sildenafil? Sildenafil is a medication that’s used to treat erectile dysfunction. The drug works by relaxing the muscles of the penis and increasing blood flow. It’s often used along with other medications to treat other conditions, including BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which is a condition that causes an enlarged prostate gland. The above FAQs elaborate further on what Sildenafil is, how it works, and its benefits.

If you experience erectile dysfunction and have tried other treatments without success, Sildenafil may be worth a try. Before taking the medication, talk to your doctor and discuss the possibility of taking natural supplements for erectile dysfunction, including (but not limited to) Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.