Sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, is one of the drugs used to treat infertility or erectile dysfunction in men. The effectiveness of Sildenafil for impotence is still not cleared, so here are five things you should know before taking the drug.
Sildenafil is an effective erectile dysfunction treatment. But you can derive the most benefits if you know more about it.
- What Is Sildenafil?
This drug is an erection treatment medicine prescribed in different forms. It’s available in tablets, oral suspension, and injectable forms. But the most popular of them is the pill.
They are dispensed using different brand names, the most famous being Viagra and Revatio. But these work differently and have specific reactions.
So, all manufacturers recommend that you read the instructions on the pack keenly before you use it.
Although it’s known as a sex drug, it actually also helps in easing constrictions to your pulmonary veins. This feature makes it a viable treatment of heart conditions.
For sex, it allows for a slight stimulation to transcend into an erection. An erect penis helps you complete penetrative sex.
Although most medicines work well with a full stomach, you shouldn’t eat a lot before swallowing Sildenafil. On the other hand, please don’t take it on an empty stomach.
It could release more potency that may cause harmful side effects.
- How does it work?
The tablet works in inhibiting a particular protein from performing its function. This way, you get more blood directed to your organs.
Ingredients in Sildenafil breaks down the enzyme phosphodiesterase type-5, which is a cGMP. This protein is useful in ensuring the smooth muscle and vein lining dilation.
When it’s triggered, the veins relax, allowing more blood to flow to all organs. So you get a big blood boost to your heart and penis.
The increased supply ensures massive and rigid erection occurs.
Note that the medicine contains lactose monohydrate. Thus any intolerance would complicate your treatment.
Once you have taken it, do not operate any machinery or drive. You understand that it could cause disorientation and slow down your mental functions.
According to research published by the Mayo Clinic, Sildenafil is categorized as a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often attributed to diminished blood flow to the penis. The primary mechanism of action of Sildenafil involves the inhibition of the enzyme PDE5. This enzyme typically degrades cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a chemical messenger critical for inducing relaxation in the smooth muscle cells that line the blood vessels within the penis.
By design, this drug of PDE5 group helps you maintain a robust erection to perform penetrative sex. It’s, thus, a known treatment for eliminating symptoms of impotence.
- What should you do before taking it?
You should be aware of the potentially harmful effects of taking this drug. As with all other treatments, kindly seek a physician’s consent before moving forward with the medication.
As indicated in a study outlined by Medline Plus, it is crucial to emphasize that sildenafil should be administered solely under the supervision of a healthcare provider. This is because sildenafil can potentially lead to side effects and interact with other medications. It is not intended for recreational use and should exclusively be utilized as directed by a physician for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or other medical conditions as determined by a healthcare professional.
But even before you visit a doctor, be conscious about your body. Do you take excessive alcohol? If this is the case, then you need to go easy on the bottles.
Further, ensure that you eat well. Food is also medicine, but only if you take it correctly. Shun junk food such as friends and processed meals for a wholesome and nutritional diet.
Ensure you include fruits, nuts, and vegetables in your daily intake.
Stress is not helpful even when you are under medication. You also can’t treat some symptoms that arise from stressful situations. Instead, avoid such conditions.
Undertaking exercises and getting enough sleep can do more to eliminate some of the ED symptoms without the help of medication. Hence forecast on your mental health.
- Are there any known interactions?
Knowing how your body is going to interact with this medicine is essential. A doctor’s examination will confirm whether you are hypersensitivity to Sildenafil.
Discuss with him your medical history and how you previously reacted to some drugs. After the assessment, they may advise you accordingly. So it’s wise to follow their recommendations.
Note that your body could suffer unwanted discomfort if you mix this tablet with other medications.
The effects could be mild or severe. In case of such a reaction, you should be prepared for any out-of-ordinary effects.
But how do you prevent these side effects? Well, the first thing to consider is which medicines you are currently taking.
Check on the composition of the other drugs you are taking and how they may react when you blend them with Sildenafil.
However mild your reaction, be particularly keen about pills that contain nitrates. A high concentration of nitrates results in extremely low blood pressure that could impact your heart’s healthy functioning.
- When should you not use it?
Take your medicine for about one hour before having sex. Its peak concentration will occur two hours after taking it.
Even when your erection is obvious, you should stop any activity and consult a medical practitioner when you notice any such feelings:
A low blood pressure situation is associated with an irregular heartbeat and a dull thump of the chest. You may feel weak and dizzy when you stand from a sitting position.
With low blood pressure, your heart is not pumping enough blood to critical organs and could starve them of nutrients.
But you shouldn’t take this medicine when you have high blood pressure or suffer from any heart condition.
Further, never take it if you have abnormal red blood cells, cancer of the blood, or bone marrow.
Without repeating, take Sildenafil only when you plan to have sex. Don’t take it for the sake of achieving a strong erection.
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- What are the side effects?
Sildenafil, like any other medication, has side effects. How you manage these impacts would determine the likely output from its use.
Even when you are healthy, you still will experience minor inconveniences after taking Sildenafil.
They include fusing and headaches. Some people complain about indigestion and muscle and back ache.
According to a study reported in the Medical News Today article, back pain is an infrequent side effect of sildenafil use. It may present as discomfort or pain in the lower back area. Similar to muscle aches, sildenafil-related back pain is typically not severe but can be bothersome for certain individuals.
The drugs may also distort your sight, making you see a bluish or blurry vision. Sometimes, you may not differentiate between green and blue.
Other effects you could experience include insomnia, nasal congestion, and running nose. Besides, you could lose your hearing, or get ringing ears.
More critical side effects are rare. Still, you may get a painful erection or a sudden drop in blood pressure.
These bad side effects may manifest more severely in people with preexisting conditions. Thus men with hypertension, diabetes, and depression could suffer more.
Men having high cholesterol and preexisting eye issues may also suffer extreme negative impacts from taking the blue pill.
- Tips to help you use Sildenafil better
You need to understand that the blue pill can always work to resolve your erectile dysfunction problems. In any case, when you don’t use it properly, you probably wouldn’t derive its full benefits.
Thus don’t take heavy meals and take Sildenafil immediately. Your digestive system would be clogged and the medication would get into the bloodstream.
Also when you drink heavily and take this pill, the alcohol may prevent the medicine from working well. This is because alcohol distorts the nerve function thus preventing speedy drug delivery to the penis.
Still, you should take other drugs that contain nitrates, Mixing these drugs may impact the proper functioning of the Sildenafil, causing you to be sick instead of enjoying its potency.
If your spouse is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, you should talk to your physician about the safe usage of Sildenafil. Its interaction during pregnancy is still unknown but traces have been found in breast milk. Still, it’s better to be cautious.
