Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED, also called impotence). It is sometimes known by its generic name sildenafil, and sometimes known by its trade name Viagra. Other brands of the same medicine are also available.
Sildenafil is the generic formulation of Pfizer's Viagra, the “little blue pill” that has gained immense popularity for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Sildenafil can be prescribed in 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 100 mg doses. 100 mg is the maximum dosage available for Viagra and sildenafil for a reason, and your healthcare provider is unlikely to prescribe more than that for you.
Minor differences in packaging aside, brand name Viagra and its generic counterpart sildenafil are exactly the same medication. If you have erectile dysfunction, both medications should produce noticeable improvements in your erections and sexual performance. The key difference, as we mentioned above, is price.
Viagra helps to maintain the erection after ejaculation and reduces the refractory time before a second erection can be obtained.
By controlling the enzyme, sildenafil helps to maintain an erection after the penis is stroked. Without physical action to the penis, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse, sildenafil will not work to cause an erection.
Viagra does not stimulate you sexually, it can only help you get an erection once you're already aroused. Because Viagra only helps you to get an erection by improving blood flow to the penis, it doesn't force you to get an erection, so it won't work unless you're sexually stimulated.
Currently, 100mg is the highest dose of sildenafil that's approved by the FDA for treating erectile dysfunction. It is okay to take a 100mg dose of sildenafil, but normally, you'll only be prescribed this dosage if you still find it difficult to get or maintain an erection after using a lower dose of sildenafil.
Sildenafil is an effective oral treatment for ED that produces a penetrative erection as early as 12 min and for most patients, within 30 min after dosing, and a duration of action lasting at least 4 h.
Alcohol (Ethanol) sildenafil
You may be more likely to experience symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, flushing, headache, and heart palpitations. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with sildenafil, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Because 100mg is the highest dose available, you should never 'double up' on tablets or take more than one in 24 hours. Sildenafil 100mg is the highest safe dosage you can take – if it is ineffective, you should try another ED treatment.
Vardenafil (Levitra) is almost 10 times more biochemically potent than sildenafil, therefore a lower dose is needed to facilitate the penile erection, potentially resulting in less side effects. Selectivity is the ability of the drug to attach to the specific enzyme PDE 5 found in penile tissues.
Penile implant. A penile implant involves a 30- to 45-minute surgical procedure that places a water-based device into the erection chambers of the penis, which enables you to reliably control exactly when and how long an erection lasts. Dr. Starke says this is the closest option to a cure that exists for ED.
Generally, Viagra lasts around four hours. So it's important you don't take Viagra too long before you want to have sex, for example don't take Viagra in the morning if you expect to have sex at night. It's likely if you leave it that long, the effects of Viagra will have worn off.
Viagra is available in three strengths: 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg, and 100 mg.
There are three different doses of Viagra: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. The normal starting dose for Viagra is 50mg, but you can switch doses with the help of a doctor if you need to.
A penile erection can normally last anywhere from a few minutes to about half an hour. On average, men have five erections a night while they're sleeping, each lasting about 25 to 35 minutes (Youn, 2017).
Common physical causes of erectile dysfunction include heart disease, diabetes, nerve damage and high blood pressure. Hormonal issues, such as low testosterone, can also affect your level of sexual desire, which may stop you from getting an erection even with Viagra.
Adults 65 years of age and older—25 mg as a single dose no more than once a day, 1 hour before sexual intercourse. Alternatively, the medicine may be taken 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual intercourse. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
The biggest difference between Viagra and Cialis is the amount of time their effects last. Viagra remains effective for 4 to 6 hours, which offers ample opportunity to have sex on multiple occasions if you wish. However Cialis typically allows you to achieve erections for up to 36 hours after taking a tablet.
Viagra can cause some serious side effects. These can include an erection that will not go away (priapism), sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, and sudden hearing decrease or hearing loss. Some men have also experienced heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeats and even death after taking Viagra.
When used in women, Viagra is thought to raise blood flow to the genitals so that there's more sensitivity and stimulation. Studies have shown that Viagra may provide a benefit for women having difficulty with sexual arousal — since it may help them respond better to sexual stimulation.