Viagra (Sildenafil) Side Effects

Common Side Effects of Viagra


Headache
Flushing in the face, neck, or chest
Upset stomach, indigestion
Abnormal vision
Nasal congestion
Back pain
Muscular pain or tenderness
Nausea
Dizziness
Rash
Diarrhea
Serious Side Effects of Viagra
Change or loss of vision
Ringing in ears or hearing loss
Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Swelling in the hands, ankles, and feet
Stop taking Viagra and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these serious side effects.

Hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat are signs of an allergic reaction. Get medical help immediately.

If your erection is painful or lasts for more than four hours (priapism), seek immediate medical attention, as permanent tissue damage and impotency could result.

Viagra (Sildenafil) Interactions

 

Always let you doctor know about all other drugs you are taking — whether they're prescription, non-prescription or "recreational" — including herbal remedies and nutritional or dietary supplements, as they might interact with Viagra.

Viagra and Drug Interactions

If you are taking a nitrate drug, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) or isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR) for chest pain or heart problems, do not take Viagra, as the interaction with sildenafil can cause a sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Be aware that some recreational drugs, such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers") contain nitrates. Blood pressure can drop when Viagra is taken with alpha-blockers.

Do not take Viagra if you are taking other drugs for erectile dysfunction, such as Stendra, Cialis, or Levitra.

Using these drugs with sildenafil is not recommended:

• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Bosentan (Tracleer)
• Imatinib (Gleevec)
• Nefazodone (Serzone)
• St. John's wort
• Antibiotics: such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (EryPed 200, EryPed 400)
• Antifungal medications: fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox)
• Heart or blood pressure medications: amlodipine (Norvasc), amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone)
• Hepatitis C medications: boceprevir (Victrelis)
• HIV/AIDS medications: ritonavir (Norvir), amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz)
• Seizure medications: carbamazepine (Tegretol), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
• Tuberculosis medications: isoniazid (Isoniazid)

Viagra and Grapefruit

Avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking sildenafil.

Grapefruit products can hinder the breakdown of sildenafil, causing it to be absorbed in larger quantities that can reach toxic levels.

Viagra and Alcohol

Drink prudently when taking Viagra. Alcohol and Viagra share major side effects — dizziness, headaches, upset stomach — and combining them only intensifies these effects.

Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption can have a debilitating effect on erections.

Viagra and Food

Viagra can be taken with or without food. When taken with a high-fat meal, it will take longer to work.