Product Information: Viagra - Sildenafil

Product Information
The world famous and original erectile dysfunction drug

Viagra® must be the most famous drug in the world, since it was the first drug (developed by Pfizer) to treat erectile dysfunction.

Viagra's affect is to inhibit an enzyme known as Phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5), which naturally occurs in erectile tissue. PDE5 can break down cyclic GMP, the substance that is produced during sexual arousal and causes vascular and muscular changes that eventual lead to an erection. (2)

Therefore, men who produce too little cyclic GMP have problems obtaining and maintaining an erection, and men who produce too much PDE5 have problems obtaining and maintaining an erection.

The affects of Viagra® will last, on-average, for up to 4-hours.

Viagra® is well known to be contra indicated with organic nitrates. These are drugs that are often used to treat heart conditions such as hypotensive conditions, (low blood pressure). Viagra® appears to potentiate the effects of nitrates and therefore the two must not be taken concurrently. Furthermore, caution is advised for any patient using Viagra® who has a heart problem, even if they are not using nitrates for the condition.

Viagra® dosages are usually 25mg to 100mg (50mg doses being the average), taken up to one hour before sexual intercourse. These dosages have produced side effects such as headache, flushing and dyspepsia. There have been some reports of disturbances, dizziness, and nasal congestion. Other rarer adverse effects reported include diarrhoea, muscle pain, skin rashes, and urinary or respiratory-tract infection.

Manufacturers Insert

VIAGRA®

What VIAGRA is and what it is used for:

- Before you take VIAGRA
- How to take VIAGRA
- Possible side effects
- Storing VIAGRA

VIAGRA 25 mg, 50 mg or 100mg film-coated tablets Sildenafil citrate. The active substance of VIAGRA is Sildenafil each tablet contains 25 mg, 10 mg or 100 mg of Sildenafil (as citrate). The other ingredients are: Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), croscarmellose, magnesium stearate. Film coat hypermellose, titanium dioxide (E171), Lactose, triacetin, indigo carmine aluminum lake (E132). Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturing Authorization Holder

WHAT VIAGRA IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR:
VIAGRA film-coated tablets are blue, with a rounded-diamond shape. They are marked "PFIZER" on one side and "VGR 25", "VGR 50" or "VGR 100" on the other side. The tablets are provided in blister packs containing 1, 4, 8 or 12 tablets. VIAGRA belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. It works by helping to relax the blood vessels in your penis, allowing blood to flow into your penis when you get sexually excited. VIAGRA will only help you to get an erection if you are sexually stimulated. You should not take VIAGRA if you do not have erectile dysfunction. You should not take VIAGRA if you are a woman.
VIAGRA is a treatment for men with erectile dysfunction, sometimes known as impotence. This is when a man cannot get, or keep a hard, erect penis suitable for sexual activity.

BEFORE YOU TAKE VIAGRA
Do not take VIAGRA:
If you are taking medicines containing nitrates, or nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite ("poppers"). These medicines are often given for relief of angina pectoris (or "chest pain"). VIAGRA can cause a serious increase in the effects of these medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines. If you are not certain, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have ever had an allergic reaction to VIAGRA or any other ingredient listed above. An allergic reaction can be a rash, itching, a swollen face, swollen lips or shortness of breath. If this has ever happened to you, tell your doctor.

If you have a severe heart or liver problem.

If you have recently had a stroke or a heart attack, or if you have low blood pressure.

If you have certain rare inherited eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa).

Take special care with VIAGRA:
Please tell your doctor
- If you have sickle cell anemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), Leukemia (cancer of blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow) or any disease or deformity of your penis. These conditions may require special care when taking medicines for erectile dysfunction.
- If you have problems with your heart. Your doctor should in that case carefully check whether your heart could take the additional strain if having sex.

If you currently have a stomach ulcer, or a bleeding disorder (such as hemophilia).
You should not take VIAGRA with any other treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Special considerations for children " VIAGRA should not be given to children under the age of 18. Special considerations for elderly patients over 65 years of age. If you are elderly, your first dose of VIAGRA should be adjusted.
Special considerations for patients with kidney or liver problems. You should tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver prob1ems. Your doctor may decide that your dose should be different.
Driving and using machines:
VIAGRA can cause dizziness and effects on vision. You should be aware of how you react to VIAGRA before you drive or operate machinery.

Using other medicines:
Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have taken recently other medicines, even those not prescribed. VIAGRA tablets may interfere with some medicines, especially those used to treat chest pain. In the event of a medical emergency, you should tell anyone treating your condition that you have taken VIAGRA. Do not take - VIAGRA with other medicines unless your doctor tells you that you can. VIAGRA may cause a serious increase in the effects of medicines called nitrates, and nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite ("poppers"). These are often used for the relief of angina pectoris (or "chest pains"). You should NOT take VIAGRA if you are taking these medicines.
If you are taking protease inhibitors, suck as for the treatment of HIV, your doctor may start you on the lowest dose (25 mg) of VIAGRA.

HOW TO TAKE VIAGRA:
If you have the impression that the effect of VIAGRA is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You should take VIAGRA about one hour before sexual activity. Swallow the tablet whole with some water.
VIAGRA will only help you to get an erection if you are sexually stimulated. It will not give you an erection if you are not sexually stimulated. The amount of time VIAGRA takes to work varies from person to person, but it normally takes between half an hour and one hour. You may find that VIAGRA takes longer to work if you take it with a heavy meal. Drinking alcohol can temporarily impair the ability to get an erection. To get the maximum benefit from your medicine, you are advised not to drink large amounts of alcohol before taking VIAGRA. If VIAGRA does not help you to get an erection, or if your erection does not last long enough for you to complete sexual intercourse you should tell your doctor.
You should not use VIAGRA more than once a day. If you take more VIAGRA than you should
A dose above 100 mg does not increase the efficacy. However, it will result in an increase in undesirable effects and their severity. You should not take more tablets than your doctor tells you to. If you take more tablets than you have been told to take contact your doctor.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:
Like all medicines, VIAGRA can have side effects. These effects are normally mild to moderate in nature. The most common undesirable effects are headache and facial flushing. Less commonly reported undesirable effects are indigestion, dizziness, stuffy nose and effects on vision including colour tinge to vision, increased brightness of light or blurred vision). Muscle aches can occur if VIAGRA is taken more frequently than once a day. Rarely, prolonged and sometimes painful erections have been reported after taking VIAGRA. If you have such an erection which lasts continuously for more than 4 hours, you should contact a doctor immediately. Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions (including skin rashes) have been reported. Heart attack, stroke, irregular heart beats, and death have been reported rarely in men taking VIAGRA. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to VIAGRA. Particularly in case of chest pain occurring during or after intercourse you should not use nitrates but you should contact immediately your doctor. If you have any of these undesirable effects and they are troublesome, severe, or do not go away as treatment goes on, tell your doctor. If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist

STORING VIAGRA:
Keep out of the reach and sight of children. Do not store above 30°C. Keep tablets in the original package, protected from moisture. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the pack.