Sildenafil increases blood flow to the penis to help men get an erection, and the NHS says that at least two-thirds of men have improved erections after taking it. The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick, hot flushes and dizziness, though many men have no side effects or only mild ones. This medicine is available on prescription and can also be bought from most pharmacies.
Drugs.com says: “Along with its needed effects, sildenafil (the active ingredient contained in Viagra) may cause some unwanted effects.
“Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.”
It says that you should check with your doctor immediately if you experience pain from urination, cloudy or bloody urine, or increased frequency of urination.
Some other side effects of sildenafil may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
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There are also some signs of an allergic reaction to Viagra which include “hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat”.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with sildenafil and lead to unwanted side effects, so you should avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking sildenafil.
The NHS says: “You can get sildenafil on the NHS if you have erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension.“
Branded versions of sildenafil such as Viagra are not available on the NHS, except in special circumstances.”
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For erectile dysfunction, it’s best to take sildenafil on an empty stomach, as it may take longer to work if you take it with food.
Taking too much sildenafil can also cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness, indigestion, a blocked nose, and altered vision.
“Talk to your doctor if you have taken too much sildenafil and you’re worried about these side effects,” says the NHS.
Some medicines do not mix well with sildenafil.
One of the “serious side effects” of this prescription-available medicine is loss of vision.
This side effect affecting vision is rare and happens in less than one in 1,000 people.
If you are worried about taking the drug and have a family history of retinal dystrophy, talk to your GP.
To see a full list of possible side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet that came with your medicine.