What is Sildenafil?

What is Sildenafil?
At the first mention of sildenafil, the first thought that comes in the minds of most people is Viagra. This is because sildenafil is the active ingredient of Viagra. However, this is no longer true. Since the expiration of the patent of Viagra, many manufacturers have joined the market to produce their own brands of generic erectile dysfunction medicine. With that in mind, sildenafil is basically the active ingredient in a variety of medications prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (male impotence).

Sildenafil works by relaxing muscles found in the walls of the blood vessels and increases the flow of blood to specific areas of the body. When used for erectile dysfunction, sildenafil is used to treat male impotence. In this case, it boosts the flow of blood to the penis thereby cause a person to achieve a sturdy erection after sexual stimulation.

There are other brands of sildenafil and they are not all used to treat ED. For example, the brand Revatio is used in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as to improve exercise capacity in both men and women.

Can anybody use sildenafil?
The answer is No. Before you start using any medication that contains Sildenafil, it is imperative that you first consult with your doctor. There are a range of health conditions that will keep you from using this medicine. Let the doctor know if you have a history of any of these conditions:

• Kidney or liver disease
• Any heart disease
• History of a stroke or any congestive heart failure in the last 6 months
• High or low blood pressure
• Stomach ulcers
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Physical deformity of your penis
• Have been directed not to engage in sexual activity by a doctor
• Blood cell disorder like multiple myeloma, sickle cell anemia or leukemia
• Bleeding disorder

Precautions
Sildenafil may cause a decrease in the flow of blood to the optic nerve in your eyes. This can result in sudden vision loss. The problem is common in person with high blood pressure, pre-existing eye problems, diabetes and heart disease.

In case you have an erection that is painful or one that last for more than 4 hours, you should seek emergency medical help. A prolonged erection can damage the tissues of your penis. You must also report any serious side effects like heart attack like symptoms, seizures, shortness of breath or sudden hearing loss or ringing in the ears. Only use sildenafil with permission from a doctor.