Sildenafil is one of the best-known medications for managing erectile dysfunction (ED) — and not just because it was the first erectile dysfunction drug on the scene back in 1998. Most people are familiar with the brand-name version, Viagra®.
But the medication is also sold as a generic drug simply called sildenafil. It’s usually safe to take 100mg (milligrams) of sildenafil when your healthcare provider prescribes that dose. Your provider will determine which dose is best for you before they write you a prescription. Often, men will start on a 50mg dose and adjust as needed.
^ "Global illicit medicines targeted by INTERPOL operation". Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. ^ "Israeli-made AI exposes international fake Viagra network". ^ "Counterfeit Viagra Pills, Footwear, Belts, Car Emblems and Headphones Worth over $32 Million Seized at the LA/Long Beach Seaport U.S. Customs and Border Protection".
Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. "Yes, There Is a Way to Get Generic Viagra". Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. "Pfizer Wins Viagra Patent Infringement Case Against Teva Pharmaceuticals". Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Keep reading to learn more about who may benefit from taking 100mg of sildenafil, as well as the potential risks, drug interactions, and other considerations. Sildenafil (with the active ingredient sildenafil citrate) is available in various doses. Currently, 100mg is the highest dose of sildenafil approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for treating erectile dysfunction. Taking a 100mg dose of sildenafil is usually OK if that’s the amount your medical provider tells you to take. You shouldn’t exceed your provider’s recommended dosage. Your provider will likely only prescribe a 100mg dose if you’ve already tried a lower dose of sildenafil and it hasn’t been effective. The usual starting dose is 50mg, which can be lowered to 25mg.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 423.48€ 403.31€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 20 Pills | 40.52€ 38.59€ | |
| Kamagra | 100mg | 12 Pills | 55.64€ 52.99€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 272 + 12 Pills | 593.42€ 565.16€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 30 + 4 Pills | 47.97€ 45.69€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 180 + 10 Pills | 277.56€ 264.34€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 125.56€ 119.58€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 20 Pills | 61.69€ 58.75€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 327.15€ 311.57€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 107.37€ 102.26€ |
Your healthcare provider may also start treatment for ED with the 100mg dosage if you have severe symptoms.
^ "Pfizer Completes Transaction to Combine Its Upjohn Business with Mylan". Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Business Wire. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. "Viagra patent expires in June, says Brazilian court". Archived from the original on 17 April 2012.
^ "Revatio patent ruled invalid for lack of sound prediction and obviousness". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) ^ Teva Canada Ltd. v. Pfizer Canada Inc., 2012 SCC 60 at par. For example, if it’s particularly difficult to get an erection, even with substantial sexual stimulation, or if you’re never able to get an erection.
| Side Effect | Severity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Headache | Common | Usually mild |
| Flushing | Common | Facial redness |
| Nasal Congestion | Common | Feeling of stuffiness |
| Dizziness | Possible | Especially when standing up quickly |
| Vision Changes | Rare | Blurred or blue-tinted vision |
A healthcare professional might also consider how often you have sex. Your dosage may be adjusted if you have sex frequently and take sildenafil very often — or if you only take this medication once every few days for less frequent sexual intercourse.
Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. ^ "Set to conquer US, Indian 'Viagras' may give Pfizer a hard Time". Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. ^ a b "Pfizer Settles Viagra® Patent Litigation With Teva". "Lockout Supplements Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Boner Bears Chocolate Syrup Due to Undeclared Sildenafil".
Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. "Counterfeit Viagra, Cialis, Levitra: The Ultimate Guide". Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. "Online pharmacies suspected of counterfeit drug sales". ^ "Erectile Dysfunction Medication the Most Seized Drug During Global Crackdown, Interpol Says". Sildenafil was originally developed to treat angina (chest pain) and hypertension (high blood pressure). In the early ‘90s, researchers discovered that it may make an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. Along with ED, sildenafil has been used off-label as a treatment for: Raynaud’s phenomenon (decreased blood flow to the extremities, causing coldness and numbness) Raynaud’s phenomenon (decreased blood flow to the extremities, causing coldness and numbness) Altitude-induced hypoxemia (lack of sufficient oxygen in the blood in high altitudes) Altitude-induced hypoxemia (lack of sufficient oxygen in the blood in high altitudes) Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider to treat something it’s not FDA-approved for — this is legal and common.
Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. "The Supreme Court of Canada holds Pfizer's Viagra patent invalid". Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. ^ "Actavis Launches Generic Viagra in Europe as Patents Expire". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
"What Will Happen When Viagra Goes Generic?". Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. ^ "Is Viagra about to lose its pulling power in the UK?". Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009. The dosages of sildenafil are typically different when sildenafil citrate 100 mg treating these other health conditions. Learn more in our sildenafil dosages guide. Sildenafil works well for most men with erectile dysfunction at any dosage. However, the highest 100mg dosage produces improvements for a higher percentage of men than 50 or 25mg. The downside is that 100mg also generally causes more side effects.
If you have mild or moderate ED, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe 50mg of sildenafil as your starting dose. This is the typical go-to oral dose for sildenafil — for many men, it’s enough to treat erectile dysfunction and improve sexual performance.
| Use Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Erectile Dysfunction (ED) | Enhances blood flow to achieve erection |
| Pulmonary Hypertension (PAH) | Lowers blood pressure in lungs |
| Off-label Uses | Altitude sickness, Raynaud’s phenomenon |
The 100mg dose of sildenafil is generally safe if that’s what your provider prescribed. In some cases, 100mg may be too much. And even those who start on the 50mg dose might go down to 25mg of sildenafil if they’re experiencing unmanageable side effects. In clinical trials, researchers found that 82 percent of men with ED reported some improvements in erectile function after using sildenafil at a dosage of 100mg. In the same trials, 74 percent and 63 percent of men reported improvements with 50mg and 25mg of sildenafil, respectively. Other clinical trials have suggested that doses above 100mg don’t improve the effectiveness of the medication but do increase side effects. Sildenafil at any dosage takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes to start working, so you should try to take it an hour or so before sexual activity. That might mean slipping away into the bathroom after you’ve paid the bill or being sneaky on your way back to the car. The point is, you don’t want to take sildenafil 10 minutes before your clothes come off — it needs a little more time to do its thing in your system. Once you take the pill, sildenafil can be effective for 30 minutes to four hours, so you have a little wiggle room for planned sexual activity.
But, any longer than four hours, and the concentration in your blood might be too low to have a significant effect on your erection quality.
"Supreme Court ruling could lead to cheaper versions of Viagra". Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. "Canadian Supreme court rules sildenafil citrate tablets 200mg Viagra patent invalid". Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. ^ "Viagra patent tossed out by Supreme Court: Decision allows generic versions of drug to be produced".
Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. ^ "Pfizer Canada drops Viagra price after generic versions get Supreme Court green light". Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. "In rare move, Pfizer asks Supreme Court to reconsider ruling that killed Viagra patent". These medications work by inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme, allowing blood vessels in the penis to relax and increasing blood flow to the area.
Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. "The coming generics threat to Pfizer's Viagra brand just got scarier". Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. ^ "Viagra to go generic in 2017 according to Pfizer agreement". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
"Sex, Drugs and That Little Blue Pill". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. "Why Pfizer Is About to Slash Viagra's Price in Half". Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. "Pfizer to lose patent of drug Viagra, Indian companies gear up with copycat versions: Pfizer's patent for the formulation of Viagra, used to treat impotence in men, ends in the US in 2020". One critical feature of PDE5 inhibitors is that they only cause erections when you’re feeling in the mood for sex — that is, sexually stimulated physically or mentally. Contrary to popular belief, they won’t cause spontaneous erections (assuming you aren’t thinking about something sexual) or affect your sex drive in any significant way. This means that if you aren’t sexually aroused, sildenafil won’t kick in at all. One of the biggest advantages of sildenafil is that it’s an easy medication to use. For the most part, sildenafil can be taken before you plan to have sex without any major concerns.
| Condition | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Nitrate Use | Avoid due to risk of severe hypotension |
| Heart Conditions | Caution in unstable angina or recent MI |
| Retinal Disorders | Caution, especially in hereditary degenerations |
| Allergies | Do not use if allergic to sildenafil or related drugs |
Having said that, there are a few things you can do to get the best results from it: Take sildenafil 100mg around one hour before sex.
Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. "Viagra from the pharmacist: insight from reclassification in New Zealand". Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. ^ "Generic Viagra developers queue up, but may have to wait". Archived from the original on 28 December 2021.
^ "Approved Viagra copies flood drugstores in Korea". ^ "Viagra prescriptions almost triple in a decade". Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. ^ "MHRA reclassifies Viagra Connect tablets to a Pharmacy medicine". ^ "Viagra to be available without prescription in UK". Sildenafil usually takes about a half-hour to start working. But for optimal results, take your prescribed dose of sildenafil an hour before you plan to have sex in case you metabolize the medication a little slower. Take sildenafil 100mg around one hour before sex. Avoid high-fat meals while using sildenafil. Eating a meal high in fat may slow down your body’s absorption of sildenafil and delay its effects.