Description
Sildenafil tablets for medical ED treatment
Sildenafil was the first PDE5 inhibitor and remains one of the most widely used and studied ED treatments. It works by helping to relax the blood vessels in the penis, increasing blood flow during sexual stimulation. Sexual stimulation is still required for sildenafil to work.
Package leaflet: Viagra Connect 50 mg
+ How to take sildenafil tablets
- Take one tablet as needed, approximately one hour before sexual activity.
- Do not take more than one tablet in 24 hours.
- Taking it on an empty stomach may help it work sooner, as a high-fat or heavy meal can delay its onset.
+ Erectile dysfunction and your wider health
ED can sometimes be an early sign of an underlying condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes. If you haven’t already discussed your symptoms with a doctor, it’s worth arranging a check-up, especially if ED is new or has developed gradually.
Suitability
Sildenafil is not suitable for everyone. A healthcare professional should review your medical history, underlying health conditions and other medicines before treatment to check whether it is safe and appropriate for you.
You may need medical advice before taking sildenafil if you:
- Have a heart or blood vessel condition
- Have low or uncontrolled blood pressure
- Take medicines that can interact with sildenafil
- Have severe liver problems or severe kidney problems, which may require medical advice or a lower dose
- Have certain inherited eye conditions or have previously experienced vision loss in one eye due to NAION
- Have a medical condition that makes sexual activity inadvisable
Always provide accurate information during your assessment so your healthcare professional can check your suitability.
Do not take sildenafil if you:
- Take nitrates or nitric oxide donors, including some medicines used for chest pain
- Take riociguat, a medicine used to treat certain types of pulmonary hypertension
- Have had vision loss in one eye due to non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- Have severe liver impairment or very low blood pressure
- Have certain serious cardiovascular conditions where sexual activity is not advised
- Are allergic to sildenafil or any of the ingredients
Sildenafil may also require medical advice or a lower dose if you take alpha blockers or certain other medicines, or have severe kidney or liver impairment. Your healthcare professional will assess these factors before treatment.
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FAQs
+ What is Viagra Connect used for?
Viagra Connect is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult men. It contains 50mg of sildenafil, which helps increase blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation, making it easier to achieve and maintain an erection.
+ How does Viagra Connect work?
Viagra Connect contains sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor. During sexual stimulation, sildenafil helps relax the blood vessels in the penis and increase blood flow, supporting an erection. Sexual stimulation is still needed for the medicine to work.
+ What causes erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction can have physical, psychological factors or lifestyle-related causes, and several factors may contribute at the same time. Common contributing factors include:
- Cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure or narrowed blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow to the penis
- Diabetes, which can affect nerves and blood vessels over time
- Hormonal imbalances, including low testosterone
- Certain medicines, including some used for blood pressure or depression
- Smoking, excessive alcohol use, or lack of physical activity
- Stress, anxiety, depression or relationship difficulties
- Being overweight
Because ED often has more than one cause, a healthcare professional will ask about your general health and lifestyle as part of your assessment, not just your ED symptoms.
+ How long does Viagra Connect take to work?
Viagra Connect should be taken approximately one hour before sexual activity. Sildenafil is rapidly absorbed, with maximum blood concentrations generally reached within 30 to 120 minutes when taken on an empty stomach. Food, particularly a high-fat meal, can delay its absorption and onset.
+ How long does sildenafil last?
Sildenafil can help you achieve an erection for several hours after taking a dose, but it does not cause a continuous erection. Sexual stimulation is needed for it to work.
+ What are the common side effects of sildenafil?
Common side effects of sildenafil can include headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion and dizziness. Visual changes, including blurred vision, can also occur. Most side effects are mild to moderate and usually short-lived.
Seek urgent medical help if you experience a serious allergic reaction, sudden loss of vision or hearing, or a painful erection lasting more than four hours. You should also seek urgent medical attention for serious or concerning symptoms, such as chest pain.
If you experience a side effect not listed here, you can report it via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
+ What is the difference between Viagra, Viagra Connect and sildenafil?
Viagra, Viagra Connect and generic sildenafil all contain sildenafil and work in the same way to treat erectile dysfunction. Viagra Connect is a branded 50 mg sildenafil treatment classified as a Pharmacy medicine in the UK.
Prescription Viagra and generic sildenafil may be available in different strengths, depending on individual suitability.
+ Is Viagra Connect the same as generic sildenafil tablets?
Viagra Connect is not generic sildenafil. However, both contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil. Viagra Connect is a branded medication containing 50mg of sildenafil, while generic sildenafil may be available in different strengths.
+ Can I take sildenafil with alcohol?
Drinking excessive alcohol can temporarily reduce your ability to achieve an erection and may increase side effects such as dizziness or low blood pressure. To reduce the risk of side effects and give the medicine the best chance of working, avoid large amounts of alcohol before sexual activity.
+ Can sildenafil interact with other medicines?
Yes. Sildenafil can interact with other medicines. Do not take it with nitrates, nitric oxide donors or riociguat, and it may interact with alpha blockers and certain other medicines. Tell your healthcare professional about all medicines you take before starting treatment.
+ What is the difference between tadalafil and sildenafil?
Tadalafil and sildenafil are both PDE5 inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The main differences are how long they work and how they are supplied in the UK:
- Sildenafil: Usually taken about 1 hour before sexual activity and has a shorter duration of action.
- Tadalafil: Typically taken around 30 minutes before sexual activity and can remain effective for up to 36 hours.
- UK availability: Viagra Connect 50 mg is a Pharmacy medicine. Tadalafil is available as both a prescription-only medicine and, in the case of Cialis Together 10 mg, a Pharmacy medicine.
- Both medicines require sexual stimulation to work and are not suitable for everyone.
Individual onset varies. A healthcare professional can advise which treatment is appropriate based on your medical history, other medicines and individual circumstances.
+ Can I buy sildenafil online in the UK?
Yes. Viagra Connect 50mg is a Pharmacy medicine in the UK. At Envigore, it is supplied following a suitability assessment reviewed by our clinical team.
You can buy sildenafil online through Envigore after a few simple steps:
- Complete an online questionnaire
- Our registered prescriber reviews your assessment
- Sildenafil pills are dispensed by Right Medicine Pharmacy Group, where clinically appropriate.
If you have questions about your sildenafil prescription, contact our patient care team on 0131 322 3750 or at patientsupport@envigore.com.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
About Your Clinical Team
Danny Gian Hou Chu, an HCPC-registered Physician Associate (PA38670), medically reviewed and approved this content and oversees all prescribing decisions at Envigore.
All prescriptions are dispensed by Right Medicine Pharmacy Group, a GPhC-Registered Pharmacy (No. 9012382).
Veronica Giudice, an HCPC-registered dietitian (DT26570) and British Dietetic Association member, provides nutritional guidance and lifestyle support.
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