Common uses

While a male is sexually aroused, his body produced two types of chemicals. One allows flow of blood in penis and the other causes decrease in erections. Cipla Silagra does the work of inhibiting the second chemical which results in erect penis.

Before using

Do not take sildenafil if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking sildenafil. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual cause of such vision loss. Sudden vision loss with sildenafil use has occurred most often in people with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old.
Before taking sildenafil, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease or heart rhythm problems;
a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a heart attack, stroke, or heart rhythm disorder;
congestive heart failure;
high or low blood pressure;
coronary artery disease;
liver disease;
kidney disease;
a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
a stomach ulcer;
retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);
a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease); or
if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sildenafil or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Directions

Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Avoid taking High-fat food before taking Viagra as it may cause the medicine to take more time to start working.
Sildenafil is usually taken only when needed, 30 - 90 minutes before sexual activity. The medication can help achieve an erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill.
Do not take sildenafil more than once a day. Allow 24 hours to pass between doses.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Cautions

Do not take this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. This medicine may rarely cause dizziness or vision changes. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anythind else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. To minimize dizziness or lightheadness, sit up or stand slowly when rising from a seated or lying position. Alcohol may increase your risk for side effects, including headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol when using this medicine.
Do not exceed the recommended doze without checking with your doctor. Rarely, this medicine may change heart rhythm, especially if taken with other medicines that can change the heart rhythm. This change in heart rhythm can result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Ask your doctor for more information and if you should stop taking any of your other medicines to reduce the risk of this side effect.
Caution is advised when using this medicine in the eldery because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine. This medicine should not be used in women or children.
Do not take this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past or to any other ingredient that is found in it.
This medicine may cause dizziness or vision changes. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. To minimize dizziness or lightheadedness, sit up or stand slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.
Your dose is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and the other medicines you are taking. Do not exceed the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. Caution is advised when using this medicine in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine. This medicine should not be used in women or children.


Possible side effects

If you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.
Stop using sildenafil and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using sildenafil and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
irregular heartbeat;
swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
shortness of breath;
vision changes;
feeling light-headed, fainting; or
penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.

If you take too much

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a sildenafil overdose may include chest pain, nausea, irregular heartbeat, and feeling light-headed or fainting.

Additional information

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of sildenafil.
Avoid using other medicines to treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), without first talking to your doctor.

Drug interactions

alpha blockers, used for high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate. NOTE: Do not take doses of sildenafil higher than 25 mg within 4 hours of taking alpha blockers, such as alfuzosin (UroXatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), or terazosin (Hytrin).
bosentan
certain drugs used for seizures such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital
certain drugs used for fungal or yeast infections, such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, and voriconazole
certain drugs for the treatment of HIV infection or AIDS
cimetidine
cisapride
clarithromycin
diltiazem
erythromycin
grapefruit juice
mibefradil
nitroprusside
rifabutin
rifampin
quinidine
some drugs for treating depression, anxiety or other mood problems (examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone)
verapamil