Archive for January, 2008

Viagra Dosing

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets):

For treatment of erectile dysfunction:

  • Adults up to 65 years of age—50 mg as a single dose no more than once a day, 1 hour before sexual intercourse. Alternatively, the medicine may be taken 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual intercourse. If needed, your doctor may increase your daily dose to 100 mg or decrease your daily dose to 25 mg.
  • Adults 65 years of age and older—25 mg as a single dose no more than once a day, 1 hour before sexual intercourse. Alternatively, the medicine may be taken 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual intercourse. If needed, your doctor may increase your daily dose.
  • If you are taking protease inhibitors, such as for the treatment of HIV, your doctor may recommend a 25 mg dose and may limit you to a maximum single dose of 25 mg of Viagra in a 48 hour period.

For treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension:

  • Adults—20 mg three times per day. Each dose should be taken about 4 to 6 hours apart and can be taken with or without food .
  • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

Sildenafil (Oral Route)

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines that delay the enzymes called phosphodiesterases from working too quickly. The penis is one of the areas where these enzymes work. Sildenafil is used to treat men who have erectile dysfunction (also called sexual impotence).

By controlling the enzyme phosphodiesterase, sildenafil helps to maintain an erection that is produced when the penis is stroked. Without physical action to the penis, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse, sildenafil will not work to cause an erection.

Sildenafil is also used in both men and women to treat the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This is the high blood pressure that occurs in the main artery that carries blood from the right side of the heart (the ventricle) to the lungs. When the smaller blood vessels in the lungs become more resistant to blood flow, the right ventricle must work harder to pump enough blood through the lungs. Sildenafil helps by increasing the supply of blood to the lungs and reducing the workload of the heart .

‘Herbal viagra’: Is it safe?

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Because herbal products aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription or over-the-counter medications, it’s not possible to endorse any of these so-called herbal viagra products as “safe.”

Sildenafil (Viagra) is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis when a man is sexually aroused.

Many herbal products marketed as sexual stimulants claim to be “natural versions” of Viagra — but they are not the same as the prescription drug. Some contain substances (vasodilators) that improve blood flow by relaxing the walls of blood vessels. But no herbal products are as specific for blood vessels to the penis as Viagra and other similar prescription drugs are. As a result, these herbal remedies may cause generalized low blood pressure and restrict blood flow to vital organs.

One popular herbal medicine called yohimbe — which is marketed as a sexual stimulant — can be dangerous if used in excessive amounts. If you have erectile dysfunction, see your doctor to discuss proven treatment options.