Millions of men around the world suffer from the problem of erectile dysfunction (ED). It is the inability of a man to get or maintain an erection long enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse to happen. There are several medications available in the market, both branded and generic. Sildenafil is one of the most commonly used medications used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Sold under the brand name Viagra, it is one of the first-choice ED treatments. This medicine is FDA approved for ED treatment.
Mode of action
- Sildenafil belongs to the ‘Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors’ class of medicines. – Cenforce 130mg Tablet.
- It inhibits cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) in the body.
- This prevents or reduces the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in blood.
- The increased levels of cGMP facilitates relaxation of the smooth muscles.
- Vasodilation causes increased blood flow into the spongy erectile tissue in the penis, thus allowing it to increase in size, become erect and hard.
- This oral therapy for ED is either used individually or in combination with other medicines to effectively manage and treat ED problems in men.
Physiological effects of Sildenafil
- In a natural setting, i.e. with sexual arousal, it restores weakened erectile function by increasing blood flow to the penis.
- Corpus cavernosum is one of the two cylinders of erectile tissues in the penis that get filled with blood for penile erection.
- The physiological response responsible for the erection of the penis is nitric oxide (NO) released in the corpus cavernosum during sexual arousal.
- The enzyme guanylate cyclase is activated by nitric acid.
- This results in higher levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).
- This produces relaxation of the smooth muscles in the corpus cavernosum and allowing inflow of large amounts of blood into the penis.
- Sildenafil is a powerful and selective inhibitor of PDE5 enzyme in the corpus cavernosum tissue.
- The PDE5 enzyme is responsible for degradation of cGMP.
- Although it is seen that does not produce any direct relaxant effect on corpus cavernosum tissue in humans, it enhances the relaxant effect of nitric oxide on this tissue.
- Once the NO/cGMP pathway is activated along with sexual stimulation, PDE5 inhibition by Sildenafil results in increased levels of cGMP in corpus cavernosum tissue.
- For tablet to produce the desirable beneficial pharmacological effects, sexual stimulation is essential.
Sildenafil in treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
- In addition to ED, This is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- The cGMP present in the pulmonary vasculature induces relaxation of the smooth muscles and vasodilation to provide relief to patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Side effects of Sildenafil
Just like any other ED medicine, Sildenafil 100 and Sildenafil 200 produce certain side effects in the human body. These disappear as the body adjusts to the medicine. Some of the common side effects are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Stuffy nose
- Difficulty in breathing
- Stomach upset
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Hot flushes
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Insomnia
Generally, most of these mild side effects disappear within a few days or a couple of weeks. However, if they still persist or become worse and you are worried about them, inform your doctor immediately.
Interaction of Sildenafil with other medications
- An interaction refers to alteration in the way a drug works due to a certain substance. The oral Cenforce 200 or 100 mg tablet can interact with other medications or supplements. This can be harmful and prevent the drug from functioning to its full potential.
- To help avoid any possible interactions, all the medications that you are taking should be carefully managed by your healthcare provider.
- Nitrate based medications and guanylate cyclase stimulator drugs should not be used with Cenforce.
Intake of Sildenafil tablets
Here are some of the careful considerations for Sildenafil 100 and 200 tablets.
- Swallow the tablet whole with water.
- Do not cut, chew, or crush the tablet in the mouth.
- It is best to take the tablet an hour before planned sexual intercourse. However, you can take it anytime between 30 minutes to 60 minutes before sexual activity.
- If the tablet is taken with a heavy meal, it may take a longer time for it to work.
Onset of action and duration
- Typically, with Cenforce 100 and Sildenafil 200 , the visible effect can be seen within 30 – 60 minutes after ingestion.
- The effectiveness lasts for approximately 3-4 hours.
- It is advisable to take these medicines on an empty stomach.
Precautions and warnings
- Do not take this tablets more than once a day.
- Do not take this if you have recently taken nitrate based medication
- Do not take the medicine if you have suffered from heart attack, angina, or cardiovascular disease in the past six months.
Sildenafil is a prescription based medicine. It should be taken only for the duration advised by the doctor. Sildenafil is available in various dosages (strengths) – Sildenafil 50, Sildenafil 100, and Sildenafil 200. The choice of dosage in consultation with a healthcare provider is determined by several factors such as age, underlying medical condition, severity of ED, and response to the medicine.