Viagra is one of the most popular drugs. The blue, diamond-shaped pill is known for its ability to help men suffering from (ED) erectile dysfunction. It works by relaxing muscles and arteries inside the penis, which helps more blood reach the penis. Some medicine can cause dangerous effects when used with Viagra. 

Make sure to tell your doctor about all your current medicines, especially riociguat (Adempas) and nitrates. If you’re using Viagra for the very first time here is how you can get your medication It will pay off later in the bedroom.

Before taking Viagra 

You should not take viagra if are allergic to sildenafil or 

• If you also take other medicines to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, such as riociguat (Adempas).
• If you take nitrates.

Do not use Viagra if you are using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This also includes nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate. Nitrates are also found in some drugs which gives amusement like amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”) taking sildenafil with a nitrate medicine can also cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure.

To ensure Viagra is safe for you, you have to tell your doctor first if you ever had:

• a heart attack, stroke, or congestive heart failure.
• heart disease & heart rhythm problems, coronary artery disease
• high & low blood pressure.
• liver & kidney disease.
• a blood cell disorder like sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia.
• a bleeding disorder like hemophilia.
• a stomach ulcer.
• retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye).
• a physical deformity of the penis (Peyronie’s disease)
• if you have been told you should not have intercourse for health reasons.

Viagra can reduce the blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye, causing sudden vision loss. This has turned out in a few numbers of people who taking sildenafil, most of whom also had diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or were over 50 years old. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual reason for vision loss. 

Viagra is not supposed to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor about it if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not confirmed whether sildenafil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor about it if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How you should take Viagra?

Take Viagra exactly as it was your doctor prescribed for you. Follow all the steps on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in any larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Viagra is generally taken only when needed,30 minutes to 1 hour before any sexual activity. You may take it up to 4 hours before any sexual activity. Don’t take Viagra more than once per day.

Viagra can help you have an erection when sexually aroused. Just taking a pill is not give you an erection. Follow all the instructions your doctor gives you.

During sexual activity, if you become nauseated or dizzy or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, jaw, just stop and call your doctor first. You might be having a serious side effect of sildenafil.

Watch what you eat when you take your Viagra pill 

Sometimes eating a rich meal right after you take an ED drug may not always be the best idea. If you take sildenafil (Viagra) with a high-fat meal like a steak dinner, it may take longer for it to work.

You can take other Ed drugs with or without meals. Such as:

• Avanafil (Stendra)
• Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis)
• Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) 

Make sure to take the right drugs for you.

While ED drugs work in similar ways but they’re all made up of different chemicals. This can affect how they work and how much time they take to kick in and also the different side effects that might have. 

Talk to your doctor about any health problems if you have and other medications that you take. It will help your doctor to find ed drugs that should work best for you.

Give it time to work 

For most Viagra drugs, you need to wait a while before you can expect them to start working. 

Viagra and Levitra pills take about 30 minutes to work and the effects of this medicine last for about 4 hours after you take the pill.  

You should take Cialis pills at least 2 hours before you plan to have sex. The effects of this medicine may last for up to 36 hours after you take it.

What should you avoid

Drinking alcohol with Viagra can cause serious side effects.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with sildenafil and lead to serious side effects. Totally Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking sildenafil pills.

Avoid using any other Viagra medicines to treat impotence. like alprostadil or yohimbine, without consulting with your doctor.

Side effects of Viagra 

Get immediate emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Viagra: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Viagra if you have:

• heart attack symptoms– pressure or chest pain, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
• sudden vision loss or vision changes.
• lasts longer than 4 hours or erection is painful (prolonged erection can damage the penis)
• sudden hearing loss or ringing in your ears.
• irregular heartbeat.
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.
• shortness of breath.
• seizure 
• a light-headed feeling, like you, might pass out

Common Viagra side effects

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
• headache, dizziness.
• abnormal vision (blurred vision, changes in color vision)
• runny or stuffy nose, nosebleeds
• sleep problems.
• muscle pain, back pain.
• upset stomach.

This is not an absolute list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor first for medical advice

Other drugs will affect Viagra

Do not take Viagra with similar drugs such as avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra). Tell your doctor first about all other medications you use for erectile dysfunction.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines take and any you start or stop using, especially

• Drugs to cure high blood pressure or a prostate disorder.
• an antibiotic – clarithromycin, erythromycin, or telithromycin.
• antifungal medicine – ketoconazole or itraconazole.
• Medicine to cure HIV/AIDS – atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir.
• Nitrates.
• Medications used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension

This list is not absolute. Other different drugs may interact with sildenafil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Never mix nitrates with ED drugs

If you have a heart condition, pay attention to this don’t take Ed drugs if you already take heart medicines called nitrates. The combination of Ed drugs and nitrates can cause a dangerous drop in your blood pressure.

To make sure you stay safe, talk to your doctor about all the medications you take.