It’s a medicine that belongs to a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, or PDE5 for short. These medicines, which includes Sildenafil help men who suffer erectile dysfunction get and maintain an erection suitable for sex. They work by opening the blood vessels in the penis, the increased blood flow helps maintain an erection.

Sildenafil is the drug contained in several products, including Viagra Connect and Viagra. Viagra has been available for a long time as a trusted brand, helping men get renowned help for managing their ED.

Guidelines state you should take one Viagra tablet at least 1 hour before sexual intercourse.

Viagra can take up to an hour to take effect in some men, although it can take effect in as little as 20 minutes in some men.

Viagra can produce an effect for up to 4 - 5 hours.

You should never take more than a tablet for erectile dysfunction (Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra) in a 24-hour period.

Avoid eating any foods before taking Viagra, and try to limit your alcohol intake to ensure it remains effective.

Viagra does not always work for everyone the first time they use it. If this is the case, you should not give up. Guidelines state that you should try Viagra at least 8 times before trying an alternative treatment such as Cialis, Spedra or Levitra. Depending on your response, you may need to increase or decrease your strength as appropriate.

If you find Viagra effective and do not experience any serious side effects you can request a repeat order via your online account.

Each Viagra tablet contains sildenafil in the advertised strength, either 25mg, 50mg or 100mg.

Each tablet also contains: microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), lactose monohydrate, triacetin, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132).

Note: Inactive ingredients: these vary between brands, for further information please speak with our pharmacist.

If you do experience side effects from Viagra (sildenafil) they may include headache, blurred vision, flushing, lightheadedness and rarely a stuffy nose or indigestion. Viagra has a small risk of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin rash, as with all medicines. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for a full list of side effects.

If you experience any adverse effects from taking your prescribed medicine it is important to let us know immediately.

In a medical emergency, you should contact the emergency services or go straight to your local Accident & Emergency.

You or your partner should call 999 if you experience any of these medical emergencies (very rare):

• Allergic reactions like trouble breathing, itching and swelling of your throat, face or tongue, or severe dizziness
• Priapism (painful erection that lasts more than 4 hours)
• Sudden decrease or loss of vision
• Chest pains
• Heart attack

Viagra tablets may not be suitable if any of the following apply:

• You suffer from heart disease or heart rhythm problems
• You have had a heart attack or stroke within the last six months
• You have high or low blood pressure
• You suffer from liver or kidney disease
• You are a haemophiliac (your blood doesn't clot normally)
• You suffer from sickle cell anaemia (your red blood cells are abnormally shaped) or leukaemia (a type of cancer affecting white blood cells)
• There is a physical deformity of the penis
• You suffer from retinitis pigmentosa (a rare eye disease that affects your vision)
• You have a stomach ulcer (a sore or wound in the lining of your stomach)

If any of the above apply, it is important to let your prescriber know so they can judge whether Viagra pills will be safe for you to use.

Viagra tablets can lower the blood pressure. For most men, this isn't a concern. However, this effect on blood pressure can be exaggerated if Viagra is taken with a nitrate medicine, such as Isosorbide or Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN). Do not use Viagra tablets if you are taking nitrate drugs. Be careful when using the maximum dose of Viagra 100mg tablets with alpha blockers, as it can cause low blood pressure. You can take Viagra with alpha-blockers, but make sure there’s at least a six-hour gap between them. However, it must never be taken with nitrates.

Do not use recreational drugs like 'Poppers', also called 'Aromas' or 'Room Odourisers' with Viagra, as they contain nitrites and can dangerously lower your blood pressure.