Sildenafil dosing question

Posted by chipe @chipe, Nov 10 10:17am

Hi all!
For those of you taking Sildenafil (Viagra) to help with ED, I am asking this dosing question.
I just got my first script from the online pharmacy my doctor sent it to, and the bottle says "Take two pills daily and 3 more 1 hour before sexual activity."

Is this normal? Take it every day? And then on the "appointed day" take 5?
TIA!

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jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Nov 10 10:25am

They are 20mg tablets. A full viagra dose is 100mg, 5 pills.

It seems to be common to do this to try and resolve ED issues.

retireditguy | @retireditguy | Nov 10 10:42am

I'm not a medical professional, but here's a document on UCSF that someone on this blog mentioned in another thread. It has a section on Penile Rehabilitation that includes some information related to your question:
https://urology.ucsf.edu/sites/urology.ucsf.edu/files/uploaded-files/basic-page/managing_erectile_dysfunction_a_patient_guide.pdf
Best wishes.

peterj116 | @peterj116 | Nov 10 10:47am

I was taking 5mg of Cialis per day, on my physio's recommendation.
When I asked the surgeon the day I got the pathology report how long I'd need to keep taking Cialis, he said "I'm not a believer in that".
So I don't know if I should continue or not.

scottbeammeup | @scottbeammeup | Nov 10 11:47am

This is normal if you are doing penile rehab after prostate cancer. I take 20 mg a day and then 100 mg at least once a week. I've heard Cialis is better but had a very bad reaction to it so that option is out for me.

chipe | @chipe | Nov 10 3:46pm

Well I took two this afternoon, and got a headache, dizzy and gas. Maybe I'll get used to it?

jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Nov 10 4:56pm

In reply to @chipe "Well I took two this afternoon, and got a headache, dizzy and gas. Maybe I'll get..." + (show)

It is a heart medication. Do you have any cardiac issues? I would think your doctor would’ve checked up before prescribing it for you though, but you never know.

chipe | @chipe | Nov 11 9:56am

In reply to @jeffmarc "It is a heart medication. Do you have any cardiac issues? I would think your doctor..." + (show)

Yes, lots. Had a heart attack at 46, open heart, and I now have 8 stents. My doc is very aware of my cardiac history. I am thinking that instead of taking the pills in the am, I will take them before bed so I will sleep through the initial side effects.

jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Nov 11 10:28am

You should at least mention to your doctor, the side effects you have felt from taking the drug. See what he has to say about it. Do you have a cardiologist you can talk to?

chipe | @chipe | Nov 11 11:56am

In reply to @jeffmarc "You should at least mention to your doctor, the side effects you have felt from taking..." + (show)

Yes, and I have spoken to her. The sildenafil is for "lung blood pressure", whatever that means. It has not impacted my pulse rate or my BP. I think I'm just sensitive to it.