Viagra contains sildenafil, a prescription medicine that helps you get and maintain an erection when you are sexually aroused. It is taken before sex rather than as a daily course. Generic sildenafil offers the same active ingredient in an unbranded product.
At AV Community Clinic, we provide assessment and treatment for erectile dysfunction. We review your symptoms, health and medicines, discuss whether sildenafil suits you and arrange your prescription and medication purchase when appropriate. Our care includes checking how treatment works for you and making changes when needed.
Do not use sildenafil with nitrates, recreational nitrites or riociguat. These combinations can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure.
What Viagra does
Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. During sexual stimulation, it helps the blood vessels in the penis relax so blood can enter more easily. The effect supports your natural erection response. Taking a tablet without arousal does not automatically produce an erection.
This treatment is for difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. It does not increase sexual desire, enlarge the penis or prevent sexually transmitted infections. If your main concern is low desire, pain or early ejaculation, tell us so we assess that concern directly.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or know which tablet to request. Describe what has changed and what you would like treatment to improve. We explain whether Viagra, another medicine or further assessment is the appropriate next step.
Understanding your erection difficulties
We ask when the problem began, whether it happens every time and whether you have erections during sleep or masturbation. We also discuss stress, relationships and previous treatment. These questions help us understand the pattern without assuming that the problem is purely physical or psychological.
Diabetes, blood vessel disease, nerve problems and some medicines can contribute to erectile dysfunction. An assessment may include blood pressure, an examination or tests when your history indicates a need. We explain what each check is for rather than arrange the same tests for everyone.
Have your medication list ready, including treatments for chest pain, blood pressure, prostate symptoms and HIV. Include supplements, recreational substances and erection medicines obtained elsewhere. A familiar brand name is not enough to assess an interaction if the dose or ingredients are unclear.
Viagra strengths and your starting dose
Viagra tablets come in 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg strengths. For many adults, the usual starting dose is 50 mg, but that is not the right dose for everyone. Age, kidney or liver function and interacting medicines can change the prescription.
We select your dose and explain when to take it. If the first prescription causes side effects or does not work well enough, we review the experience before making a change. Do not assume that 100 mg is the next step simply because it is the largest tablet.
Sildenafil is also used in other products for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Those products have different treatment instructions. Tell us if you already take sildenafil under another name so we do not duplicate the ingredient or interfere with specialist care.
Viagra price and medication purchase
Sildenafil 50mg 30 tablets starts at $49.99. This price is for the generic medicine, not branded Viagra. The listed price covers medication only and doesn't include the cost of doctor visit. We confirm your prescribed strength, quantity and medication cost before purchase.
Your consultation comes before the prescribing decision. If sildenafil is suitable, we issue the prescription and coordinate dispensing through a participating pharmacy. Tell us if you prefer a particular product or have concerns about cost so we can discuss an appropriate option.
We can also assess an existing prescription. Bring the product name, dose and directions, and tell us how well it has worked. Continuing treatment still requires a review of your health and medicines, particularly if another clinician has changed your treatment since the original prescription.
When and how to take sildenafil
Sildenafil is usually taken about an hour before sex. Depending on your prescription, it may be taken between 30 minutes and four hours beforehand. Do not take it more than once in 24 hours, and follow any longer interval we prescribe because of an interaction or health condition.
Swallow your prescribed dose with water. There is no missed daily dose to replace when your prescription is for occasional use. If sex does not happen after taking a tablet, do not take another one to compensate or save up doses for the following day.
Plan the first use for a time when you can follow the directions without rushing. Ask us about timing before you leave the consultation if your usual schedule makes the instructions difficult. A practical routine matters more than trying to force the medicine into a particular evening.
Meals, alcohol and timing
You can take sildenafil with or without food, but a heavy or high-fat meal can delay how quickly it starts working. A delayed response after dinner does not mean you should take an extra tablet. We review meal timing if it seems to be affecting your results.
Drinking heavily can make erections more difficult and increase dizziness. Avoid using alcohol to manage anxiety about the first dose. Tell us how much you usually drink so we can discuss the medicine in the context of your actual routine.
Ask before using grapefruit products, supplements or another sexual performance product with sildenafil. Products sold as natural erection remedies can contain undeclared medicines. Bring a photograph of the ingredient label if you are unsure what you have been taking.
What to expect from treatment
The aim is a usable improvement in erection firmness and reliability during sexual activity. Sildenafil does not keep you erect throughout its period of activity. An erection should settle normally after stimulation ends. There is no guarantee that every attempt will be successful.
If treatment is disappointing, note the dose, time taken, meal timing and any side effects. Tell us whether there was partial improvement or no response at all. That gives us more useful information than simply increasing the dose after one unsuccessful attempt.
We consider how the treatment fits your sex life as well as the erection itself. If planning a dose is making you anxious or the timing is inconvenient, another approach may suit you better. We can discuss alternatives without asking you to keep repeating a routine that is not helping.
Heart health and blood pressure
Sexual activity places a demand on the heart. Tell us about chest pain, breathlessness with ordinary activity, fainting, recent heart attack or stroke, and any advice to avoid sex. Sildenafil should not be used to work around symptoms that need medical assessment.
Never combine sildenafil with nitrate medicines, including nitroglycerin and isosorbide products, or recreational nitrites often called poppers. Riociguat must also not be combined with it. These are important restrictions even when the nitrate or nitrite is used only occasionally.
If chest pain develops during sex, stop and seek emergency help. Tell the emergency team when you last took sildenafil and do not self-treat with a nitrate. Keep the medicine name accessible so another person can pass on that information if you become unwell.
Medicines we need to check
Alpha-blockers used for prostate symptoms or blood pressure can increase the risk of low blood pressure with sildenafil. Some antibiotics, antifungals and HIV medicines can increase sildenafil levels. We check the exact combinations and may change the dose or choose another treatment.
Do not combine Viagra with Cialis, Levitra, Stendra or another sildenafil product. Switching between erection medicines needs a clear plan. The number of hours between products depends on the medicines involved and your health, so there is no universal waiting period to improvise yourself.
Contact us if you receive a new prescription after starting treatment, especially an antibiotic or medicine for a heart condition. Tell the pharmacist that you use sildenafil even if you do not take it every day. An occasional medicine still belongs on your medication list.
Side effects and symptoms needing urgent care
Headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion and dizziness can occur. Some people notice changes in color vision. Tell us what happened, how long it lasted and whether it interfered with your activities. We can review tolerability without assuming that you should simply put up with discomfort.
An erection lasting more than four hours needs emergency treatment, even if it is not painful. Sudden loss or marked reduction of vision or hearing also needs urgent medical attention. Stop taking the medicine and do not try another erection treatment while waiting for advice.
If you feel faint, sit or lie down somewhere safe and seek help if symptoms are severe or do not settle. Do not drive while dizzy or visually affected. Report significant reactions before your next dose so we can reconsider whether sildenafil remains appropriate.
When another treatment may suit you
If sildenafil is unsuitable or unsuccessful, the options depend on the reason. We may discuss another oral medicine, a vacuum device or specialist treatment. Managing an underlying condition and addressing anxiety can be part of the same plan rather than a separate issue left for later.
Tell us if maintaining an erection is difficult because you rush to avoid losing it, or if the main problem is ejaculation timing. We assess both concerns rather than add medicines automatically. A change in sexual function can involve more than one treatable problem.
We also review medicines that may be contributing to erection difficulties. Do not stop blood pressure treatment or another regular prescription yourself. If a change may help, we coordinate that discussion with the clinician responsible for the original treatment.
Reviews and repeat prescriptions
At follow-up, we review the benefit you noticed, side effects and whether the timing still suits you. Tell us about any new diagnosis, operation or change in your usual activity tolerance. A prescription that was appropriate before may need reconsideration as your health changes.
Request a review before your supply runs out if you want to continue. We confirm the current product, strength and directions before another prescription. If you have stopped treatment for a long period, let us know rather than restart an old dose without discussing what has changed.
Keep tablets in the original packaging and do not share them. A friend with similar symptoms may have a different heart condition or medicine interaction. If the dispensed tablet looks different, the pharmacist can confirm the product before you take it.
Common questions
Can I get a Viagra prescription online?
We provide online assessment for erectile dysfunction and prescribe when appropriate. We review your health, symptoms and medicines first. If an examination, blood pressure check or tests are needed, we explain those steps before deciding on treatment.
Is the starting price for branded Viagra?
No. The listed starting price is for generic sildenafil tablets. Branded Viagra can cost differently. We confirm the medicine, prescribed strength, quantity and medication cost with you before purchase.
Will sildenafil work without sexual stimulation?
No. It supports the erection response to arousal. It is not an aphrodisiac and does not create sexual desire. If desire is the main concern, tell us so we can assess that separately.
Can I take another tablet if the first one does not work?
Do not take an additional dose that day. Tell us about the timing, food and response so we can review the prescription. Some patients need a longer interval because of other medicines or health conditions.
Can I use Viagra with my prostate medicine?
Some prostate medicines interact through their effects on blood pressure. We need the exact name and dose before advising. Do not assume that taking the medicines at different times makes the combination suitable.
Does treatment address the cause of my erection problems?
Sildenafil helps the erection response but does not cure every underlying cause. We assess the wider picture and discuss any additional care that is relevant to your symptoms and health.
What if I already take sildenafil from another clinic?
We can review continuing treatment. Share your current prescription, how often you use it and whether it helps. We also need to know about new medicines or symptoms since your previous assessment.
When should I seek urgent help?
Seek emergency care for an erection lasting more than four hours, chest pain during sex or sudden loss of vision or hearing. Tell the treating team which erection medicine you took and when.