Usage&Indications

Indications and Usage

Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) is an oral medication developed by Pfizer, Inc. and approved by the FDA primarily to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It has been found to be effective in men with: organic, psychogenic and mixed ED. Sildenafil citrate has no therapeutic effect in the absence of sexual dysfunction.

It works best in men with mild to moderate ED. Self report studies indicate that sildenafil citrate has improved erections in up to 91% of patients. These studies covered a broad age range from 19 to 87 years. Patient satisfaction is reported as high as 86% with appropriate patient selection, dosage and counseling.

To assist patients with the decision to seek treatment, Pfizer, Inc. provides a Likert scale patient information questionnaire, that includes 5 questions:

How do you rate your confidence that you could keep an erection?
When you had an erection with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration?
During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated your partner?
During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you?

Instant Feedback:
Viagra is only effective in men with organic erectile dysfunction.

Other Uses:

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Sildenafil citrate (Revatio®) was FDA approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in 2005. PAH is a rare disease that occurs when the pulmonary arterial vessels are constricted. Over time the vessel walls become thickened and narrowed. These changes increase resistance to blood flow through the lungs.

Sildenafil citrate is useful in the treatment of PAH because phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) is also present in the smooth muscles of the pulmonary vasculature. Inhibiting PDE5 increases intracellular c-GMP which relaxes smooth muscle cells just as it does in the corpus cavernosum.

For more information visit the official Pfizer Revatio web site at http://www.revatio.com/

Raynaud's disease

Sildenafil citrate is not FDA approved for the treatment of Raynaud's disease. However, a number studies indicate that it may improve symptoms by increasing microvascular circulation.

Hypoxic and Altitude-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Sildenafil citrate may be beneficial in the control of both hypoxic and altitude-induced pulmonary hypertension.