Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards. More InfoThis content is based on the current state of medical knowledge. All information has been carefully researched and sources are listed at the end of the article. Our articles meet a high quality standard. Our goal is to present medical topics in a comprehensible language.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist) More InfoThis content is based on the current state of medical knowledge. All information has been carefully researched and sources are listed at the end of the article. Our articles meet a high quality standard. Our goal is to present medical topics in a comprehensible language.
Nothing says more about a product or service than genuine user reviews and ratings. After all, the user spent their hard-earned cash on that particular product or service. The same principle applies to sexual dysfunction medication.
Sildenafil was introduced to the public more than twenty years ago. It acts as a PDE5 inhibitor with vasodilative (dilation of blood cells) properties and is typically used to neutralize the symptoms of impotence. It is also the forerunner in the erectile dysfunction industry.
Review pages offer the user the opportunity to tell the public about personal experience and to rate Sildenafil products. An illustration of what to expect from the page structure of review sites follows below.
What to Expect from the Page Structure of User Review Websites?
At the top of the page, you will usually find a search bar that allows you to search for reviews on a specific drug. Next to this, there are two buttons where you can register or sign in. Below the search bar, six hyperlinks take you to several different pages with tons of information and news regarding medications. Among the hyperlinks are two valuable tools which are at your disposal free of charge, these are:
- Pill identifier: Identifies unknown drugs by using information (tablet imprint, color, and shape of the pill) that is visible on the tablet.
- Interactions Checker: Allows you to compare two drugs to check for interactions between them.
Following this is a disclaimer stating that the information on the page does not endorse any specific drug. And that, although the reviews can be helpful, they’re not to be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
Below the disclaimer, you have another six hyperlinks. This time these links are related to a specific drug and offer valuable, researched information on the drug in question, which in this case is Sildenafil. The hyperlinks are:
- Overview (An overall look at the drug.),
- Dosage (An in-depth look at dosage variations for healthy men and men with preexisting health conditions.),
- Side Effects (A comprehensive list of the drugs side effects.),
- Tips (A list of what to do to get the most out of the drug.),
- Professional (For medical practitioners - drug overview in medical terms.),
- Interactions (A list of drugs that have known interactions with Sildenafil.).
Next, you have, in a table format, a list of the uses for the drug, amount of reviews per drug use, user ratings, and a comparison tool. Sildenafil’s average user rating, when used for erectile dysfunction, is 82%.
There is another disclaimer here stating that the reviews may be edited to correct spelling and grammar mistakes or for removing inappropriate content and language. It further says that user reviews are not eligible for use as scientific studies or statistical analysis.
Below this table are two buttons which offer the opportunity to leave a review (experience button) or to ask questions (question button).
The user reviews are next. Each report includes the user’s name, how long he’s been using the drug, the date the review was published, and the purpose for which the drug was used, followed by the user’s comment. Below this is the rating bar, which slides from 1 to 10, ten being the highest.
At the bottom of the page, there is a lot of information on Sildenafil. This information includes, amongst others:
- Side effects,
- Pricing,
- Support groups,
- Alternative drugs comparison,
- FDA alerts,
- Sildenafil variations,
- Professional resources, and,
- Treatment guides.
Sildenafil Review - Personal Experiences
The reviews indicate that men of all age groups use Sildenafil. The users’ ages start in the mid 20’s all the way through to the mid-70s. It also shows that the majority of men that use Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction are above the age of 50.
From 386 reviews, 90 percent of the men use Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, 7.5 percent use it for erectile dysfunction induced by SSRI medication (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor – class of antidepressant), and the remaining 2.5 percent is for Pulmonary Hypertension (PAH).
The user efficiency rating for treating erectile dysfunction comes in at an average of 82 percent (8.2 out of 10 points), SSRI induced erectile dysfunction rating is 81 percent, and a 61 percent rating for Pulmonary Hypertension usage.
Sildenafil users report that taking the drug results in a firm and lasting erection, and many claims that it is a better erection than a naturally obtained one. It is also noted that the sex lasts longer with short recuperation time, making it possible to have intercourse more than once consecutively. Many users also report that they have experienced significant psychological relief because they could once again perform sexually.
Although the generic Sildenafil products receive a significant amount of good reviews, the average user still prefers original Viagra. On average, users prefer the 50mg dose followed closely by the 100mg dose. Reports state that Sildenafil is active within 60 minutes after taking it and lasts for several hours.
User Reported Side Effects of Sildenafil
According to the reviews, most users report that they either experienced mild side effects or no side effects at all. Only a few cases reported more serious side effects. Reported Viagra (Sildenafil) side effects are:
- Foggy, dazed and confused feeling,
- Ejaculation problems (Delayed, difficult, insufficient ejaculation, semen flows out gradually, inability to ejaculate.),
- Flushing,
- Headaches (mild to severe),
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease),
- Muscle pains,
- Vision impairment (seeing in different shades, brighter images),
- Stuffy nose,
- Itchy eyes,
- Backache,
- Dizziness (mild to severe),
- Light sensitivity,
- Hot flashes and sweating,
- Increased anxiety,
- Tight throat,
- Diarrhea,
- Chest pain,
- Following day fatigue,
- Allergic reaction (Red hot swelling around the eyes),
- Rash,
- Erratic heartbeat,
- Acute nasal congestion,
- Dehydration,
- Insomnia,
- Rapid blood pressure decrease,
- Stomach aches,
- Throbbing in the ear, and,
- Red eyes.
The most common side effects mentioned in the reviews are flushing, stuffy nose, headaches (mild to severe), and ejaculation problems. Flushing is not an issue for most of the men, and users claim that a headache tablet and an antihistamine quickly gets rid of the headaches and stuffy nose.
The typical user is not displeased with delayed ejaculation as it allows them to continue for longer periods. The reviews do, however, note that the inability to ejaculate is an issue for all concerned.
The less common side effects that were reported include diarrhea, stomach aches, muscle pains, vision impairment, itchy eyes, red eyes, and muscle. These side effects are usually short-lived, and most users claim that the outcome of Sildenafil is worth it.
Reports of several more severe side effects are also present in the reviews, which include insomnia, dehydration, a sudden drop in blood pressure, erratic heartbeat, chest pain, and GERD. The users that reported these side effects claimed that the situation sorted itself out.
One of the reviews reported an allergic reaction to the medication, resulting in a red hot rash which caused swelling in the face and around the eyes. This patient ended up in the ER for medical treatment.
User Reviews - Experiences with Combining Sildenafil & Alcohol
As per user reviews, taking a minimal amount of alcohol when using Sildenafil does not at all affect the drug (s. also Combining Viagra (Sildenafil) and Alcohol: The Dangers and Risks). Users that combined Sildenafil with more considerable amounts of alcohol or heavy drinks such as Guinness reported an altered effect of Sildenafil, resulting in abnormal erections or no erection at all.
Doctors strongly advise against mixing alcohol and Sildenafil due to the implications that the mixture may hold. These implications may be as minor as merely affecting the outcome of Sildenafil to severe conditions that can cause severe bodily impairment or death.
Alcohol combined with Sildenafil can result in a rapid decrease in blood pressure, which may initiate strokes, heart attacks, or renal failure. Certain psychological issues may also arise, which can cause impotence, that completely neutralizes the intended effect of Sildenafil.
Certain psychological issues may also arise, which can cause impotence, that completely neutralizes the intended effect of Sildenafil.
The internet holds many valuable resources on the dangers of mixing Sildenafil and alcohol. You can also consult your doctor or chemist for more information about the risks involved when combining the two.
To Conclude
Taken from the reviews, the majority of users are satisfied with Sildenafil products, and many prefer original Viagra (s. also What Is Viagra? What Do Viagra Pills Look Like?), even though there are some complaints that the original product is overpriced. The users, in general, are grateful for Sildenafil and claim that it has changed their lives for the better.
Most of the problems with Sildenafil, noted in the reviews, are side effect related issues, but the users claim that the efficiency of Sildenafil is worth it. These effects are often reduced or avoided through dose adjustments.
Speak to your physician about Sildenafil regarding its uses and side effects. You also need to consult him to obtain a prescription for the drug (s. also Viagra Without a Doctor’s Prescription – What Should I Know?).
- Mondaini et al.: Sildenafil does not improve sexual function in men without erectile dysfunction but does reduce the postorgasmic refractory time. In: Int. J. Impot. Res. Band 14, Nr. 3, S. 225–228.
- Patrick W. Fisher; Fadi Salloum; Anindita Das; Haroon Hyder; Rakesh C. Kukreja: Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition With Sildenafil Attenuates Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis and Left Ventricular Dysfunction in a Chronic Model of Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity. In: Circulation. Band 111, 2005, S. 1601–1610.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020). Sildenafil. In: The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. URL: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699015.html
- VIAGRA- sildenafil citrate tablet, film coated . Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc. URL: http://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=652
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VIAGRA® (sildenafil citrate) Tablets. URL: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov.