Medical drug profile: Fildena

Fildena is a product name commonly associated with sildenafil citrate, a medicine used for erectile dysfunction in adult men. Sildenafil belongs to a class of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, or PDE5 inhibitors. It works by helping relax blood vessels and increase blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

The phrase fildena and nitroglycerin describes a medically dangerous interaction. Nitroglycerin is a nitrate medicine commonly used for chest pain, angina, or certain heart conditions. Sildenafil and nitroglycerin can both lower blood pressure. When taken together, they may cause a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure that can lead to fainting, heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening events.

Fildena should not be used by anyone taking nitroglycerin in any form, including tablets, sprays, patches, ointments, or injectable preparations. The same warning applies to other nitrate medicines, such as isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate, as well as recreational nitrites sometimes called “poppers.” This interaction is one of the most important safety restrictions for sildenafil-containing products.

Emergency symptoms after combining Fildena with nitroglycerin may include severe dizziness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, confusion, sweating, blurred vision, or an irregular heartbeat. A person who has taken sildenafil and develops chest pain should seek emergency care and must tell medical staff that sildenafil was used, because nitroglycerin may not be safe in that situation.

Common sildenafil side effects may include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, dizziness, and temporary vision changes. Serious warning signs include sudden vision loss, sudden hearing loss, severe low blood pressure, chest pain, or an erection lasting longer than 4 hours. These symptoms require urgent medical attention.

For fildena and nitroglycerin, the safety message is clear: these medicines should not be combined. Men with heart disease, angina, prior heart attack, uncontrolled blood pressure, or use of any nitrate medication should speak with a healthcare professional about safer treatment options for erectile dysfunction.