An Introduction to Sildenafil Citrate Side Effects
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with
sildenafil citrate (
Viagra®). However, not everyone who takes
sildenafil citrate will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the medicine well. When people do develop sildenafil citrate side effects, the symptoms are usually minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. In previous research studies, up to 2.5 percent of people taking sildenafil citrate stopped their medicine because of side effects.
(The side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with sildenafil citrate. Your doctor can provide you with a more complete list of sildenafil citrate side effects.)
Common Side Effects of Sildenafil Citrate
Sildenafil citrate has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with over 3,700 people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, common sildenafil citrate side effects (occurring in more than 2 percent of people) included:
- Headache --16 percent of people
- Facial flushing -- 10 percent of people
- Indigestion, known as dyspepsia -- 7 percent of people
- Nasal congestion -- 4 percent of people
- Urinary tract Infections (UTI) -- 3 percent of people
- Vision problems, including trouble telling the difference between blue and green, increased sensitivity to light, or blurred vision -- 3 percent of people
- Diarrhea -- 3 percent of people
- Dizziness -- 2 percent of people
- Unexplained rash -- 2 percent of people.
There were some other common side effects (also seen in more than 2 percent of people) that were just as common in people taking a sugar pill instead of sildenafil citrate as they were in people taking the actual drug. These side effects include:
- Respiratory tract infections
- Back pain
- Flu-like symptoms
- Joint pain.
