Who can take sildenafil
Most men aged 18 and over can take sildenafil for erectile dysfunction.
Most adults and children aged 1 year and over can take sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension.
Who may not be able to take sildenafil
Sildenafil is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking sildenafil if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to sildenafil or any other medicine
- are taking medicines called nitrates for chest pain (angina)
- have a serious heart or liver problem
- have recently had a stroke, heart attack or a heart problem – your doctor should carefully check whether your heart can take the additional strain of having sex
- have low blood pressure (hypotension)
- have a rare inherited eye disease, such as retinitis pigmentosa
- have sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), leukaemia (cancer of blood cells) or multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow)
- have a deformity of your penis or Peyronie's disease (curved penis)
- have a stomach ulcer
- have a bleeding problem like haemophilia