Taking Viagra can cause mild or serious side effects. Mild effects may go away in a few days or a couple of weeks. They can include:

• headache
• flushing
• indigestion
• stuffy nose
• back pain
• muscle pain
• nausea
• dizziness
• rash

If these side effects don’t go away after a week or so, talk with your prescribing healthcare professional or pharmacist.

Serious side effects are uncommon but may occur. Call your prescribing healthcare professional right away if you experience serious side effects, such as:

• sudden vision loss in one eye
• sudden decrease or loss of hearing
• allergic reaction (hives, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)
• priapism (long lasting and sometimes painful erections)
• low blood pressure
• fast heart rate

What to look for when buying Viagra online

To avoid buying counterfeit medications, look for the following:

• reputable retailer
• consultation with a licensed medical professional
• licensed pharmacy that asks for a prescription from your doctor
• licensed pharmacy with an address in the United States
• FDA-approved medications
• clearly labeled containers with the name of the medication and dosage
• licensed pharmacist who is available to answer any questions afterward

What makes a reputable online pharmacy or health platform?

There should be multiple, clear ways to contact a customer service representative, such as a pop-up chat window, an email to send questions, a contact form you can submit, or a phone number you can call.

The company may have a medical advisory board and a network of licensed healthcare professionals.

As a user of their services or platform, it should be easy for you to see information about the nurse practitioners and physicians you work with, such as medical license and credentials.

When to talk with a doctor

If you’re interested in trying Viagra for ED, you’ll need to talk with a healthcare professional first. The FDA requires a prescription for Viagra, both for the brand-name medication and its generic, sildenafil.

Your doctor may offer you a prescription for Viagra if they decide it’s the safest treatment option based on your symptoms, medical history, and overall health. There are also other options they can talk with you about.

If you experience a painful erection or an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, seek emergency care immediately, as it may be a sign of another uro­log­ic con­di­tion.

Seek a doctor immediately if you experience any of these serious side effects:

• aller­gic reac­tion, like skin rash, itch­ing or hives, and swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• fast, irreg­u­lar heart rate
• hear­ing loss
• vision changes
• seizures

Are there alternatives to Viagra?

Some ED medications are PDE5 inhibitors that relax smooth muscle tissue and increase blood flow. There are four main types of PDE5 inhibitors:

• Stendra (avanafil)
• Levitra (vardenafil)
• Cialis (tadalafil)
• Viagra (sildenafil)

Other ED treatments involve the use of other medications or can supplement your use of sildenafil to go hand-in-hand.