What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about SILDENAFIL-DRx.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of your taking SILDENAFIL-DRx against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
It should be used only under strict medical supervision.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What SILDENAFIL-DRx is used For
SILDENAFIL-DRx is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs). SILDENAFIL-DRx brings down the blood pressure by relaxing these vessels. SILDENAFIL-DRx tablets contain the active ingredient sildenafil (present as sildenafil citrate) which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why SILDENAFIL-DRx has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take SILDENAFIL-DRx
When you must not take it
Do not take SILDENAFIL-DRx if:
- you are being treated for angina (chest pain), or other heart conditions, with certain medicines called nitrates.
Nitrate medicines include glyceryl trinitrate (also called nitroglycerin). Common tradenames include tablets; such as Anginine and Tridil; patches such as Nitro-Dur, Nitradisc, Transiderm-Nitro, Nitrocor, Nitroderm TTS and Minitran; sprays such as Nitrolingual and injections such as Nitronal.
Common tradenames for other nitrate preparations include tablets such as Imdur Durule, Sorbidin, Isordil, Carvasin, Corangin, ISMO 20, Imtrate, Coronex, Duride, Ikorel and Sodium Nitroprusside.
There may be other tradenames not listed here. - you are using amyl nitrite
- you have suffered a heart attack or stroke in the last 6 months
- you have severe liver problems
- your blood pressure is unusually low and is not effectively treated
- you have an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa
- you have loss of vision in one or both eyes from an eye disease called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- you are taking certain medicines used to treat fungal infections including ketoconazole and itraconazole
- you are taking ritonavir a treatment for HIV infection
- you have an allergy to:
- sildenafil or similar medicines
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
An allergic reaction can include:
- hives, itching or skin rash
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing
- the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering, or does not look quite right even if the tablets may look all right
- the expiry date on the pack has passed
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
You have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes
You have previously had sudden loss of eyesight in one or both eyes
You have any of the following medical conditions:
- you have heart or blood vessel problems
- you have high blood pressure
- diabetes, especially if you also have eye problems
- leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells)
- multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow)
- any bleeding disorder such as haemophilia or problems with nose bleeds
- stomach ulcer
- a disease of the blood called sickle cell anaemia
- pulmonary veno occlusive disease (blockage or narrow vein in the lung)
- any disease or deformity of your penis
- you are receiving any treatment for male erectile dysfunction (impotence) including Viagra which contains the same medicine as SILDENAFIL-DRx. Other medicines used to treat impotence include Cialis and Levitra
- you are receiving other treatments for your condition
- previously experienced sudden decrease or loss of hearing
You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
SILDENAFIL-DRx should not be used during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks with you.
You are breastfeeding.
You should not breastfeed while taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
Taking other medicines
Do not take SILDENAFIL-DRx if you are using nitrate medicines for angina.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
These medicines include Tracleer (bosentan), Flolan (epoprostenol) or Ventavis (Iloprost).
You may need to take different medicines or take different amounts of your medicine.
Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and SILDENAFIL-DRx may interfere with each other. These include:
- medicines called alpha-blockers. These are used to treat high blood pressure or prostate problems.
- some medicines used to treat epilepsy such as phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital
- St John's Wort that may be used to treat mild anxiety
- Rifampicin used to treat leprosy or tuberculosis
- An antiobiotic called erythromyicin
- Saquinavir a medicine used to treat HIV infection
- Cimetidine for stomach ulcers
You may need to take different medicines or different amounts of your medicine. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines. They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist, if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.
Avoid drinking grapefruit juice. It may increase the level of sildenafil in your blood.
You may feel lightheaded if you drink alcohol while you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
How to take SILDENAFIL-DRx
Take SILDENAFIL-DRx exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The usual dose is one 20 mg tablet taken three times a day (taken 6-8 hours apart).
How to take it
Swallow the SILDENAFIL-DRx tablet whole with a full glass of water.
When to take it
Take SILDENAFIL-DRx at the same times each day.
Taking SILDENAFIL-DRx at the same times each day will have the best effect. It will also help you to remember when to take it. SILDENAFIL-DRx can be taken with or without food.
How long to take it
You must take SILDENAFIL-DRx every day.
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take SILDENAFIL-DRx tablets, take a dose as soon as you remember, then continue to take your tablets at the usual times.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed tablets.
However, tell your doctor or nurse if you think that a dose has been forgotten.
If you take too much (Overdose)
If you take too much, you are more likely to experience side effects.
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone in Australia 13 11 26;) for advice if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much SILDENAFIL-DRx. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort.
While you are using SILDENAFIL-DRx
Things you must do
Stop using SILDENAFIL-DRx if you have a loss of eyesight in one or both eyes. Seek medical attention urgently. If you are about to start taking any new medicines, especially nitrates, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
See "Before you take SILDENAFIL-DRx" for a list of common nitrate medications.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
Things you must not do
Do not use the drug amyl nitrite (sometimes called "poppers") while you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
If you get an angina attack do not take nitrate medicines to relieve the pain but tell your doctor immediately. Make sure your doctor knows you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
Do not take SILDENAFIL-DRx to treat any other conditions unless your doctor says so.
Do not give SILDENAFIL-DRx to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
SILDENAFIL-DRx can cause dizziness and effects on vision. You should be aware of how you react to SILDENAFIL-DRx before you drive or operate machinery.
If you experience changes in vision, or dizziness, when taking SILDENAFIL-DRx, you should not drive or operate machinery.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking SILDENAFIL-DRx.
While SILDENAFIL-DRx helps most people it can cause some unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines have side effects. If unwanted effects occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not get any of them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- headache
- dizziness
- flushing
- indigestion
- stuffy nose
- changes in vision such as blurring, a blue colour to your vision or a greater awareness of light
- muscle aches, back or limb pain
- rash
- diarrhoea or upset stomach
- a numbness or tingling skin sensation
- breathlessness or coughing
- fever or flu like symptoms
- nose bleeds
- difficulty sleeping
- hayfever
Rarely men have lost vision in one or both eyes some time after taking drugs such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra to treat impotence (known as erectile dysfunction). It is not known at this time if these medicines can cause vision loss. If you lose sight in one or more eyes while taking SILDENAFIL-DRx, seek medical attention urgently.
A small number of people have reported a loss of hearing, which may include a ringing or other persistent noise in the ears and dizziness, while taking SILDENAFIL-DRx. It is not known whether hearing loss is related to SILDENAFIL-DRx. If you experience any loss of hearing, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be side effects not yet known.
If you notice any other symptoms that worry you, check with your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list.
After using SILDENAFIL-DRx
Storage
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep SILDENAFIL-DRx in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep the tablets in their pack until it is time to take them. If you take your tablets out of the pack they will not keep as well.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking SILDENAFIL-DRx, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over.
Product description
What it looks like
SILDENAFIL-DRx Tablets are blue coloured, round film-coated debossed with ‘SC’ on one side and ‘20’ on other side
The tablets are available in blister packs containing 90 tablets in each box.
Ingredients
Active ingredients
SILDENAFIL-DRx 20 mg tablet contains sildenafil citrate equivalent to 20mg sildenafil
Other ingredients
- cellulose- microcrystalline
- calcium hydrogen phosphate
- croscarmellose sodium
- hydroxypropylcellulose
- magnesium stearate
- hypromellose
- lactose
- glycerol triacetate
- titanium dioxide
- indigo carmine aluminium lake (CI 73015).
Supplier
SILDENAFIL-DRx is supplied in Australia by:
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (Australia) Pty Ltd
Level 1, 181 Bay Street
Brighton Victoria 3186
Australia
Australian Registration Numbers
SILDENAFIL-DRx 20 mg tablet– AUST R 186295
This leaflet was prepared in Feb, 2012