What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sildenafil?
Taking sildenafil together with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure. Before taking sildenafil, tell your doctor if you take a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran, Deponit, Transderm-Nitro), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (?poppers?). A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking sildenafil. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether sildenafil is the actual cause of such vision loss. This loss of vision has occurred most often in people with heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old. Stop using sildenafil if you have any
