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INN: SILDÉNAFIL
Data updated: 2026-04-11
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UPJOHN (PAYS-BAS) (FR)
Source
BDPM_FR
USDailyMed:Sildenafil
AU:B1
G04BE03(WHO)
AU:S4(Prescription only)CA:℞-onlyUK:POM(Prescription only) /PharmacyUS:℞-onlyEU:Rx-onlyIn general: ℞ (Prescription only)
5-{2-Ethoxy-5-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)sulfonyl]phenyl}-1-methyl-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-6H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one
139755-83-2citrate:171599-83-0
135398744citrate:135413523
DB00203citrate:DBSALT000347
5023citrate:56586
3M7OB98Y7Hcitrate:BW9B0ZE037
D08514citrate:D02229
CHEBI:9139citrate:CHEBI:58987
ChEMBL192citrate:ChEMBL1737
VIA (PDBe,RCSB PDB)
DTXSID6023579
Interactive image
CCCC1=NN(C2=C1N=C(NC2=O)C3=C(C=CC(=C3)S(=O)(=O)N4CCN(CC4)C)OCC)C
InChI=1S/C22H30N6O4S/c1-5-7-17-19-20(27(4)25-17)22(29)24-21(23-19)16-14-15(8-9-18(16)32-6-2)33(30,31)28-12-10-26(3)11-13-28/h8-9,14H,5-7,10-13H2,1-4H3,(H,23,24,29)Key:BNRNXUUZRGQAQC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Sildenafil, sold under the brand nameViagraamong others, is amedicationused to treaterectile dysfunctionandpulmonary arterial hypertension.It is also sometimes usedoff-labelfor the treatment of certain symptoms in secondaryRaynaud's phenomenon.It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in females.It can be takenorally(swallowed by mouth),intravenously(injection into a vein), or through thesublingual route(dissolved under the tongue).Onset when taken orally is typically within twenty minutes and lasts for about two hours.
Common side effects includeheadaches,heartburn, andflushed skin.Caution is advised in those withcardiovascular disease.Rare but serious side effects include vision problems,hearing loss, andprolonged erection(priapism) that can lead to damage to thepenis.Sildenafil should not be taken by people onnitric oxide donorssuch asnitroglycerin, as this may result in a serious drop inblood pressure.
Sildenafil acts by blockingphosphodiesterase 5(PDE5), anenzymethat promotes breakdown ofcGMP, which regulates blood flow in the penis.It requiressexual arousalto work, and does not by itself cause or increase sexual arousal.It also results in dilation of the blood vessels in the lungs.
Pfizeroriginally discovered the medication in 1989 while looking for a treatment forangina.It was approved for medical use in the United States and in the European Union in 1998.In 2023, it was the 151st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3million prescriptions.It is available as ageneric medication.In the United Kingdom, it is available as apharmacy medicine.