Viagra (sildenafil) is primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to get or maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual activity[1][2][3][5][6][7][8].
Additionally, sildenafil is also prescribed for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a form of high blood pressure affecting the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart[1][2][3][4][5][7][6]. In this use, the drug helps improve exercise capacity and delays disease progression by relaxing and widening the blood vessels in the lungs[1][2][4][5][7].
- Sildenafil may, less commonly, be used “off-label” for conditions such as Raynaud’s phenomenon (reducing vasospasm and ischemia in fingers and toes) and in rare cases, female sexual arousal disorder[3][5].
- Sildenafil is occasionally studied or used for improving exercise tolerance at high altitudes or relieving high-altitude pulmonary edema, though these uses are not standard or widely approved[3].
Sildenafil does not increase sexual desire, cure erectile dysfunction, prevent pregnancy, or stop the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases[7].
References
- [1] Sildenafil: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action – DrugBank
- [2] Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio) – Uses, Side Effects, and More (WebMD)
- [3] Sildenafil (Wikipedia)
- [4] Sildenafil (Revatio) – Pulmonary Hypertension Association
- [5] Sildenafil – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- [6] Sildenafil: Usage, Dosage & Side Effects (Drugs.com)
- [7] Sildenafil: MedlinePlus Drug Information
- [8] Sildenafil: Viagra for Erectile Dysfunction – Cleveland Clinic