Viagra Connect Melts 50mg Orodispersible Films

It is simple to take Viagra Connect Melts. However, each melt is quite delicate, so it is important to follow the instructions on how to take them carefully (1).

• Carefully peel open the aluminium pouch, do not cut it. Be sure to use clean, dry hands as the film will start to dissolve as soon as it comes into contact with any amount of fluid.

• Take the film out and immediately place it on your tongue. It will melt within seconds. You can swallow saliva if you need to but be sure not to swallow the film – let it melt on your tongue.

When should I take it, and does food make a difference?

Viagra Connect Melts should be taken around one hour before you intend on sexual activity, although it may start working more quickly than that. Ideally you should take the medicine on an empty stomach, as it may take longer to work if you have also consumed a heavy meal around the same time (1).

How often can I use it?

You should take no more than one Viagra Connect Melt in any 24-hour period (1).

What if it doesn’t work the first time?

Don’t panic if your Viagra Connect Melts don’t work the first time and do not take a second melt if it has been less than 24 hours since the last. Most men find that Viagra Connect Melts will work either the first or second time they use it (1).

However, everyone is different and it may be that this particular treatment isn’t right for you. If you have tried Viagra Connect Melts several times as you aren’t satisfied that they are working well for you, there are many other erectile dysfunction treatments available, including some with different active ingredients, like Tadalafil. If you aren’t sure which is right for you, you can complete an online consultation and get personalised advice and support.

Storage

You should store your Viagra Connect Melts in their original packaging, out of the sight and reach of children and vulnerable adults.

Do not use this medication after the expiry date, which should be on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the stated month and year.

Do not throw any medicines away in your household rubbish. Instead, speak to a pharmacist to find out how it can be disposed of safely (1).

Common and very common side effects

There are some side effects associated with Viagra Connect Melts, although not everyone experiences them:

Common side effects that may affect up to 1 in 10 people include:

• Headaches

• Nausea and indigestion

• Facial flushing/a hot flush (a sudden sensation of heat in your upper body)

• Stuffy nose

• Dizziness

• Blurred vision/visual disturbances/coloured tinge to your vision

There is a larger list of uncommon and rare side effects that can be viewed on the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) (1).

Serious side effects to act on immediately

You should seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Chest pain. This can be before, during or after sexual activity. If this occurs, do not use nitrates to treat it, but call 999.

• A prolonged and sometimes painful erection, lasting four hours or more.

• A sudden decrease or loss of vision.

• An allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction include sudden wheeziness, difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling of your eyelids, face, lips, mouth or throat.

• A serious skin reaction, which includes skin peeling or swelling, blistering of your mouth, genitals or the skin around your eyes. It may be accompanied by a fever.

• Seizures or fits.

Call 111/999 or visit your local Accident and Emergency department if any of these occur.

When you take Viagra Connect Melts, you should find that they get to work quickly, with most people able to get and sustain an erection within 30-60 minutes, provided they are sexually aroused (1).

If treatment is unsuccessful, do not take another film or any other PDE-5 inhibitor medication. If your erection becomes painful, or lasts longer than four hours, seek urgent medical advice. This is a rare side effect of some erectile dysfunction treatment known as priapism. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent tissue damage and erectile dysfunction (4).

Warnings

You should not take Viagra Connect Melts if you (1):

• take any sort of nitrate medication for chest pain or heart failure

• take amyl nitrate, a recreational drug also known as “poppers”

• take Ritonavir for treating HIV

• have been advised by your doctor to avoid sexual activity due to concerns over your heart or blood vessels

• have been diagnosed with a severe heart problem, unstable angina, of you’ve had a heart attack or stroke within the last six months

• have a severe liver problem

• have low blood pressure (below 90/50 mmHg) which is causing symptoms like feeling dizzy or lightheaded

• have ever had severe vision loss because of nerve damage to your eyes, or you have a rare inherited eye disease

• have any penis deformities

• were assigned female at birth

• are allergic to sildenafil or any of the other ingredients listed on the PIL

It’s important to be aware that grapefruit juice can raise Sildenafil levels, so it is advised to avoid drinking it around taking any products containing this ingredient, including Viagra Connect Melts (5). Drinking alcohol can also impair your ability to obtain an erection, and so you are advised not to drink large amounts of alcohol before sexual activity (1,6).

You can see a full list of interactions that Sildenafil may have with other medications, along with other warnings, on the PIL.