Viagra Side Effects

Most people tolerate Viagra well. When people do develop side effects with Viagra, the symptoms are usually minor. Headache, facial flushing, and indigestion are a few of the more common side effects. Uncommon Viagra side effects include allergic reactions, temporary vision loss, and migraines.

 

An Introduction to Viagra Side Effects

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Viagra® (sildenafil citrate). However, not everyone who takes Viagra will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the drug well. When people do develop side effects, the symptoms are usually minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. In previous research studies, up to 2.5 percent of people taking Viagra stopped their medicine because of side effects.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Viagra. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Viagra side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Viagra

Viagra has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with over 3,700 people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects occurring in a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to those that occur in another group not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Viagra (occurring in more than 2 percent of people) included:
 
  • Headaches --16 percent of people
  • Facial flushing -- 10 percent of people
  • Indigestion, known as dyspepsia -- 7 percent of people
  • Nasal congestion -- 4 percent of people
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI) -- 3 percent of people
  • Vision problems, including trouble telling the difference between blue and green, increased sensitivity to light, or blurred vision -- 3 percent of people
  • Diarrhea -- 3 percent of people
  • Dizziness -- 2 percent of people
  • Unexplained rash -- 2 percent of people.
     
There were some other common side effects (also seen in more than 2 percent of people) that were just as common in people taking a sugar pill instead of Viagra as they were in people taking the actual drug. These side effects included:
 
  • Respiratory tract infections
  • Back pain
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Joint pain.
     
(Viagra Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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