Manufacturer | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
Active Ingredient | Sildenafil Citrate |
Starts In | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
Last Long | 4-6 hours |
Treats | Erectile Dysfunction |
How does it work
Caverta 100 mg works by increasing blood flow to the penis. The active ingredient, Sildenafil Citrate, helps relax the blood vessel walls in the penis. During sexual arousal, the body releases nitric oxide, which boosts cGMP levels. cGMP relaxes the smooth muscle cells and widens the blood vessels. This lets more blood flow into the penis.
Sildenafil blocks an enzyme called PDE5, which usually breaks down cGMP. By stopping PDE5, Caverta allows cGMP to remain in the system. This helps maintain the blood flow needed for an erection. The blood fills the spongy tissue in the penis, called the corpus cavernosum, creating pressure. This pressure leads to an erection.
Caverta doesn’t directly cause an erection but supports the natural process. It helps enhance the body’s response to sexual arousal by improving blood flow.
Uses
Caverta is used to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED). ED makes it difficult to get or keep an erection during sex. This happens when blood flow to the penis is reduced.
Recommended Dosage
You should not take more than one Caverta tablet in 24 hours. Taking more can cause serious side effects. For best results, take the tablet with water on an empty stomach. This helps the drug absorb faster into your bloodstream. It is best to take it approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour before any sexual activity. The effects last for about 4-6 hours, but this can vary based on age, metabolism, and health. If you do not have erectile dysfunction, do not take this tablet unless your doctor advises you to do so.
Missed Dosage
Caverta is usually taken as needed. This means missing a dose is rare. If you miss a dose, just take it when required. Do not take extra to make up for a missed dose.
Overdose
Overdosing can lead to serious side effects can occur. Contact your doctor immediately if you have overdosed.
Safety Advice
Alcohol : UNSAFE
It is unsafe to drink alcohol with Sildenafil Tablets.
Pregnancy: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
This medicine is not approved for use in women. It’s for male sexual health problems (impotence or ED).
Breastfeeding : POSSIBLY UNSAFE
This medicine is not approved for use in women. Information regarding the use of Caverta 100mg Tablet during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not available. Consult your doctor for further information.
Driving : UNSAFE
This drug can make you dizzy or affect your vision. Do not drive or use hazardous machinery until you are fully aware of its effects on you.
Kidney : POSSIBLY SAFE
Sildenafil is not known to impair kidney health. Use caution if you have severe kidney disease. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Liver: CAUTION
This medication will be processed by your liver, so use caution if you have an existing liver problem. Consult your doctor for further advice. Your doctor will probably adjust the dosage for you.
Important Advisory
Before you take Caverta 100mg, tell your doctor if you have or had:
- History of stomach ulcers.
- History of liver problems.
- History of blood cell issues such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
- Low blood pressure
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Penis with an unusual shape or Peyronie’s.
- A prolonged erection lasting more than 4 hours.
- History of heart surgery in the past 6 months.
- Pulmonary hypertension.
- A history of retinitis pigmentosa
- Bleeding problems.
- Kidney problems
- Kidney dialysis.
- Heart attack
- Irregular heartbeat
- Aortic valve narrowing
- Heart failure
- Angina (chest pain)
- Allergy from Sildenafil Citrate or any other medications.
- A history of stroke, congestive heart failure, etc.
- Suffer from conditions such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.
- Take nitrates for chest pain.
- Suffer from epilepsy or seizures.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Suffer from ischemic heart disease (also known as coronary artery disease).
- Are an alcoholic or have a history of substance abuse.
Sildenafil should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. It should not be used by women or children.
Side effects
Common side effects of Caverta 100 mg include:
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Temporary problems with vision or seeing colors
- Motion sickness
- Palpitations
- Nausea
- Facial flushing
- Low blood pressure
- Stuffy nose
- Nosebleed
- Indigestion
In some rare cases, serious symptoms can occur, such as:
- Heart problems
- Irregular heartbeat
- Extremely low blood pressure
- NAION (sudden vision loss in one or both eyes)
- Priapism (a prolonged penile erection of more than 4 hours)
- Sudden hearing or vision loss
- Serious allergic reaction
Seek medical attention if you see a severe symptom or a side effect that gets worse over time.
Interactions With Other Drugs
Certain drugs can interact with Caverta 100 mg and alter how it works. If you take herbal, OTC, recreational, or other drugs, let your doctor know about them. Here is a list of drugs that can interact with Caverta 100 mg.
- Alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin and terazosin
- Antibiotics such as clarithromycin and erythromycin
- Amlodipine
- Blood thinners such as warfarin
- Oral antifungals such as itraconazole and ketoconazole
- Medicines for seizures such as carbamazepine
- Beta-blockers such as atenolol
- Bosentan
- Cimetidine
- HIV Protease inhibitors such as atazanavir and ritonavir
- Nevirapine
- Rifabutin
- ACE Inhibitors
- Barbiturates such as butalbital
- Imatinib Mesylate
- Nitroglycerin
Caverta contains sildenafil, the same active ingredient found in REVATIO. REVATIO is a medication prescribed for treating PAH. Therefore, do not use these tablets with
- REVATIO
- other PAH treatments containing sildenafil
- other PDE5 inhibitors like Vardenafil or Tadalafil.
This isn’t a complete list of potential drug interactions. Discuss possible drug interactions with your doctor before starting this medicine.
Caverta 100mg and Alcohol
Alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect when taken along with this pill. Avoid drinking alcohol along with this medicine to protect yourself from side effects.
Interaction with Grapefruit Juice
It is not advisable to take grapefruit juice when taking Caverta 100mg. The combination increases the risk of side effects. Do not take a sildenafil pill for at least 24 hours after consuming grapefruit or its juice.
Storage Instructions
- Keep the pills away from direct heat, moisture, and sunlight.
- Keep the pills out of reach of children.
- Once the pack is opened, store the pills in an airtight container.
- Do not consume the pills past their expiration date.
References
- Fink HA, Mac Donald R, Rutks IR, Nelson DB, Wilt TJ. Sildenafil for male erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Jun 24;162(12):1349-60. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.12.1349. PMID: 12076233. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/211714
- Loran OB, Ströberg P, Lee SW, Park NC, Kim SW, Tseng LJ, Collins S, Stecher VJ. Sildenafil citrate 100 mg starting dose in men with erectile dysfunction in an international, double-blind, placebo-controlled study: effect on the sexual experience and reducing feelings of anxiety about the next intercourse attempt. J Sex Med. 2009 Oct;6(10):2826-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01428.x. PMID: 19817982. https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)32273-6/fulltext
- Smith BP, Babos M. Sildenafil. [Updated 2022 May 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558978/
- Galiè N, Ghofrani HA, Torbicki A, Barst RJ, Rubin LJ, Badesch D, Fleming T, Parpia T, Burgess G, Branzi A, Grimminger F, Kurzyna M, Simonneau G; Sildenafil Use in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (SUPER) Study Group. Sildenafil citrate therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2005 Nov 17;353(20):2148-57. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa050010. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2006 Jun 1;354(22):2400-1. PMID: 16291984. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa050010
- Sofikitis N, Kaltsas A, Dimitriadis F, Rassweiler J, Grivas N, Zachariou A, Kaponis A, Tsounapi P, Paterakis N, Karagiannis A, Skouros S, Giannakis I, Champilomatis I, Paschopoulos M, Daphnis D, Giakoumakis I, R Gabales M, M Chua JB, Lantin Iii PL, Mamoulakis C, Takenaka A. The Effect of PDE5 Inhibitors on the Male Reproductive Tract. Curr Pharm Des. 2021;27(23):2697-2713. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200226121510. PMID: 32101115. https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/104866
- Kim JN, Oh JJ, Park DS, Hong YK, Yu YD. Influence of Alcohol on Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors Use in Middle- to Old-Aged Men: A Comparative Study of Adverse Events. Sex Med. 2019 Dec;7(4):425-432. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.07.004. Epub 2019 Aug 20. PMID: 31444051; PMCID: PMC6963111. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2050116119300935
Disclaimer
HisBlue is not a substitute for professional medical care or advice from your doctor. The health information on the HisBlue website is general and provided for your information only. We have ensured our content is accurate and current, with reviews by expert doctors. However, we cannot guarantee its accuracy or timeliness. This information is not meant to replace the diagnosis, treatment, or judgement of your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
Given that the other generics are cost-effective, this one seemed pretty expensive to me. Nevertheless, I thought of giving it a try. Guess what? The best decision ever made. Like I have been using generics for a while now. But they take more time to kick in. But this one surely did the job and gave me a hard on within half an hour.