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Prescription onlyFDA-approved
Sildenafil
Prescription — as needed
A well-established as-needed tablet for erectile dysfunction, prescribed only after your heart health and current medications are reviewed.
FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction — the use described on this page.
from $20/mo
if prescribedSample pricingYou'll see your exact total before you're charged anything. Nothing is charged for the visit itself.
Adding to your plan doesn't order anything and doesn't charge you — it tells the provider what you're hoping to discuss.
About 5 minutes. A licensed provider reviews your health and prescribes sildenafil only if it's right for you — there is no checkout here, and that's deliberate.
How it works
What it actually does
Sexual stimulation triggers a nitric oxide signal in the blood vessels of the penis, which raises cGMP — the messenger that relaxes smooth muscle so vessels widen and blood flows in. An enzyme called PDE5 breaks cGMP back down. Sildenafil inhibits PDE5 so cGMP persists. Arousal is still required: the medication acts on what happens after it, not instead of it.
See the full mechanism, step by stepThe evidence
What the trials actually found
Published results, with what they were measured against. A number without a comparator isn't evidence — it's advertising.
Improved erections reported by roughly 3 in 4 men
vs roughly 1 in 4 on placebo
Pooled across the manufacturer's controlled trials; response varies substantially with the underlying cause.
FDA prescribing information: sildenafil citrate, clinical studies section
Trial averages describe a study population, not a prediction for you. Your provider will be direct about what is realistic given your history — and results depend on continuing treatment.
A provider may consider it if
- You want an as-needed option rather than a daily one
- Your cardiovascular history has been reviewed and is clear for it
- You can plan around taking it roughly an hour beforehand
It won't be prescribed if
- Anyone taking nitrates for chest pain — nitroglycerin and related medications. This combination can drop blood pressure to a life-threatening degree and is an absolute stop
- Recent heart attack, stroke, unstable angina or uncontrolled blood pressure — these need in-person care
- Anyone taking certain alpha-blockers or specific antivirals without a full medication review
These are the same checks the visit runs. If one applies, the visit will tell you plainly rather than take your money.
What to expect
Realistically, month by month
Before you take it
Taken around an hour ahead. A heavy or high-fat meal can slow how quickly it works.
The window
Typically effective for a few hours. It does not produce an erection on its own — arousal is still part of it.
After the first try
Providers often adjust the dose after you report back. A first attempt that disappoints isn't necessarily the wrong medication.
Safety, stated up front
Side effects, before you decide
Headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion and temporary changes to blue-green colour vision are the common ones. Seek emergency care for an erection lasting more than four hours, or for sudden vision or hearing loss.
- FDA prescribing information: sildenafil citrate
- Nitrate co-administration contraindication per FDA labelling
Complete safety information is provided during your visit and with every prescription. This page is a summary, not a substitute for your provider's advice.
Questions
Asked honestly, answered honestly
Why do you ask so much about my heart?
Because ED medication and certain heart conditions or medications — nitrates above all — are a dangerous combination. A provider who doesn't ask isn't protecting you. If it isn't safe, we won't prescribe it, and we'll tell you why.
Is ED a sign of something else?
It can be. Erectile function depends on blood vessels, and difficulty can be an early signal worth investigating rather than just treating. Your provider will raise it if your history warrants it.
Also for sexual health
See whether sildenafil is right for you
Five minutes of questions, reviewed by a licensed provider. Treatment only if it's appropriate — and a straight answer either way.