Common uses

Under normal circumstances, when a man is sexually stimulated, the penis fills up with blood. When erectile dysfunction occurs, enough blood does not flow to cause an erection. CAVERTA, with Sildenafil citrate, relaxes the penile blood vessels when a man is sexually stimulated. This allows blood flow into the penis, resulting in an erection. The erection subsides after sex, just as it is supposed to in normal conditions.
Please understand that CAVERTA is not a hormone or aphrodisiac, it works only when a man is sexually stimulated.

Before using

only your doctor can decide if CAVERTA is right for you. CAVERTA can cause mild, temporary lowering of your blood pressure. You will need to have a thorough medical exam to diagnose your erectile dysfunction and to find out if you can safely take CAVERTA alone or with your other medicines.
Your doctor should determine if your heart is healthy enough to handle the extra strain of having sex. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have had:
• Any heart problems (e.g., angina, chest pain, heart failure, irregular heart beats, or heart attack), have ever had a stroke,
• Low or high blood pressure,
• A rare inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa,
• Any kidney problems or any liver problems,
• Any blood problems, including sickle cell anemia or leukaemia,
• Allergies to sildenafil or any of the other ingredients of CAVERTA tablets,
• A deformed penis, Peyronie's disease, or ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours,
• Stomach ulcers or any types of bleeding problems
• or, if you are taking any other medicines.

Directions

Take CAVERTA about one hour before you plan to have sex. Beginning in about 30 minutes and lasts for up to 4 hours, CAVERTA can help you get an erection if you are sexually excited. If you take CAVERTA after a high-fat meal (such as steak, cheeseburger and french fries), the medicine may take a little longer to start working. CAVERTA can help you get an erection when you are sexually excited. You will not get an erection just by taking the pill.

Cautions

Do not use Biaxin if you are also using any of the drugs listed below. They can interact with Biaxin and cause life-threatening heart rhythm disorders:
• astemizole (Hismanal);
• cisapride (Propulsid);
• ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray);
• pimozide (orap); or
• terfenadine (Seldane).
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Biaxin is usually given for 7 to 14 days (or longer when treating stomach ulcer). Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Biaxin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, CAVERTA (sildenafil citrate) can cause some side effects. These effects are usually mild to moderate and usually don't last longer than a few hours. Some of these side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses.
The most common side effects of sildenafil citrate are headache, flushing of the face and upset stomach. Less common side effects that may occur are temporary changes in colour vision (such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a blue colour tinge to them), eyes being more sensitive to light or blurred vision. In rare instances, men have reported an erection that lasts many hours. You should call a doctor immediately if you ever have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours. If not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis could occur.
Heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeats and death have been reported rarely in men taking sildenafil citrate. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil citrate may cause other side effects besides those listed on this sheet. If you want more information or develop any side effect or symptom you are concerned about, call your doctor.

If you take too much

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of a Biaxin overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.

Additional information

CAVERTA does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is a treatment for erectile dysfunction. CAVERTA does not protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-the virus that causes AIDS. CAVERTA is not a hormone or an aphrodisiac.

Drug interactions

Do not take Caverta if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems, including nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, Minitran, Deponit, Transderm-Nitro), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMo, Monoket), or recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”).
Before taking Caverta, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:
• bosentan (Tracleer);
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
• an antibiotic such as erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
• doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), Terazosin (Hytrin);
• an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), or phenytoin (Dilantin); or
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Caverta, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.