What is Stendra?
Stendra relaxes the muscles in the blood vessel walls and increases the blood flow to specific areas of the body. Stendra is used for treating impotence (erectile dysfunction). Stendra is not suitable for women or children.
Warnings
Stendra can cause a serious drop in blood pressure when taken with other medications. Stop immediately and contact your doctor if you feel dizzy, nauseated, or have pain or numbness in your arms, chest, neck, or jaw. It could be a serious side effect.
If you experience sudden vision loss, stop using Stendra immediately and seek emergency medical attention. Avanafil may decrease blood flow to your optic nerve. A small number of patients taking sildenafil, also known as Viagra, have experienced this. These people were also suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They had high cholesterol or pre-existing eye conditions.
This medication should only be taken once every 24 hours. If your erection lasts over four hours or is painful, consult your physician as prolonged erections can damage the penis and potentially result in its destruction.
Before you take this drug
Stendra should not be taken if you have an allergy to avanafil or:
- Take nitrates if you are a nitrate user.
- If you are taking riociguat, an antihypertensive medicine that treats hypertension, pulmonary arterial
Avanafil should not be taken if you also use a nitrate medication for chest pain or heart problems. Nitroglycerin is one of them, as are isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate. Some recreational drugs, such as amyl nitrate and nitrite (poppers), also contain nitrates. Combining avanafil and a nitrate medication can lead to a rapid drop in blood pressure.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Stendra will be safe for you:
- Heart failure;
- Angina (chest pain);
- A heart rhythm disorder.
- A stroke, a heart attack,
- Heart surgery;
- High blood pressure:
- Low blood pressure
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Hearing or vision problems or vision loss.
- Bleeding problems
- A blood cell disorder, such as sickle cell anemia or myeloma multiple,
- A stomach ulcer
- Liver disease, kidney diseases (or dialysis if you're on it);
- Priapism is an erection that is painful or that lasts more than four hours.
- A physical deformity (such as Peyronie’s disease);
- If you've been told that you shouldn't have sexual relations for health reasons,
Stendra may cause sudden loss of vision by decreasing blood flow to the retina. A small number of patients taking Sildenafil or similar drugs to Avanafil have experienced this. These people were also more likely to have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure. They may also have had high levels of cholesterol or other eye conditions. The cause of the vision loss is unknown.
Stendras should only be used by men. There is no information on whether it would harm a woman if she took this medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Similar/related drugs
Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Cialis, Viagra, Alprostadil, and Levitra
How to take Stendra?
Follow the instructions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Read and follow all instructions included with your medication. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose. Stendra is taken with or without food.
Stendra should only be taken when necessary, approximately 15–30 minutes before sexual activity. Please follow your doctor's directions. Stendra can assist in achieving an erection during sexual stimulation. It is not possible to get an erection by simply taking a pill.
Do not take this medication more than once every 24 hours. Wait 24 hours between doses. If your erection lasts more than four hours or is painful, call your doctor. The penis can be damaged by a prolonged erection. Store away from moisture, heat, and light at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dosage for erectile dysfunction:
Initial dose: 100mg orally, as needed, approximately 15–30 minutes prior to sexual activity.
Maintenance dose: 50–200 mg orally, as needed, 15–30 minutes prior to sexual activity.
Maximum dose: Orally 200 mg once per day
Comments:
The lowest effective dose should be used.
Sexual stimulation is required for the treatment to be effective.
Use: Treatment for erectile dysfunction
What happens if I miss the dose?
You are unlikely to have a schedule for this medication, as it is only used when needed.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Avanafil can be affected by alcohol. Stendra can cause side effects if you drink more than three alcoholic drinks.
Grapefruit can interact with avanafil, causing unwanted side effects. Avoid grapefruit products. This medication does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV or AIDS. Use of a condom is the only sure way to prevent such diseases from spreading.
Side effects of Stendra
Stendra can cause the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat. If you experience a sudden loss of vision, stop using Stendra immediately and seek emergency medical attention.
If you feel dizzy, nauseated, or have pain or tingling—numbness or tingling—in your arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, call your doctor immediately. Stendra could have a serious side effect.
If you experience:
- Vision changes, sudden vision loss;
- Ringing in the ears or sudden loss of hearing
- One or both legs may exhibit symptoms of pain, swelling, warmth and redness.
- Shortness of breath and swelling in the hands or feet
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Penis erections that are painful or last 4 hours or more
Common Stendra side effects may include:
- Headache;
- Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly sensation);
- A sore throat, or cold symptoms.
- Backache.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
Avanafil should not be taken with other similar medications such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil. These medicines are also sold under other names, such as Adcirca and Revatio. They treat a condition known as pulmonary arterial hypotension.
Tell your doctor about your other medications, including:
- All other medications that you take for erectile disorder;
- An antibacterial: clarithromycin, erythromycin, and others.
- Antifungal medicines include itraconazole and ketoconazole.
- Drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostatic disorder, such as alfuzosin (doxazosin), prazosin (silodosin), terazosin (terazosin), tamsulosin, and others.
- Nitrates
- Hepatitis C medication: boceprevir (or telaprevir)
- HIV/AIDS medication: atazanavir (indinavir), ritonavir (saquinavir), and others.
This list is incomplete. Avanafil may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
