Caverta (sildenafil) provides temporary relief from erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. The medication allows a firm erection to form 30 to 60 minutes after a tablet has been taken, and the medication lasts 4 to 6 hours.

The active ingredient in Caverta is sildenafil, which is the same active ingredient in Viagra, the world's most widely-recognized ED treatment. A PDE5 inhibitor, sildenafil widens blood vessels and improves blood flow, including to the penis. It also lowers blood pressure, which may be a concern in men prone to low blood pressure or taking hypertension treatments.

Some stimulation---either mental or physical---is required for an erection to form, but once accomplished it should remain firm enough to complete intercourse. After ejaculation the erection will diminish for a time, but if the medication is still active it can be reformed.

First-Time Users

Patients who have not taken sildenafil before are generally advised to avoid Caverta until safety is established with lower doses. While Caverta contains 100 mg sildenafil, the standard starting dose is 50 mg. In men over age 60, men who have major health conditions, and men who are taking certain other medications, the standard starting dose is 25 mg. If no serious side effects develop with 25 or 50 mg, and if needed, dosage may be increased.

Healthy, younger men can probably get away with 100 mg doses if disinclined to consult a doctor. However, men over age 40, those who have major medical conditions, and those taking other medications (see side effects section below) are strongly advised to start with 25 or 50 mg doses, which can be found in brand-name or inexpensive alternative labels on our Viagra page.

Also note that some individuals find sildenafil does little or nothing the first couple of times it is taken, but then begins to work. While this is relatively rare, it does happen; assuming no serious side effects develop, give the medication a few tries before deciding it doesn't work.

Taking Caverta

Men who are already familiar with sildenafil will likely recognize administration instructions:

• Take one tablet 30 to 60 minutes prior to intimacy.
• Once the medication begins working, it should remain effective for 4 to 6 hours.
• Taking with food is okay, though very heavy meals or fatty foods may slow absorption and delay effectiveness.
• Do not take more than one tablet in a 24 hour period.
• Do not take more than three tablets per week.

While there is some variance in when effectiveness begins and how long it lasts, most men will quickly figure out how they, personally, react to the medication and can adjust accordingly.

Caverta is effective in the vast majority of ED cases, regardless of the underlying cause---be it from stress, other medications, age, or unknown causes. The exceptions here are physical abnormalities or physical injury to the penis.

While Caverta provides temporary relief from ED, unfortunately it is not a cure. The underlying cause must be addressed to fully resolve the issue, though it is often a combination of factors and often difficult to impossible to identify. Used as directed, Caverta can be taken for as long as desired.

Side Effects

Caverta---or its active ingredient, sildenafil---is a widely-used and widely-studied medication in both clinical trials and real-world use. In healthy men it is considered safe if used as directed, with the majority of side effects being mild:

• Headache
• Mild muscle aches
• Mild stomach upset
• Cold-like symptoms

Though rare in otherwise healthy men, more serious side effects do occasionally develop. This risk is significantly increased in men who have other medical conditions, particularly:

• Significantly low or high blood pressure
• Heart, liver or kidney problems
• Any blood cell or bleeding disorders
• Any vision or hearing disorders
• Penile implants or physical abnormalities

Other medications can also increase the risk of serious side effects; of greatest concern are:

• Other PDE5 inhibitors
• Nitrates
• Protease inhibitors
• Alpha-blockers
• High blood pressure treatments
• Any other cardiovascular medication
• Antibiotics
• Antifungal medications
• Guanylate cyclase stimulators

Men with any medical condition or taking any other medications should speak with a doctor before taking Caverta, or any sildenafil product. In the majority of cases, most serious---sometimes even fatal---complications arise from men taking sildenafil when other medications or medical conditions are also present.

Serious side effects include:

• Very low blood pressure
• Priapism
• Vision loss
• Hearing impairment or loss
• Cardiovascular complications

If any of the above are experienced while taking Caverta, seek medical attention and do not take it---or any sildenafil product---again unless explicitly approved by a doctor. While the above are usually reversible once the medication is out of the system, in rare cases they can be permanent.

Note that priapism---an erection that lasts 4 hours or more---also warrants medical attention, as permanent damage to the penis can result otherwise.