Can you take Viagra with amlodipine? Usually yes, if your doctor knows. In a study of men with high blood pressure, taking sildenafil 100 mg with amlodipine lowered blood pressure by a further 8 mmHg (systolic) and 7 mmHg (diastolic) — about the same drop sildenafil causes on its own (EMA). The medicines that must never be taken with Viagra are nitrates, used for angina (healthdirect). Blood pressure medicines are on healthdirect's list of medicines that interact with sildenafil, so the doctor who prescribes it needs to know you take amlodipine.
What are Viagra and amlodipine?
Viagra, the brand name for sildenafil, is a medication primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It works by relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow to particular areas of the body, particularly the penile region.
On the other hand, Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and prevent chest pain (angina). It lowers the blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily, thereby reducing the heart's workload.
Who decides whether you can take both?
The doctor who prescribes sildenafil. Tell them about every medicine you take, including amlodipine: both medicines act on the circulation, and the doctor weighs your health history and your other medicines before choosing a dose.
What happens to your blood pressure if you take both?
Amlodipine lowers blood pressure, and sildenafil lowers it a little on its own, so together they lower it further. The double blood pressure-lowering effect could lead to symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting.
Why do they interact?
Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs known as oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors. These drugs can interact with numerous other medications, including Amlodipine and other blood pressure drugs, resulting in an additive blood pressure lowering effect.
Is it safe to take Viagra with amlodipine?
The safety of taking Viagra with Amlodipine or other blood pressure medications depends on individual health status, the severity of hypertension, and the dose of each medication.In some cases, it can be safe, but for others, it may pose significant risks.
Your doctor decides — with your blood pressure and your full list of medicines in front of them.
What about other blood pressure medicines?
Blood pressure medications include a range of different drugs like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers such as Amlodipine, and beta-blockers. Each of these medications works differently, and each has its potential interactions with drugs like Viagra. Alpha-blockers need the most care: taken with sildenafil they can cause low blood pressure with symptoms in a few men, most often within 4 hours of the dose, so men should be stable on the alpha-blocker first and a 25 mg starting dose of sildenafil should be considered (EMA). One of them is covered in taking alfuzosin with sildenafil.
What are the signs of low blood pressure?
When blood pressure drops too low due to medication interactions, symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, flushing, and even a rapid pulse.
What to do if you feel dizzy or faint
If you take Viagra with amlodipine or another blood pressure medicine, watch for signs of low blood pressure. If symptoms of low blood pressure occur, such as lightheadedness or fainting, medical attention should be sought immediately. In some cases, the dosage of one or both medications may need to be adjusted.
Related questions
The side effects of taking Viagra with Amlodipine can include low blood pressure, flushing, headache, and dizziness. Some blood pressure medications, particularly those with strong vasodilatory effects, should not be taken with Viagra without a doctor's guidance.
The recommended dosage of Viagra when taking Amlodipine should be determined by a healthcare professional, considering the patient's overall health and the severity of the hypertension.
Alternative medications to Viagra that can be taken with Amlodipine include other erectile dysfunction medications like tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil, but these need a prescription too and interact with blood pressure medicines in the same way.
High blood pressure meds and Viagra can be taken together, but the safety depends on the individual's health status, the specific medications used, and their dosages.
Some blood pressure medicines can also contribute to erectile dysfunction; ask your doctor whether yours is one of them before you change anything.
The short answer
Many men can take Viagra with amlodipine: in the label's study the extra drop in blood pressure was about the same as sildenafil on its own. Nitrates must never be combined with it, alpha-blockers need a careful start, and the doctor who prescribes sildenafil should know every blood pressure medicine you take. If you feel faint after a dose, get medical help straight away.
