Stendra Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Stendra Tablet (avanafil) is a prescription PDE5 inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) in adult men. It works by relaxing blood vessel walls and increasing blood flow, helping with erections during sexual stimulation. It is taken as needed, with or without food, and is not meant for use by women.

What is Stendra Tablet

Stendra is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult men. It relaxes muscles in blood vessel walls and increases blood flow to certain areas of the body, which helps with getting and keeping an erection during sexual stimulation.

Stendra Tablet uses

• Treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence) in adult men

Benefits of Stendra Tablet

• Helps improve the ability to get and keep an erection when combined with sexual stimulation
• Starts working faster than some older ED medications, often within about 15 minutes for the higher doses
• Can be taken with or without food
• May be used as needed, not on a daily schedule

How Stendra Tablet works

Stendra blocks an enzyme called PDE5. This helps relax blood vessels and increases blood flow to the penis, which helps a man get and keep an erection when he is sexually aroused. It does not cause an erection on its own without sexual stimulation.

Stendra Tablet dosage

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor and follow all directions on the prescription label. This medicine can be taken with or without food. It is usually taken only when needed, about 15 to 30 minutes before sexual activity, depending on the dose prescribed. Sexual stimulation is needed for the medicine to work; it will not cause an erection by itself. Do not take this medicine more than once a day; allow 24 hours to pass between doses. Since this medicine is used as needed, you are not likely to be on a regular dosing schedule, so missed doses generally do not apply. Contact your doctor or seek emergency care if an erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg

Side effects of Stendra Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)
• Nasal congestion (stuffy or runny nose)
• Cold symptoms such as sore throat or runny nose (nasopharyngitis)
• Back pain

Serious

• Allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Sudden vision loss in one or both eyes
• Sudden hearing decrease or loss, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness
• Chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sexual activity
• Erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer (priapism)
• Pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs
• Shortness of breath, swelling in hands or feet
• Light-headed feeling, like you might pass out
• High blood pressure
• Irregular or fast/slow heartbeat

Warnings and precautions

• Taking this medicine with certain other drugs, especially nitrates or riociguat, can cause a sudden and dangerous drop in blood pressure. Do not combine them.
• If you feel dizzy or sick, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sex, stop and call your doctor immediately.
• Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help right away if you suddenly lose vision, as this medicine can reduce blood flow to the eye's optic nerve.
• Do not take this medicine more than once a day, and wait at least 24 hours between doses.
• An erection lasting longer than 4 hours can permanently damage the penis and needs urgent medical attention.
• This medicine should not be used by people for whom sexual activity is not advisable because of heart problems, and should not be used by those who have had a recent heart attack, stroke, or certain heart conditions.
• This medicine does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Grapefruit products may interact with this medicine and increase the risk of side effects, so they should be avoided.
• Stendra is not meant for use by women, including during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it is not known whether it would be harmful.
• People with severe kidney problems or on dialysis should not use this medicine; no dose change is needed for mild to moderate kidney problems.
• People with severe liver problems should not use this medicine; no dose change is needed for mild to moderate liver problems.
• Drinking too much alcohol while taking this medicine can increase the risk of side effects like low blood pressure, dizziness, and headache. It's best to limit alcohol to no more than 3 drinks.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
• Store STENDRA at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep STENDRA out of the light.
• Keep STENDRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medicine and get emergency help right away for sudden vision loss.
• Stop and call your doctor right away if you feel dizzy or sick, or have chest, arm, neck, or jaw pain during sex.
• Call your doctor right away if you have vision changes or sudden vision loss, ringing in the ears or sudden hearing loss, leg pain/swelling/warmth/redness, shortness of breath, swelling in hands or feet, feeling faint, or an erection lasting 4 hours or longer.
• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medicine.

Alternatives

• Cialis (tadalafil)
• Viagra (sildenafil)
• Levitra
• Vardenafil (also sold as Levitra or Staxyn)
• Alprostadil
• Caverject
• Vybrique
• Adcirca
• Revatio
• Spedra