If you are planning to use Viagra for the first time you may not understand yet all the instructions for taking it safely. These directions are best obtained from your doctor.

However, you can use this brief educational guide as a reference tool. This will refresh your memory regarding what your doctor may have already told you.

Medication Interactions

One of the most urgent concerns for Viagra users is the way it interacts with nitrates. People who use nitrates and Viagra together put them selves at a very serious risk for heart attacks.

A variety of other medications also have the potential of interacting negatively with Viagra. These include Cimetidine as well as a long list of CYP 3A4 inhibitor drugs, along with high blood pressure and hyperplasia alpha blockers, and many other types of blood pressure medications.

Of course, Viagra should not be mixed with other PDE5 inhibitors (medications that act in a similar way as Viagra). Examples of these include Cialis and Levitra.

Note: For a more complete analysis of medication interactions you should discuss with your doctor about any other prescription medications you are using. The above is just a summary of the types of medications you should not mix with Viagra. It does not include names of specific drugs, which there are many.

Over the Counter and Herbal Interactions

You should tell your doctor about any vitamins or herbs you use. Some of them could react negatively with the Viagra. It depends upon how often you use them and how much you use at one time.

Examples of over the counter drugs include allergy medications or topical ointments. Examples of herbal solutions include St. John’s Wort or Kava Kava, and of course all multivitamin use should be reported to the doctor.

After Prescription Receipt

Once you receive your Viagra you should take it very carefully. It should not be taken more than once in a 24-hour period. If you have just taken it do not take it again but wait until the same time the next day. You should also not take it if you had just used Cialis, Levitra, or other prescription ED drug in the past 24 hours.

If your doctor gives you a specific dosage and you do not find that it is working for you, your doctor may increase it. If you end up having an erection that lasts longer than four hours you should talk to your doctor who may have to take you off Viagra.