SILDENAFIL: ORAL OIL SUSPENSION

Sildenafil may be prescribed for

• Pulmonary Hypertension

One of the dosage forms available for Sildenafil is Oral Oil Suspension. Wedgewood Pharmacy’s oral suspensions and solutions are a familiar and convenient dosage form. Oral suspensions and solutions can be administered directly into the mouth using a dosing syringe or mixed with a small amount of food. They offer a wide range of flavoring options, and flexible dosing adjustments.

26 strengths of Sildenafil Oral Oil Suspension are available, ranging from 1 mg/ml to 200 mg/ml.

General Drug Information and Indications

Sildenafil is a drug that is used in dogs and cats with heart and/or lung problems that cause increased blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. This drug is approved for use in human medicine under the trade name of Viagra ^®. It is used for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction in men.

Pulmonary hypertension refers to abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs that forces the right side of the heart to work harder than normal. Sildenafil causes the smooth muscle surrounding small blood vessels in the lungs to relax, decreasing the work load on the heart. Although there are other similar drugs available on the human market, sildenafil has been the most studied in veterinary medicine.

Sildenafil has been shown to improve energy, exercise tolerance, and overall quality of life in animals with pulmonary hypertension. Research in humans shows that maximum relaxation of the small blood vessels in the lungs occurs 60 minutes after oral administration of sildenafil. Like many other drugs in veterinary medicine, this drug is not FDA approved for use in animals and is not available from a veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer. Instead, it is compounded by a specialty pharmacy.

How to Give this Medication

Give this medication to your pet exactly as your veterinarian prescribes. If you miss giving your pet a dose of sildenafil, give the next dose as soon as you remember or, if it is close to the next scheduled dose, return to the regular schedule. Do not double dose to catch up.

Wash your hands after giving your pet this medication.

Side Effects

Be sure to discuss any side effects with your veterinarian immediately.

Reported side effects in dogs: gastrointestinal upset and reddening or flushing of the skin.

Side effects in humans include headache, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, prolonged erection and dizziness.

Precautions

Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children. This drug should only be given to the animal for which it was prescribed. Do not give this medication to a person.

Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Sildenafil should not be used in animals that are experiencing low blood pressure, shock, blood or fluid loss, or certain heart or lung problems that will not be improved by this drug.

Drug Interactions

Be sure to review with your veterinarian any medications or supplements your pet may be receiving.

Sildenafil should not be used with any drugs that may cause low blood pressure. These include drugs such as: nitrates, nitroprusside sodium, alpha-adrenergic blockers (phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, phenothiazines), amlodipine, or any other hypotensive drugs.

The following drugs may interact with sildenafil: cimetidine, erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, phenobarbital, and rifampin.