What it means
It relaxes smooth muscle in blood vessels of the penis and the lungs. As Viagra it treats erectile dysfunction; as Revatio, given by mouth or IV, it lowers pressure in the lung arteries in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Side effects include headache, flushing, stuffy nose and changes in color vision.
For the nurse
It must never be taken with nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, because together they can drop the blood pressure dangerously. Ask about it before giving nitrates for chest pain. Teach the client to seek care for an erection lasting more than 4 hours or sudden loss of vision or hearing.
At a glance
| Drug class | phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Viagra, Revatio |
| Spanish | sildenafilo |
| Also written | Viagra, Revatio |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
pulmonary artery
The large blood vessel that carries blood low in oxygen from the right side of the heart to the lungs.