Caverta

Caverta is the brand name of a medication composed of sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil, with the brand name Viagra, is manufactured by Pfizer. It is also known as the “Blue pill,” used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

It is available in different dosage forms and variable price ranges. The medicine can be purchased from a medical store or online pharmacy after being prescribed by the doctor.

In the article, we will try to cover everything you need to know before taking Caverta, including how it works, what the dose is, when to not take the medicine, and what are the side effects.

What is Caverta?

Caverta is a DRUG used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It works by increasing the blood flow to the penis and hence helps in erection for a more extended period. The drug is available in different doses, and a patient should start from the lowest dose. 

Sildenafil citrate is also used for pulmonary hypertension in males and females. It dilates the blood vessels and increases the flow of blood in arteries. Hence lowering the blood pressure.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with depression, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem. Using Caverta for the ED helps to avoid these problems and significantly improves patients’ quality of life. [1]

What’s the Dose of Caverta?

Caverta is available in various dosage forms. It is always better to start from a dose of 50 mg, and the dose is adjusted based on the tolerance, side effect profile, and the effectiveness of the drug. [2]

The maximum dose is one pill per day. The medicine is to be taken orally with an adequate amount of water either on an empty stomach or preferably after 2 hours of taking food. Administration of food reduces the impact.

Following are the available dosages of Caverta tablets:

• 25 mg 
• 50 mg 
• 100 mg. 

How Long Does it Take for Caverta to Kick In?

The effects of Caverta will start to kick in about 30 – 60 minutes after you take it. In a few cases, it may take longer. Do not increase the dose on your own if it does not work. In such situations, the dose can be increased only after the recommendation of the doctor.

If you have intentionally or accidentally consumed more than the prescribed amount of Caverta Tablet, then you might feel severe dizziness, fainting, and painful/prolonged erection. In such situations, seek medical help immediately. 

How Long Does Caverta Last?

The effect of Caverta usually lasts for 4 hours to 5 hours but could last up to 18 hours. So, it usually lasts for a night.

It’s common for users to report improvements in their erection up to 24 hours after taking the pill.[2]

How Much Does Caverta Cost?

Caverta costs between $1.5 and $2.5 per pill. The price varies with the dose and manufacturer.

The original Sildenafil, made by Pfizer, costs around $70 per table. 

The History of Caverta

Like many discoveries, Sildenafil was also discovered by an accident. Initially, Pfizer was studying the drug compound for the treatment of high blood pressure and angina, owing to its effect on dilatation of blood vessels but the results of the study were disappointing. 

But, the good news for Pfizer was that the study participants complained of side effects throughout the study period, whenever they were given the medicine. The side effect was increased penile erection after taking the medicine. This shift the focus of the researchers and prompted Pfizer to study its effect on the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The results of the study were promising.

As a result of the study, they were able to patent the drug in 1996. Two years later, in 1998, the FDA finally approved the drug, and Pfizer marketed the drug under the name of Viagra. The patent for the medicine expired in 2019, and Sildenafil Citrate was allowed to be manufactured by other pharmaceuticals apart from Pfizer. Currently, Sildenafil citrate is available in various trade names, with Caverta being one.

Who Should Take Caverta?

Men with erectile dysfunction (inability to get or keep an erection)) and men who do not complain of ED but who have risk factors of ED may benefit from treatment with Caverta.

Pfizer came out with a scoring system to help men and their doctors determine when Caverta should be used:

• Grade 1 — Penis size increases but is not hard
• Grade 2 — Penis is hard, but not hard enough for penetration
• Grade 3 — Penis is hard enough for penetration but not completely hard
• Grade 4 — Penis is completely hard and rigid

Caverta has the most significant impact on men categorized into grades 1 and 2, but can also help men with grade 3 experience a fuller erection.

Sildenafil also has FDA approval for the treatment of World Health Organization Group I pulmonary hypertension (also known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)) in adults to improve exercise tolerance and delay clinical worsening. [3]

If you are taking Caverta to treat erectile dysfunction, you should know that it does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire. Caverta does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

It’s important to take other measures to improve your erection, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and practicing foreplay before involving in sexual activity.

Is Caverta Safe?

Although Caverta is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, there are few potential side effects to be considered. The most common side effects are headache and flushing, both of which are short-lived and easily treated.

Mild side effects of Caverta can include:

• headache
• heartburn
• diarrhea
• flushing (feeling of warmth)
• nosebleeds
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• numbness, burning or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
• muscle aches
• changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
• sensitivity to light

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some side effects can be serious, Some of the serious side effects of Caverta are:

• Sudden severe loss of vision (see below for more information)
• Blurred vision
• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing
• Ringing in ears
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Worsening shortness of breath
• Erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours
• Itching or burning during urination
• Rash

Immediate medical attention is required if you develop any of these serious side effects. If you develop any other symptom which is not mentioned above, you need to see your doctor.

Drug Interactions of Caverta

Caverta can interact with several other medications, causing different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.

Before taking Caverta, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescriptions, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Some of the potentially serious drug interactions are:

• Nitrates: Nitrates increase the blood flow by dilating the blood vessels. Use of Caverta along with them can elevate levels (more than desired ) of cGMP in the body. This can severely lower blood pressure with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
• Guanylate Cyclase (GC) Stimulators (pulmonary hypertension treatment): Blood pressure can drop too low if used with Caverta
• Anti-hypertensive medications — such as alpha-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Similarly, using blood pressure medicine with Caverta can drop blood pressure severely.
• Protease inhibitors: Drugs used in HIV, such as efavirenz and nevirapine, decrease the levels of the drug in the body. Thus reducing its effectiveness.
• Alcohol: You are advised not to consume alcohol while taking Caverta as it might temporarily impair your ability to get an erection and can also increase the severity of side effects.
• CYP3A4 inhibitors — such as ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, sodium valproate, omeprazole, cimetidine, and others. This can decrease the metabolism of Caverta and thus leads to an increased risk of side effects.
• CYP3A4 Inducers: Opposite to CYP3A4 inhibitors, some medications increase the activity of this enzyme — leading to faster metabolism of Caverta. This may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine. Common CYP3A4 Inducers are: Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbitol, Griseofulvin

Who Should Avoid Using Caverta?

Caverta can only be ordered with a written prescription from a doctor.

Here are a few examples of people who should avoid using Caverta altogether:

• Patients with severe heart disease or heart valve failure
• Patients with a history of Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• Patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa
• Patients taking any of the contraindicated medications listed in the previous section
• Patients with a history of sildenafil hypersensitivity
• Patients with a history of priapism
• Patients with severe kidney disease
• Patients with certain blood disorders (hemophilia, leukemia, sickle-cell anemia)

How Does Caverta Work?

The erection of the penis depends on the relaxation of smooth muscles in the corpora cavernosa. When there is a sexual stimulus, cavernous nerves and endothelial cells release nitric oxide stimulating the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is metabolized by phosphodiesterase type 5 lowering its level in the blood. 

Caverta is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor causing an increase in the level of cGMP by decreasing the metabolism. This increase in cGMP causes relaxation of smooth muscles in the corpora cavernosa increasing blood flow in the sinusoids. The increase in blood flow is responsible for penile erection.[5]

Thus Caverta would be expected to restore and sustain the natural erectile response to sexual stimulation but do not cause erections in the absence of such stimulation.

What Happens if a Woman Takes Caverta?

There is not enough evidence to suggest that Caverta can be approved for use in women. However, Caverta and other phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors can be considered as an option during a holistic approach for the treatment of sexual problems in women. [4]

In men, Caverta improves blood flow to their penis by blocking the action of an enzyme called PDE5. This enzyme is also found in the vagina and the clitoris of women. So in theory, if a woman takes Caverta, it could increase blood flow to her genitals.

But the results in the studies are not promising enough to suggest the use of Caverta in women. This could be explained by the fact that there is less PDE5 in a female’s genitals than there is in a male’s penis.

And keep in mind that sexual problems in women often have a lot to do with reduced sexual desire and arousal. Caverta is unlikely to address these issues.

Furthermore, sexual problems in women are mostly associated with sexual desire and arousal, which is not addressed by Caverta.

Caverta Alternatives

There are other brands of sildenafil available throughout the world like Viagra and Revatio.

Pharmaceutical Alternatives

• Tadalafil (Cialis)
• Avanafil (Stendra)
• Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn, and Vivanza)
• Mirodenafil (Mvix)
• Udenafil (Zydena)

Are there any natural alternatives to Caverta?

While nothing in the natural world offers the specificity and potency of prescription ED medications, some natural substances can be used to provide similar results.

Here are some of the most common natural Caverta options to consider:

• Red Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)
• L-Arginine (An Amino acid)
• Yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe)
• Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides)
• Catuaba (Trichilia catigua)
• Shilajit (Asphaltum punja- bianum)

Where to Buy Caverta?

Caverta is a prescription medication in countries around the world. This means that you can get the medicine if it is prescribed by the Doctor to you.

Your doctor will assess any underlying medical conditions, the medications that you are taking, and the risk for potential allergic reactions before prescribing the medicine.

Once you have your prescription, you can visit any local pharmacy to order Caverta or you can order it from the online drug store.

References Used

1. Silvestro, S., & Allegretti, G. Viagra (sildenafil): uses, side effects, interactions, and more.
2. McCullough, A. R. (2002). Four-year review of sildenafil citrate. Reviews in urology, 4(Suppl 3), S26.
3. Mitidieri, E., Cirino, G., di Villa Bianca, R. D. E., & Sorrentino, R. (2020). Pharmacology and perspectives in erectile dysfunction in man. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 208, 107493.
4. Monte, G. L., Graziano, A., Piva, I., & Marci, R. (2014). Women taking the “blue pill”(sildenafil citrate): such a big deal?. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 8, 2251.
5. Wang, J., Re, J., & Wang, Z. (1999). Mode of action of sildenafil. Zhongguo yi xue ke xue Yuan xue bao. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae, 21(6), 493-496.