Allowed background therapy included a combination of anticoagulants, digoxin, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and oxygen.
| Property | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Rapid, peaks in approximately 1 hour | Takes about 30-60 minutes |
| Distribution | Widely distributed in tissues | Bound to plasma proteins |
| Metabolism | Liver (primarily CYP3A4 enzyme) | Metabolized into active metabolites |
| Half-life | Approximately 4 hours | Duration of effect varies |
| Excretion | Mainly in feces; some in urine | Clearance affected by age |
The use of prostacyclin analogues, endothelin receptor antagonists, and arginine supplementation were not permitted.
- People with certain health conditions should consult their doctor before use.
- Conditions include heart disease, low blood pressure, or kidney/liver issues.
- Adjustments to dosage may be necessary based on health status.
Patients who had failed to respond to bosentan were also excluded.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience
Other Interactions
Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45% or left ventricular shortening fraction less than 0.2 also were not studied.Patients were randomized to receive placebo (n=70) or sildenafil tablet 20 mg (n = 69), 40 mg (n = 67) or 80 mg (n = 71) three times a day for a period of 12 weeks.
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They had either primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) (63%), PAH associated with CTD (30%), or PAH following surgical repair of left-to-right congenital heart lesions (7%).
- If you miss a dose and have planned sexual activity, take it as soon as possible.
- Do not double doses to make up for missed ones.
- Follow your prescription guidelines for safe and effective use.
The study population consisted of 25% men and 75% women with a mean age of 49 years (range: 18 to 81 years) and baseline 6-minute walk distance between 100 and 450 meters (mean 343).The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline at Week 12 (at least 4 hours after the last dose) in the 6-minute walk distance.
How should this medicine be used?
More than twice as many sildenafil citrate -treated patients (36%) as placebo-treated patients (14%) showed an improvement in at least one functional New York Heart Association (NYHA) class for PAH.Study A1481243 ( NCT00323297) Sildenafil citrate Added to Bosentan Therapy - Lack of Effect on Exercise CapacityA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 103 patients with PAH who were on bosentan therapy for a minimum of 3 months. The PAH patients included those with primary PAH and PAH associated with CTD. Patients were randomized to placebo or sildenafil (20 mg three times a day) in combination with bosentan (62.5 to 125 mg twice a day). The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline at sildenafil pink pill Week 12 in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). The results indicate that there is no significant difference in mean change from baseline on 6MWD observed between sildenafil 20 mg plus bosentan and bosentan alone.STARTS-1 ( NCT00159913) - Sildenafil in Treatment-Naive Children, Aged 1 to 17 Years, With Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionA total of 234 patients with PAH aged 1 to 17 years were treated in a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled parallel group, dose-ranging study.
Warnings for other groups
Patients (38% male and 62% female) had body weight ≥8 kg and had idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (33%), or PAH associated with congenital heart disease (systemic-to-pulmonary shunt 37%, surgical repair 30%). In this trial, 27% of patients were <7 years old. Patients were WHO Functional Class I (32%), II (51%), III (15%), or IV (0.4%).Patients were naïve for specific PAH therapy and the use of prostacyclin, prostacyclin analogues and endothelin receptor antagonists were not permitted in the study, and neither were arginine supplementation, nitrates, alpha-blockers and potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitors.The primary objective of the study was to assess the effect of Sildenafil citrate on percent change from baseline in PVO2, normalized to body weight, from baseline to week 16 as measured by the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) (patients who were developmentally able to perform the test, n = 115). Secondary endpoints included hemodynamic monitoring, symptom assessment, WHO Functional Class, change in background treatment, and quality of life measurements (n = 234).Patients were allocated to one of three sildenafil treatment groups (low, medium, or high) or placebo. Actual doses administered were dependent on body weight (see Table 5).The proportion of patients receiving supportive medicinal products at baseline (anticoagulants, digoxin, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and/or oxygen) was similar in the combined sildenafil treatment group (48%) and the placebo treatment group (42%).The primary endpoint was a percentage change in VO2peak from baseline to week 16 assessed by CPET. Placebo-corrected mean increases in walk distance of 45 to 50 meters were observed with all doses of sildenafil citrate. These increases were significantly different from placebo, but the sildenafil citrate dose groups were not different from each other (see Figure 3), indicating no additional clinical benefit from doses higher than 20 mg three times a day. The improvement in walk distance was apparent after 4 weeks of treatment and was maintained at Week 8 and Week 12.Figure 3.
- The onset of action for sildenafil is usually within 30 to 60 minutes.
- The effect can last for up to 4-6 hours.
- The duration may vary depending on individual health and dosage.
Change from Baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance (meters) at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 in SUPER-1: Mean (95% Confidence Interval)Figure 4 displays subgroup efficacy analyses in SUPER-1 for the change from baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance at Week 12 including baseline walk distance, disease etiology, functional class, gender, age, and hemodynamic parameters.Figure 4. Placebo-Corrected Change From Baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance (meters) at Week 12 by Study Subpopulation in SUPER-1: Mean (95% Confidence Interval)Key:PAH = pulmonary arterial hypertension; CTD = connective tissue disease; PH = pulmonary hypertension; PAP = pulmonary arterial pressure; PVRI = pulmonary vascular resistance index; TID = three times daily.SUPER-2 (NCT00159887) Long-term Treatment of PAHIn a long-term follow-up of patients who were treated with sildenafil (n=277), K-M estimates of survival at 1, 2, and 3 years were 94%, 88% , and 79%, respectively. These uncontrolled observations do not allow comparison with a group not given sildenafil and cannot be used to determine the long term-effect of sildenafil on mortality.PACES-1 ( NCT00159861) - Sildenafil Citrate Co-administered with EpoprostenolA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (PACES-1) was conducted in 267 patients with PAH who were taking stable doses of intravenous epoprostenol.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Why is the use of Sildenafil Citrate contraindicated with nitrates?
Patients had to have a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) greater than or equal to 25 mmHg and a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) less than or equal to 15 mmHg at rest via right heart catheterization within 21 days before randomization, and a baseline 6-minute walk test distance greater than or equal to 100 meters and less than or equal to 450 meters (mean 349 meters). Patients were randomized to placebo or sildenafil citrate (in a fixed titration starting from 20 mg, to 40 mg and then 80 mg, three times a day) and all patients continued intravenous epoprostenol therapy.At baseline patients had PPH (80%) or PAH secondary to CTD (20%);WHO Functional Class I (1%), II (26%), III (67%), or IV (6%); and the mean age was 48 years, 80% were female, and 79% were Caucasian.There was a statistically significant greater increase from baseline in 6-minute walk distance at Week 16 (primary endpoint) for the sildenafil citrate group compared with the placebo group. The mean change from baseline at Week 16 (last observation carried forward) was 30 meters for the sildenafil tablet group compared with 4 meters for the placebo group giving an adjusted sildenafil 100mg blue pill treatment difference of 26 meters (95% CI: 10.8, 41.2) (p = 0.0009).Patients on sildenafil citrate achieved a statistically significant reduction in mPAP compared to those on placebo. A mean placebo-corrected treatment effect of -3.9 mmHg was observed in favor of sildenafil tablet (95% CI: -5.7, -2.1) (p = 0.00003).Time to clinical worsening of PAH was defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a clinical worsening event (death, lung transplantation, initiation of bosentan therapy, or clinical deterioration requiring a change in epoprostenol therapy). Table 4 displays the number of patients with clinical worsening events in PACES-1. Kaplan-Meier estimates and a stratified log-rank test demonstrated that placebo-treated patients were 3 times more likely to experience a clinical worsening event than sildenafil citrate -treated patients and that sildenafil citrate -treated patients experienced a significant delay in time to clinical worsening versus placebo-treated patients (p = 0.0074). Kaplan- Meier plot of time to clinical worsening is presented in Figure 5.Figure 5. Kaplan-Meier Plot of Time (in Days) to Clinical Worsening of PAH in PACES-1Improvements in WHO Functional Class for PAH were also demonstrated in patients on sildenafil tablet compared to placebo. More than twice as many sildenafil citrate -treated patients (36%) as placebo-treated patients (14%) showed an improvement in at least one functional New York Heart Association (NYHA) class for PAH.Study A1481243 ( NCT00323297) Sildenafil citrate Added to Bosentan Therapy - Lack of Effect on Exercise CapacityA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 103 patients with PAH who were on bosentan therapy for a minimum of 3 months. The PAH patients included those with primary PAH and PAH associated with CTD.
| Condition | Explanation | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| Severe cardiovascular disease | Increases risk of adverse cardiac events | Consult a doctor before use |
| Nitrate medication use | Can cause severe hypotension | Do not combine with nitrates |
| Retina diseases (e.g., RP) | Risk of vision loss | Medical consultation required |
| Hypotension | Blood pressure too low | Monitor blood pressure closely |
Patients were randomized to placebo or sildenafil (20 mg three times a day) in combination with bosentan (62.5 to 125 mg twice a day).
Adverse Effects
Allowed background therapy included a combination of anticoagulants, digoxin, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and oxygen. The use of prostacyclin analogues, endothelin receptor antagonists, and arginine supplementation were not permitted. Patients who had failed to respond to bosentan were also excluded. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45% or left ventricular shortening fraction less than 0.2 also were not studied.Patients were randomized to receive placebo (n=70) or sildenafil tablet 20 mg (n = 69), 40 mg (n = 67) or 80 mg (n = 71) three times a day for a period of 12 weeks. They had either primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) (63%), PAH associated with CTD (30%), or PAH following surgical repair of left-to-right congenital heart lesions (7%).
Rakshita Garg
The study population consisted of 25% men and 75% women with a mean age of 49 years (range: 18 to 81 years) and baseline 6-minute walk distance between 100 and 450 meters (mean 343).The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline at Week 12 (at least 4 hours after the last dose) in the 6-minute walk distance. Placebo-corrected mean increases in walk distance of 45 to 50 meters were observed with all doses of sildenafil citrate. These increases were significantly different from placebo, but the sildenafil citrate dose groups were not different from each other (see Figure 3), indicating no additional clinical benefit from doses higher than 20 mg three times a day. The improvement in walk distance was apparent after 4 weeks of treatment and was maintained at Week 8 and Week 12.Figure 3. Change from Baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance (meters) at Weeks 4, 8, and 12 in SUPER-1: Mean (95% Confidence Interval)Figure 4 displays subgroup efficacy analyses in SUPER-1 for the change from baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance at Week 12 including baseline walk distance, disease etiology, functional class, gender, age, and hemodynamic parameters.Figure 4. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline at sildenafil pink pill Week 12 in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD).
- Do not take sildenafil with heavy or fatty meals, as they can delay absorption.
- Regular physical activity can improve erectile function alongside medication.
- Maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle for better results.
The results indicate that there is no significant difference in mean change from baseline on 6MWD observed between sildenafil 20 mg plus bosentan and bosentan alone.STARTS-1 ( NCT00159913) - Sildenafil in Treatment-Naive Children, Aged 1 to 17 Years, With Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionA total of 234 patients with PAH aged 1 to 17 years were treated in a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled parallel group, dose-ranging study. Patients (38% male and 62% female) had body weight ≥8 kg and had idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (33%), or PAH associated with congenital heart disease (systemic-to-pulmonary shunt 37%, surgical repair 30%). In this trial, 27% of patients were <7 years old.
In case of emergency/overdose
Patients were WHO Functional Class I (32%), II (51%), III (15%), or IV (0.4%).Patients were naïve for specific PAH therapy and the use of prostacyclin, prostacyclin analogues and endothelin receptor antagonists were not permitted in the study, and neither were arginine supplementation, nitrates, alpha-blockers and potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitors.The primary objective of the study was to assess the effect of Sildenafil citrate on percent change from baseline in PVO2, normalized to body weight, from baseline to week 16 as measured by the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) (patients who were developmentally able to perform the test, n = 115). Secondary endpoints included hemodynamic monitoring, symptom assessment, WHO Functional Class, change in background treatment, and quality of life measurements (n = 234).Patients were allocated to one of three sildenafil treatment groups (low, medium, or high) or placebo.
8.6 Patients with Hepatic Impairment
Placebo-Corrected Change From Baseline in 6-Minute Walk Distance (meters) at Week 12 by Study Subpopulation in SUPER-1: Mean (95% Confidence Interval)Key:PAH = pulmonary arterial hypertension; CTD = connective tissue disease; PH = pulmonary hypertension; PAP = pulmonary arterial pressure; PVRI = pulmonary vascular resistance index; TID = three times daily.SUPER-2 (NCT00159887) Long-term Treatment of PAHIn a long-term follow-up of patients who were treated with sildenafil (n=277), K-M estimates of survival at 1, 2, and 3 years were 94%, 88% , and 79%, respectively. These uncontrolled observations do not allow comparison with a group not given sildenafil and cannot be used to determine the long term-effect of sildenafil on mortality.PACES-1 ( NCT00159861) - Sildenafil Citrate Co-administered with EpoprostenolA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (PACES-1) was conducted in 267 patients with PAH who were taking stable doses of intravenous epoprostenol. Patients had to have a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) greater than or equal to 25 mmHg and a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) less than or equal to 15 mmHg at rest via right heart catheterization within 21 days before randomization, and a baseline 6-minute walk test distance greater than or equal to 100 meters and less than or equal to 450 meters (mean 349 meters). Patients were randomized to placebo or sildenafil citrate (in a fixed titration starting from 20 mg, to 40 mg and then 80 mg, three times a day) and all patients continued intravenous epoprostenol therapy.At baseline patients had PPH (80%) or PAH secondary to CTD (20%);WHO Functional Class I (1%), II (26%), III (67%), or IV (6%); and the mean age was 48 years, 80% were female, and 79% were Caucasian.There was a statistically significant greater increase from baseline in 6-minute walk distance at Week 16 (primary endpoint) for the sildenafil citrate group compared with the placebo group. The mean change from baseline at Week 16 (last observation carried forward) was 30 meters for the sildenafil tablet group compared with 4 meters for the placebo group giving an adjusted sildenafil 100mg blue pill treatment difference of 26 meters (95% CI: 10.8, 41.2) (p = 0.0009).Patients on sildenafil citrate achieved a statistically significant reduction in mPAP compared to those on placebo.
Dosage Modifications
A mean placebo-corrected treatment effect of -3.9 mmHg was observed in favor of sildenafil tablet (95% CI: -5.7, -2.1) (p = 0.00003).Time to clinical worsening of PAH was defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a clinical worsening event (death, lung transplantation, initiation of bosentan therapy, or clinical deterioration requiring a change in epoprostenol therapy). Table 4 displays the number of patients with clinical worsening events in PACES-1. Kaplan-Meier estimates and a stratified log-rank test demonstrated that placebo-treated patients were 3 times more likely to experience a clinical worsening event than sildenafil citrate -treated patients and that sildenafil citrate -treated patients experienced a significant delay in time to clinical worsening versus placebo-treated patients (p = 0.0074). Kaplan- Meier plot of time to clinical worsening is presented in Figure 5.Figure 5. Kaplan-Meier Plot of Time (in Days) to Clinical Worsening of PAH in PACES-1Improvements in WHO Functional Class for PAH were also demonstrated in patients on sildenafil tablet compared to placebo. Actual doses administered were dependent on body weight (see Table 5).The proportion of patients receiving supportive medicinal products at baseline (anticoagulants, digoxin, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and/or oxygen) was similar in the combined sildenafil treatment group (48%) and the placebo treatment group (42%).The primary endpoint was a percentage change in VO2peak from baseline to week 16 assessed by CPET. Mean baseline peak volume of oxygen consumed (VO2) values were similar across the sildenafil treatment groups (17 to 18 ml/kg/min), and slightly higher for the placebo treatment group (20 ml/kg/min). See Figure 6.A total of 45% of patients were evaluable for CPET, which comprised those children ≥7 years old and developmentally able to perform the test.
2.1 Recommended Dosage in Adults
Mean baseline peak volume of oxygen consumed (VO2) values were similar across the sildenafil treatment groups (17 to 18 ml/kg/min), and slightly higher for the placebo treatment group (20 ml/kg/min). See Figure 6.A total of 45% of patients were evaluable for CPET, which comprised those children ≥7 years old and developmentally able to perform the test. Children <7 years were evaluable only for the secondary endpoints.Mean increases in VO 2peakpercentage change from baseline at Week 16, were observed with all 3 sildenafil doses (range of 6% to 13%, Figure 6), with little change with placebo (0.5%).Figure 6. Percentage Change from Baseline in VO2Peak: Mean (95% Confidence Intervals)The estimated difference between the combined sildenafil doses and placebo was 8% (95% CI: 0.2 to 16). The results of the main analysis (combined dose groups versus placebo) were not statistically significant (p=0.056).The estimated difference between the sildenafil medium dose group and placebo was 11±5% (95% CI: 2 to 21).Impact on Hemodynamic ParametersDose related improvements were observed with PVRI and mPAP.
Common Side Effects
Statistically significant PVRI reductions compared to placebo were seen with the sildenafil medium and high dose groups (18% [95% CI: -32% to -2%] and 27% [95% CI: -39% to -14%], respectively) but not the low dose group (2% (95% CI: -20%, 20%). The sildenafil medium and high dose groups displayed mPAP changes from baseline compared to placebo, of -3.5 mmHg (95% CI: -8.9, 1.9) and -7.3 mmHg (95% CI: -12.4, -2.1), respectively; while the low dose group showed little difference from placebo (difference of 1.6 mmHg [95% CI: -4.5, 7.6]). Improvements were observed with cardiac index with all three sildenafil groups over placebo, 10%, 4%, and 15% for the low, medium, and high dose groups, respectively [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2) ].STARTS-2 ( NCT00159874) - Long-Term Survival with Oral Sildenafil Monotherapy in Treatment-Naïve Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionOf the 234 pediatric patients treated in the short-term, placebo-controlled study, 220 patients entered the long-term extension study. Children <7 years were evaluable only for the secondary endpoints.Mean increases in VO 2peakpercentage change from baseline at Week 16, were observed with all 3 sildenafil doses (range of 6% to 13%, Figure 6), with little change with placebo (0.5%).Figure 6. Percentage Change from Baseline in VO2Peak: Mean (95% Confidence Intervals)The estimated difference between the combined sildenafil doses and placebo was 8% (95% CI: 0.2 to 16). The results of the main analysis (combined dose groups versus placebo) were not statistically significant (p=0.056).The estimated difference between the sildenafil medium dose group and placebo was 11±5% (95% CI: 2 to 21).Impact on Hemodynamic ParametersDose related improvements were observed with PVRI and mPAP. Statistically significant PVRI reductions compared to placebo were seen with the sildenafil medium and high dose groups (18% [95% CI: -32% to -2%] and 27% [95% CI: -39% to -14%], respectively) but not the low dose group (2% (95% CI: -20%, 20%). The sildenafil medium and high dose groups displayed mPAP changes from baseline compared to placebo, of -3.5 mmHg (95% CI: -8.9, 1.9) and -7.3 mmHg (95% CI: -12.4, -2.1), respectively; while the low dose group showed little difference from placebo (difference of 1.6 mmHg [95% CI: -4.5, 7.6]). Improvements were observed with cardiac index with all three sildenafil groups over placebo, 10%, 4%, and 15% for the low, medium, and high dose groups, respectively [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2) ].STARTS-2 ( NCT00159874) - Long-Term Survival with Oral Sildenafil Monotherapy in Treatment-Naïve Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionOf the 234 pediatric patients treated in the short-term, placebo-controlled study, 220 patients entered the long-term extension study.