Question
Is there an interaction between my HIV meds and Viagra (sildenafil)?
4 July 2016. Related: All topics, Drug interactions.
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your question.
The best way to look for drug interactions is to use the free online resource at:
www.hiv-druginteractions.org
This lets you select your HIV meds in on column and the other drugs, vitamins or supplements in the next coloum. This produces an infividual report on the interactions with an explanation.
For example, there is a potential interaction between ritonavir and Viagra. But because the ritonavir dose is only 100 mg, you can still use both together.
hiv-druginteractions.org report for interaction between Viagra and ritonavir
The direction of the interaction is that Viagra levels are increased, so the recommendation is to use a lower dose. Only use one 25 mg Viagra dose in any 48 hour period.
The interaction means that even though you are only taking 25 mg, you will be getting Viagra levels similar to a higher dose.
Hi Donald, yes you can. There are no interactions between Cialis (tadalafil) and Biktarvy.
Can i take cililas 5 mg daily and still take Biktarvy
Hi Ricardo,
Thanks. Unfortunately we are not doctors so we can’t answer directly.
But as you say, the summary on the HIV-druginteractions website reports:
“Coadministration has not been studied but elvitegravir/cobicistat is expected to substantially increase sildenafil concentrations and may result in an increase in associated adverse events including hypotension, syncope, visual changes and prolonged erection. Use sildenafil with caution at a reduced dose not exceeding 25 mg in 48 h with increased monitoring for adverse events. Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide do not interact with sildenafil.”
This means that cobicistat – the booster – might also boost Viagra. The advice is to only use use one low dose 25 mg in any 48 hour period.
Using lower doses than this is also fine, especially if this is enough to get the effect you want from Viagra :)
Hi I am on Genvoya at the moment and I checked the website for it’s interaction with viagra and it shows potential interaction.
Is it the same as you suggested above that I should be ok if I took a lower dose (eg 25mg) or even just half of it?