Drug interactions
Amyl nitrite + Sildenafil
Severity: Contraindicated
Amyl nitrite and Sildenafil: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Nitrates increase cGMP via nitric oxide and sildenafil blocks its breakdown, causing profound vasodilation. This can lead to severe, potentially fatal hypotension.
What this interaction means in plain words
Amyl nitrite and Sildenafil are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Additive cGMP-mediated vasodilation from nitric oxide donation and PDE5 inhibition.
What to do
Do not use together. Nitrates should be avoided for at least 24 hours after sildenafil.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Sildenafil
- Atazanavir + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Glyceryl trinitrate pr + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide dinitrate + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide mononitrate + Sildenafil Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Amyl nitrite with Sildenafil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Amyl nitrite and Sildenafil are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Nitrates increase cGMP via nitric oxide and sildenafil blocks its breakdown, causing profound vasodilation. This can lead to severe, potentially fatal hypotension.
How serious is the interaction between Amyl nitrite and Sildenafil?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not use together. Nitrates should be avoided for at least 24 hours after sildenafil.
What other medicines interact with Sildenafil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sildenafil with, for example, Atazanavir, Cobicistat, Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df. The full list is on the Sildenafil page.
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