Key Facts
- Drug Class
- PDE5 inhibitor
- Prescription
- Required
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Tablet
- Online price
- ~₦9,520see prices
What is Sildenafil?
Sildenafil — best known by the brand Viagra — is the original and most famous treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), the difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. It is one of the most in-demand medicines in Nigeria, sold under the Viagra name and as many cheaper generics. It is also one of the most heavily counterfeited drugs in the country, which is a central concern for anyone buying it.
Sildenafil belongs to a class called PDE5 inhibitors. It works by relaxing blood vessels in the penis so that, with sexual stimulation, more blood flows in and an erection can form and be maintained. It does not create desire or cause an automatic erection — arousal is still needed. It is taken on demand, usually about an hour before sex, and its effect lasts a few hours. Fatty meals and heavy alcohol can slow or blunt how well it works.
Two things matter enormously in Nigeria. First, ED is often a warning sign of an underlying problem — high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or stress — so it is worth seeing a doctor rather than only masking the symptom, and sildenafil must not be combined with certain heart medicines. Second, because demand is so high and it is easy to fake a small tablet, counterfeit 'Viagra' is everywhere, sold by roadside hawkers, markets, and social-media sellers. Fakes may contain the wrong dose, harmful substances, or nothing at all. Buy only from a licensed pharmacy and verify the NAFDAC number.
What is Sildenafil used for?
In Nigeria, Sildenafil is commonly used for:
- Erectile dysfunction — helping achieve and maintain an erection with sexual stimulation
- On-demand use, taken roughly an hour before sexual activity
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension — a separate, specialist use at different doses (Revatio)
- A first-line, well-studied option many men try before other ED treatments
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For erectile dysfunction, the usual starting dose is 50mg taken about one hour before sex, and no more than once a day. Depending on effect and side effects, a doctor may adjust it to 25mg or 100mg. Take it on a relatively empty stomach if possible, as a heavy, fatty meal can delay how quickly it works. Sexual stimulation is needed for it to work.
Children
Not used in children for erectile dysfunction. (Sildenafil is used in children only for pulmonary hypertension, under specialists.)
Elderly
Older men, and those with liver, kidney, or heart conditions, may be started at the lower 25mg dose and should be assessed by a doctor first.
Do not take more than one dose in 24 hours, and do not exceed 100mg — taking more does not improve the effect but increases side effects. Avoid combining it with recreational 'poppers' (amyl nitrite) or any nitrate heart medicine, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Limit alcohol, which worsens both erections and side effects. If ED is persistent, see a doctor to check for underlying causes.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Headache
- •Facial flushing (warmth and redness)
- •Stuffy or runny nose
- •Indigestion
- •Dizziness or a temporary blue tinge to vision / light sensitivity
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- An erection that is painful or lasts more than 4 hours (priapism) — seek emergency care, as it can permanently damage the penis
- Sudden loss or decrease of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden loss or reduction of hearing, sometimes with ringing or dizziness
- Chest pain, fainting, or a very fast or irregular heartbeat, especially during sex — stop and seek urgent care
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care for an erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain and fainting. See a doctor before using sildenafil if you have heart disease, have had a stroke or heart attack, or take any heart or blood-pressure medicine — and see one anyway if ED is ongoing, since it can be the first sign of a treatable heart or metabolic problem.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Sildenafil if you have:
- Never take sildenafil with nitrate heart medicines (e.g. glyceryl trinitrate/GTN) or with recreational 'poppers' (amyl nitrite) — the combination can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure
- Do not use with riociguat or other guanylate cyclase stimulators
- Avoid if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke, unstable angina, or very low or uncontrolled high blood pressure — get medical advice first
- Use cautiously with severe liver or kidney disease, or a history of the eye condition NAION
- Do not use if you are allergic to sildenafil
Drug interactions
- •Nitrates and poppers — absolutely contraindicated (dangerous blood-pressure drop)
- •Alpha-blockers (some blood-pressure and prostate medicines) — can add to blood-pressure lowering; spacing or dose care is needed
- •Some antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), certain antibiotics, and HIV protease inhibitors raise sildenafil levels — a lower dose may be needed
- •Alcohol worsens side effects and impairs erections
- •Other ED medicines should not be combined
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction is a men's medicine and is not relevant to pregnancy or breastfeeding in that use. (Its separate use for pulmonary hypertension in women is a specialist decision.)
Brands of Sildenafil in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 60 Sildenafil products from 47 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra | Pfizer | 25mg, 50mg, 100mg | Tablet |
| Sildenafil | Various generic manufacturers | 50mg, 100mg | Tablet |
How to Verify Your Sildenafil is Genuine
- 1Buy only from a licensed pharmacy — counterfeit 'Viagra' and sildenafil are extremely common in Nigerian markets, roadside stalls, and social media
- 2Check the NAFDAC registration number and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 3Be suspicious of tablets sold loose, in unlabelled sachets, or with packaging that has spelling errors, blurry printing, or a missing batch number and expiry
- 4For genuine Viagra (Pfizer), look for the distinctive blue diamond-shaped tablet and Pfizer's security features; be wary of odd colours, shapes, or crumbly tablets
- 5Treat 'miracle' herbal mixtures and unlabelled 'strong man' capsules with great caution — these are not verified medicines and may contain hidden or harmful ingredients
- 6If a deal seems too cheap or is pushed by an unknown online seller, assume it is fake
Sildenafil Price in Nigeria
As of July 2026, Sildenafil sells for about ₦9,520 online in Nigeria (₦7,250–₦28,330) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
HealthPlus + MedPlus₦7,250 – ₦28,330median ₦9,520
From 4 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.
Price trend
We've tracked Sildenafil online prices since July 2026 — median ₦9,520 (range ₦7,250–₦28,330, from 4 listings). This updates monthly, and the month-on-month trend will appear here — see the Nigerian Medicine Price Index for prices across all tracked drugs.
Where to Buy
Purchase Sildenafil only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Sildenafil in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Sildenafil in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
Related Resources for Sildenafil
Guides, articles, and tools related to Sildenafil and other sexual health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Sildenafil on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Sildenafil.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).