# Sildenafil in Nigeria

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/sildenafil/
- Drug class: PDE5 inhibitor (Sexual Health)
- Also known as: Viagra, Sildenafil citrate
- Prescription required: yes
- Last updated: July 2026

## Price in Nigeria

Sildenafil prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.

## 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?

- 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

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- 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: Headache; Facial flushing (warmth and redness); Stuffy or runny nose; Indigestion; Dizziness or a temporary blue tinge to vision / light sensitivity.

Serious (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

Do not take if: 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.

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 in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Viagra (Pfizer, made in United Kingdom).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/sildenafil/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Buy only from a licensed pharmacy — counterfeit 'Viagra' and sildenafil are extremely common in Nigerian markets, roadside stalls, and social media
2. Check the NAFDAC registration number and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
3. Be suspicious of tablets sold loose, in unlabelled sachets, or with packaging that has spelling errors, blurry printing, or a missing batch number and expiry
4. For 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
5. Treat 'miracle' herbal mixtures and unlabelled 'strong man' capsules with great caution — these are not verified medicines and may contain hidden or harmful ingredients
6. If a deal seems too cheap or is pushed by an unknown online seller, assume it is fake

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### How much does Viagra or sildenafil cost in Nigeria?

It varies widely by brand. Generic sildenafil is cheap — often a few hundred to a couple of thousand naira for a tablet or small pack — while branded Viagra (Pfizer) costs considerably more, and a multi-tablet pack can run into several thousand naira or higher. The huge price gap between cheap generics and branded Viagra is one reason counterfeits thrive. Whatever the price, buy from a licensed pharmacy and verify the NAFDAC number rather than chasing the cheapest roadside deal.

### Is it safe to buy Viagra without seeing a doctor?

It is widely sold over the counter in Nigeria, but that does not make self-treating risk-free. Sildenafil can be dangerous if you take heart medicines called nitrates, or if you have certain heart conditions — and erectile dysfunction itself is often an early warning of high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Seeing a doctor lets you rule out those causes, check that sildenafil is safe for you, and get a genuine product. At the very least, never combine it with nitrate medicines or 'poppers'.

### What is the difference between sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis)?

Both are PDE5 inhibitors that treat erectile dysfunction the same basic way, but they differ in timing. Sildenafil (Viagra) is taken about an hour before sex and lasts a few hours, and it works best on an empty stomach. Tadalafil (Cialis) lasts much longer — up to 36 hours, earning it the nickname 'the weekend pill' — and can even be taken in a low daily dose, and food affects it less. Neither creates desire; arousal is still needed. Which suits you depends on how spontaneous you want to be, side effects, and cost.

### Why is fake Viagra so common in Nigeria, and how do I avoid it?

Because demand is enormous, the branded product is expensive, and a small tablet is easy to fake, counterfeit sildenafil floods markets, roadside stalls, and social-media sellers. Fakes may contain too much or too little active ingredient, harmful contaminants, or nothing at all — all of which can be dangerous. The only reliable protection is to buy from a licensed pharmacy, check and verify the NAFDAC number, inspect the packaging for tampering or spelling errors, and avoid loose tablets, unlabelled 'strong man' capsules, and bargain online offers.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)