Viagros Sildenafil, often still referred to as “generic Viagra,” is the active ingredient in Viagra. Viagra also contains small amounts of inactive ingredients. These ingredients mainly give the pills form and make it easier for your body to metabolize them.

The full name of the medication is sildenafil citrate. It helps treat ED by increasing blood flow to the penis to help you get and sustain an erection.

Sildenafil is best known as a treatment for ED, the inability to get or keep an erection. Sildenafil is meant to be taken before having sex, with the understanding that its effects last only a few hours.

Sildenafil is also approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) — elevated blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs and in the right side of the heart.