sildenafil
2 interactions related to sildenafil
grapefruit + sildenafil
Sildenafil is broken down mainly by the gut and liver enzyme CYP3A4. Grapefruit juice contains furanocoumarins that block intestinal CYP3A4, modestly raising sildenafil exposure and delaying its peak. This can amplify the headache, flushing, dizziness, and transient blood-pressure drop that are typical of PDE5 inhibitors.
beetroot + sildenafil
Beetroot is rich in dietary inorganic nitrate, which the body converts to nitric oxide, the same blood-vessel-relaxing pathway that sildenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor) amplifies. The formal contraindication on sildenafil is for organic nitrate drugs, not food, but concentrated beetroot juice and nitrate supplements can lower blood pressure enough that combining them with sildenafil may add to its blood-pressure-lowering effect. This is a mechanism-based caution rather than a documented danger.