What is Silcap? Drug facts, side effects, and where to get it

Silcap is a new form of sildenafil for treating erectile dysfunction. It comes in a small capsule that is easier to take for men who have difficulty swallowing or who don’t like taking tablets. Silcap isn’t available in the United States yet, but eDrugstore.com offers a wide selection of FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medications, along with premium service that U.S. customers can’t stop raving about. Check out the selection today!

Silcap is a small-capsule formulation of sildenafil, the same active ingredient found in Viagra. It was created to offer an option for men who have difficulty or just don’t like swallowing tablet medications. Right now, it is only approved for sale in Australia.

In this article, we’re going to review how difficulty swallowing (also called dysphagia) can affect men with erectile dysfunction and interfere with ED treatment. We’ll also cover how novel formulations of ED drugs like Silcap can make ED medications an option for more men.

Finally, we’ll share how eDrugstore.com improves access to erectile dysfunction treatment by keeping a wide selection of FDA-approved alternatives to Silcap in stock and ready to ship anywhere in the United States.

Dysphagia: A Hard Pill to Swallow

Difficulty swallowing can be a huge burden for patients coping with it. The symptoms are often invisible while the patient is in front of their doctor, and may go unrecognized unless the patient or caregiver reports them. But the symptoms can be so bad that some choose to avoid or discontinue taking medicine rather than experience the discomfort of swallowing a tablet or full-size capsule.

Of course, there are plenty of people who don’t have clinical dysphagia, but who still can’t take normal sized tablets and capsules without choking, gagging, or having the feeling that something is stuck in their throat.

Men with trouble swallowing may be dealing with the frustrating symptoms of erectile dysfunction at the same time, as the two conditions have some shared causes like aging and diabetes. These patients face a unique challenge to getting treatment, since most ED drugs are only available as film-coated tablets (FCTs) that can be tough to swallow even without dysphagia.

Cutting FCTs in half breaks the film coating and creates jagged edges that can get stuck in your throat. Crushing them isn’t a great option either because the coating is plasticky and doesn’t crush into powder. Regardless, the result tastes awful no matter how you mix it.

Capsules are a good solution, as they’re easier to swallow than tablets. That’s because the outer shell is made from gelatin, which gets slick in contact with saliva or water. Silcap goes a step further and puts the active ingredient, sildenafil, in a smaller-size capsule to make it as easy as possible to swallow. According to manufacturer iX Biopharma, Silcap uses a size Number 2 capsule, which is a little longer and a little skinnier than an M&M.

Who Uses Silcap?

Silcap is approved to treat erectile dysfunction in adult males who are otherwise healthy enough to have sex. It requires a doctor’s evaluation for conditions like uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease before it can be prescribed.

Silcap is not for use by men who take nitroglycerin, isosorbide, or other nitrates to treat angina (chest pain) because it can cause a serious drop in blood pressure. It is not for use by women or anyone under 18 years of age.

How To Take Silcap

Taking Silcap is very similar to how you’d take any other capsule. In this section, we’ll review the recommended directions for use and give you some pointers to make the process go smoothly whether you’re taking Silcap or any other capsule.

Doses of 25 mg or 50 mg (one capsule)

Wash your hands and dry them well. Take one 25 milligram or one 50 milligram capsule out of its blister pack when you’re ready to take it (not ahead of time). Swallow the capsule with a glass of water.

Protip: Capsules are easiest to take with room-temperature water. Taking them with hot or cold water can cause your throat muscles to tighten up and make it more difficult to swallow.

Taking More Than One Capsule

If your doctor has instructed you to take more than one capsule per dose, follow the same instructions as for one capsule. You can take both capsules together or one after the other, but don’t take more than two in one swallow. Either way, make sure you take them with plenty of water.

Five Capsule-Taking Tips to Remember

1. Moisten your mouth before taking

Capsules are made of gelatin (or a similar plant-based material), which has some unique properties when it gets wet. If there is enough moisture, it quickly becomes slippery and able to slide over the surfaces in your mouth. But if the dry capsule touches your tongue without enough moisture, it’ll stick — sometimes tenaciously. Swish and spit with some water beforehand to prevent this.

2. Take with plenty of water

This advice is given so often for a reason: it works! Taking a capsule with plenty of water washes it down your throat without giving it a chance to come into contact with the walls of your esophagus. This reduces the chance of the capsule actually sticking or causing the feeling that something is stuck in there.

3. Keep it in the pack

Again, Silcap capsules are made from gelatin, which can easily absorb moisture from the air and get very sticky. Keep it safely tucked away in the convenient blister packaging it comes in to avoid unpleasant surprises.

4. Use good technique

There are several techniques experts recommend for people who have difficulty taking pills. The lean-forward method and the bottle method are the most commonly cited. You can read about both methods here. Try to avoid tilting your head back, as this closes up your throat and increases the chance a pill will get stuck.

5. Relax

While trouble taking pills is a very real problem, bad experiences in the past can make it easy to get in your own head and psych yourself out even more. Unfortunately, this can worsen the problem by causing your throat muscles to tighten up. If you’re nervous about taking capsules, that’s OK. Start by taking a few slow, deep breaths. When the time comes to take the pill, don’t give yourself time to think—just do it.

Side Effects and Precautions

Side effects of Silcap are infrequent and are usually mild to moderate. The most common side effects are headache (10-15% of users), flushing (~10%), and indigestion (under 10%). Some men may experience visual changes. These are temporary, and can include blurred vision, blue- or orange-tinted vision, and light sensitivity.

If you have visual changes that don’t go away on their own, or if you experience an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, consult your doctor right away.

Taking Silcap with a large or high-fat meal can make it take longer to work. You can drink alcohol while using Silcap, but be aware that alcohol itself can make erectile dysfunction worse and increase the chance of side effects from Silcap.

Silcap and other drugs for ED can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure if taken with medications called nitrates for chest pain. Tell the doctor treating your ED about any other medications or supplements you’re currently taking.

Review Your Options with a Telehealth Doctor

While there aren’t any small-capsule sildenafil formulations approved in the United States yet, there are alternative products that are easier to take than tablets, including Staxyn, Stendra, and generic vardenafil orally-disintegrating tablets that dissolve in your mouth.

eDrugstore.com is a leading online pharmacy and health facilitator, and can connect you with a doctor to discuss potential alternatives to Silcap, and if appropriate, even write a prescription for an FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medication. eDrugstore.com carries a wide selection of leading brand and generic drugs for erectile dysfunction and other sexual health needs, and offers free shipping right to your home. Check them out today!