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darunavir vs sildenafil

Side-by-side comparison of darunavir and sildenafil. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil ↑ PDE-5 inhibitors (only the use of sildenafil at doses used for treatment of erectile dysfunction has been studied with darunavir/ritonavir) Co-administration with darunavir/ritonavir may result in an increase in PDE-5 inhibitor-associated adverse events, including hypotension, syncope, visual disturbances and priapism. Use of PDE-5 inhibitors for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH): Co-administration with sildenafil used for PAH is contraindicated due to potential for sildenafil associated adverse reactions (which include visual disturbances,...

Recommendation: Avoid using these drugs together, as the combination can lead to dangerous side effects like vision changes or fainting.

Drug Class
darunavir HIV Protease Inhibitor
sildenafil PDE5 Inhibitor
Type
darunavir Prescription
sildenafil Prescription
Summary
darunavir

Darunavir is a medicine used to treat HIV. It belongs to a class of drugs called protease inhibitors and must be taken with ritonavir.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It helps increase blood flow to the penis to get and keep an erection.

What It Treats
darunavir

Darunavir is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children 3 years and older. It must be taken with ritonavir and other HIV medicines. Darunavir helps to lower the amount of HIV in your body.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, in men. ED is when you cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. Sildenafil helps by increasing blood flow to the penis when you are sexually stimulated.

How It Works
darunavir

Darunavir is a protease inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme called protease that HIV needs to make copies of itself. This helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.

sildenafil

Sildenafil belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. It works by relaxing the muscles and increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This helps you get and keep an erection.

Common Side Effects
darunavir
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Headache
  • Abdominal pain
sildenafil
  • Headache
  • Flushing (redness of the skin)
  • Upset stomach
  • Abnormal vision (blurred vision, changes in color vision)
  • Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
FAERS Reports
darunavir
  • Baby exposed to drug during pregnancy 1,150
  • Interaction between medicines 981
  • Pain 889
  • Emotional upset 812
  • Worry 811
sildenafil
  • Shortness of breath 7,729
  • Headache 5,655
  • Diarrhea 4,447
  • Nausea 3,984
  • Death 3,872
Serious Warnings
darunavir

Darunavir can cause liver problems. Your doctor should check your liver before you start taking darunavir and during treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of liver problems, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes.

sildenafil

You should not take sildenafil if you are taking nitrates for chest pain, as this can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Stop taking sildenafil and seek medical attention if you have a sudden loss of vision or hearing.

Pregnancy
darunavir

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The recommended dose during pregnancy is 600 mg twice daily with ritonavir 100mg and food. Women with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to the baby through breast milk.

sildenafil

Sildenafil is not for use in women. It is not known if sildenafil can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare sildenafil with

How to Read This darunavir vs sildenafil Comparison

darunavir is classified in the HIV Protease Inhibitor drug class, while sildenafil sits within the PDE5 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, darunavir has 4,643 submissions while sildenafil has 25,687. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to darunavir increases the amount of sildenafil in your system, which can cause very low blood pressure or fainting.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between darunavir and sildenafil - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.