Pharmacokinetics: Sildenafil is administered orally. The drug is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with absolute bioavailability of about 40%. Its pharmacokinetics are dose-proportional over the recommended dose range. Maximum observed plasma concentrations are reached within 30 to 120 minutes (median 60 minutes) of oral dosing in the fasted state. When sildenafil is taken with a high fat meal, the rate of absorption is reduced, with a mean delay in Tmax of 60 minutes and a mean reduction in Cmax of 29%. The mean steady state volume of distribution (Vss) for sildenafil is 105 L, indicating widespread tissue distribution. Sildenafil and its major circulating N-desmethyl metabolite are both approximately 96% bound to plasma proteins. Protein binding is independent of total drug concentrations. Based upon measurements of sildenafil in semen of healthy volunteers 90 minutes after dosing, less than 0.001% of the administered dose may appear in the semen of patients.

Sildenafil is predominantly metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CYP3A4 is the major metabolizing enzyme and CYP2C9 the minor one. One active metabolite with properties similar to the parent drug has been identified and is formed by N-desmethylation of sildenafil. This metabolite has a PDE selectivity profile similar to sildenafil and an in vitro potency for PDE5 approximately 50% of the parent drug. Plasma concentrations of this metabolite are approximately 40% of those seen for sildenafil and accounts for about 20% of the pharmacologic effects of sildenafil. The metabolite is further metabolized to inactive compounds.

Sildenafil is excreted as metabolites primarily in the feces (approximately 80% of administered oral dose) and to a lesser extent in the urine (approximately 13% of the administered oral dose). Both sildenafil and its active metabolite have terminal half-lives of about 4 hours. Sildenafil levels at 24 hours post a single 100 mg oral dose average 2 ng/ml (compared to peak plasma levels of approximately 440 ng/ml). Healthy elderly volunteers (65 years or over) had a reduced clearance of sildenafil, with free plasma concentrations approximately 40% greater than those seen in healthy younger volunteers (18—45 years). In volunteers with mild (CrCl = 50—80 mL/min) and moderate (CrCl = 30—49 mL/min) renal impairment, the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of sildenafil (50 mg) were not altered. In volunteers with severe (CrCl <= 30 mL/min) renal impairment, sildenafil clearance was reduced, resulting in approximately doubling of AUC and Cmax compared to age-matched volunteers with no renal impairment. In volunteers with hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A and B), sildenafil clearance was reduced, resulting in increases in AUC (84%) and Cmax (47%) compared to age-matched volunteers with no hepatic impairment.