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How Long Does Viagra Last?

Viagra & Erectile Dysfunction: Is Viagra the right choice? Learn about its dosage, duration, and natural alternatives. Plus, when should you consider other options?

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How Long Does Viagra Last

For millions of men, Viagra offers an effective solution to an embarrassing problem. Viagra is a prescription medication for men who are suffering from the physical causes of erectile dysfunction.

The physical causes of erectile dysfunction often have to do with a lack of blood flow to the penis, making it difficult for a man to achieve or maintain an erection long enough for satisfying sexual intercourse.

Keep in mind that there are also psychological factors of erectile dysfunction such as excessive stress or anxiety that Viagra does not address. However, Viagra has been hailed as effective for treating lack of blood flow to the penis.

This has caused many men to wonder, ‘How long does it take for Viagra to work?’ and of course, ‘How long does Viagra last?’ In the following post, we will answer these and other important questions.

How Viagra Works?

It’s important to note that Viagra is the brand name given to a generic medication known as Sildenafil. The way that sildenafil works is rather simple: it causes a temporary increase in blood flow to the penis. The National Health Service of the United Kingdom explains it as such:

“Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. It works if you have erection problems by temporarily increasing blood flow to your penis when you get sexually excited. It works in pulmonary hypertension by relaxing blood vessels in your chest.”

In addition to knowing how Viagra works, it’s important to understand how long the effects typically last. After all, you don’t want to be dealing with an uncontrollable erection any longer than you need to for sexual intercourse.

So how long does it take for Viagra (sildenafil) to kick in? Like most related questions, the answer to this one depends on the individual. In general, though, Viagra kicks in for most men between 30 and 60 minutes.

It should be noted though that Viagra does not work on its own. You will still need to experience some sort of sexual stimulus or arousal in order to achieve an erection even if you have taken a dose of Viagra.

What to Expect After Taking Viagra What to Expect After Taking Viagra

Duration of Viagra's Effects

At this point, you may be wondering how long Viagra stays in your system. Typically, the effects of Viagra last between 2 and 3 hours. This is enough for normal sexual intercourse.

However, there are extenuating circumstances and conditions that can affect how long Viagra lasts for the user. For instance, your metabolism, current health status, weight, and other factors can either decrease or extend the time that Viagra maintains its effects.

Viagra vs Other Erectile Dysfunction Medications

It’s also important to note that Viagra isn’t the only show in town. Since the advent of Viagra, there have been many other medications and even effective supplements that can help alleviate the physical causes of erectile dysfunction. Let’s take a look at some of the Viagra alternatives that are commonly available:
  • Cialis - Cialis is another type of prescription erectile dysfunction medication for men. The effects are similar to those of Sildenafil, however, in general, Cialis lasts for a significantly longer time.
  • Levitra - Like Viagra, Levitra is a popular erectile dysfunction medication that has the advantage of taking effect quicker than Viagra.
  • Natural Supplements - Natural supplements that contain ingredients like ginkgo biloba extract and other substances can help address the physical and mental causes of erectile dysfunction for most men.

When it comes to choosing a supplement for erectile dysfunction, you have to be discerning. You should only choose reputable, potent, safe, supplements with proven ingredients like Peakerect.

Tips to Maximize Viagra’s Effectiveness

If you are planning to take Viagra or are already taking it and would like to know how you can make it more effective, please take a look at the following tips:

  • Avoid Alcoholic Beverages - While Viagra can still work if you have consumed alcohol, the effects may be dampened. Alcohol may make it more difficult for you to achieve an erection.
  • Avoid Big Meals - Eating fatty foods or simply a lot of food will naturally divert blood flow to your stomach and digestive tract. This can make it harder for Viagra to work the way it's supposed to.
  • Be Mindful of Other Medications - Other medications, especially nitrates or anything that affects the blood, can interfere with the functions of Viagra.
  • Take It on An Empty Stomach - Many healthcare professionals will advise you to take Viagra on an empty stomach for the best results.
  • Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle - As always, it is best to pair any medication with a healthy lifestyle. This means avoid smoking, recreational drug use, eat healthy, and get regular exercise.

How Much Viagra Is Too Much?

You should never take more than 100 milligrams of Viagra or a generic Sildenafil pill within a 24 hour period. Doing so can cause adverse side effects including but not limited to:

  • Priapism - An erection that lasts an abnormally long time and is usually accompanied by pain or discomfort
  • Vision Issues - Taking too much Viagra has been known to cause temporary loss of vision.
  • Hearing Loss - Because Viagra diverts blood away from organs like the ears, taking too much may result in temporary hearing loss.
  • Hypotension - Taking too much Viagra can also result in hypotension which is essentially an unhealthy drop in blood pressure.

FAQs

No, you should never take more than 100 milligrams of Viagra in any 24-hour period. Doing so could cause dangerous side effects.

Taking 2 Viagra within 24 hours could cause a drop in blood pressure, vision loss, hearing loss, and other side effects.

It will depend on the user but in general, a regular dose of Sildenafil will last between 2 and 3 hours for a man.

50 milligrams of Viagra will generally have the same effect of 100 milligrams and will usually last just a few hours.

Conclusion

So how long does Viagra last? For most men, it’s 2-3 hours. However, the effects can last 4 or more hours when something has gone wrong. That’s why you should only take Viagra as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

You should also look into natural alternatives as they can be all you need to relieve of your ED problems.

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About Flawless Bloom Staff

The Flawless Bloom Staff category features a diverse team of writers, each bringing specialized knowledge in areas such as nutrition, fitness, wellness, and more. Articles in this category benefit from insights provided by multiple experts. All content is peer-reviewed and regularly updated to ensure compliance with our editorial standards.

References

  1. Common questions about sildenafil: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/common-questions-about-sildenafil/
  2. Long-term safety and tolerability of tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15036680/
  3. A Meta-Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34521090/
  4. Study Sizes Up Viagra's Vision Problem: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/viagra-sildenafil-overdose-vision-side-effects