How Long Does Viagra Last?
An important question for anyone considering using Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction is ‘how long does Viagra last?’.
Since the launch of Viagra twenty years ago, millions of men around the world have benefited from its use in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra, which contains the drug Sildenafil, was the first oral treatment made available for erectile dysfunction. The convenience of administration of Viagra along with its duration of action made it a much more favourable treatment with erectile dysfunction sufferers than the previously available treatments.
The duration of action of Viagra is 4 hours. This gives a window of 4 hours for sexual activity to take place.
How is Viagra taken?
Viagra is available as a 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablet. To start 50mg Viagra is usually prescribed. If this dose seems too strong or weak the dose can be adjusted according to response, with a minimum dose of 25mg and maximum dose of 100mg.
Viagra is an oral tablet. A Viagra tablet is to be swallowed whole with a glass of water approximately one hour before sexual activity, with a maximum of one dose daily.
The speed of absorption of Viagra into the body can be affected if the medication is taken with a heavy meal, or a high-fat meal, for example, a cheeseburger and chips. Taking Viagra after consuming these types of food will slow the absorption of the drug down and Viagra will take longer to have the desired effect.
Viagra will not cause an erection simply by taking the medication. Sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to occur after taking Viagra.
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How long after taking Viagra before it has the desired effect?
Viagra will start to have the desired effect from 25 minutes after taking. Within one hour after administration, it will have reached peak plasma levels in the blood. However, if a high-fat meal has been consumed before taking Viagra, the time to reach peak plasma levels will be delayed by 1 hour, and the peak plasma level will be reduced by 29%.
The duration of action of Viagra is 4 hours. This means that the medication will be effective for up to 4 hours after taking for men to have improved erectile function. This gives a window of 4 hours that sexual activity can take place in.
The rapid onset of action of Viagra along with its effectiveness for up to 4 hours after taking give couples a relaxed time frame to be able to engage in sexual activity. This can have the positive benefit to some erectile dysfunction sufferers of easing performance anxiety. After having sex, the erection should go away.
Can I drink alcohol when taking Viagra?
It is ok to drink alcohol in moderation when taking Viagra or Sildenafil. It is important that excess alcohol consumption is avoided. This is due to a couple of reasons. Alcohol can cause problems with the ability to get and maintain an erection. Alcohol can also cause a temporary reduction in blood pressure. This reduction in blood pressure may increase the risk of dizziness when standing.
How does Viagra work in the body?
Viagra belongs to a family of drugs called the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors or PDE-5 inhibitors. This name comes from how they work in the body.
PDE-5 inhibitors work by increasing penile blood flow during sexual stimulation. The increase in blood flow leads to improved erectile function.
Viagra causes this action in the body through PDE-5 inhibition. This prevents the breakdown of cGMP in the penis and so there is an increase in the level of cGMP in the tissue. Increasing cGMP levels causes the smooth muscle to relax and with that increased arterial blood flow. Increase in blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation allows an erection to occur.
Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors:
- Viagra, or drug name Sildenafil,
is one of four PDE-5 inhibitors available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra produced by Pfizer, was the first of the PDE-5 inhibitors to be launched. Since the launch of Viagra three other PDE-5 inhibitors from different manufacturers have been approved for use. They are all effective in helping treat erectile dysfunction but differ in the speed of their onset of action and the length of time they are effective for.
Tadalafil has a rapid onset of action of 15 to 30 minutes. It has the longest duration of action of the available PDE-5 inhibitors of up to 36 hours.
Vardenafil has an onset of action of 25 minutes and a duration of action of 12 hours. As with Sildenafil, Vardenafil’s absorption and peak plasma levels are affected if the medication is taken after a high fat meal. The time to reach peak plasma level is increased by 1 hour and the peak plasma level is reduced by 20% for the film-coated tablet and 36% for the orodispersible tablet.
- Avanafil, brand name Spedra.
Avanafil was the most recent of the PDE-5 to be launched. The use of Avanafil was approved by the European Medicines Agency in June 2013, 15 years after Viagra was launched. It has a rapid onset of action of 15 to 30 minutes and will be effective for up to 6 hours. If taken after a high-fat meal the time taken for the medication to be effective will be delayed. It will take an extra 75 minutes to reach peak plasma concentration and the peak plasma levels will be reduced by 39%.
Viagra and other phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are effective in treating erectile dysfunction. Men wishing to use Viagra, or other PDE-5 inhibitors should be aware of issues the medication will not help. Viagra and other PDE-5 inhibitors: –
- will not cure erectile dysfunction.
- will not increase a man’s sexual desire.
- does not give any protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
- does not have any contraception properties.
Other Factors to consider alongside treatment with Viagra or other PDE-5 inhibitors
It is recommended that lifestyle changes and modifying risk factors go alongside initiating treatment with Viagra or Sildenafil.
Lifestyle factors and risk factor to consider are: –
- Having a healthy body mass index i.e. lose weight if you are overweight to a healthy weight for your height. Your Pharmacist will be able to advise on how lose weight in a healthy way.
- Stop smoking. Your Pharmacist will be able to give you advice on how to reduce or stop smoking, and what smoking cessation products will be most useful for you.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet i.e. a wide range of food in the right proportions. Ensuring to eat five fruits and vegetables every day, eating enough fibre, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping any sugar, fat, and salt to a minimum. Your Pharmacist will be able to advise on how to integrate a healthy diet into your lifestyle.
- Exercise daily.
- Reducing stress and anxiety. It is important to reduce stress and anxiety in a healthy way. Using alcohol or smoking to reduce stress is an unhealthy habit and will make erectile dysfunction problems worse. Keeping active and exercising is a good, healthy stress reliever. Exercise can help to clear the mind so that any problems can be dealt with in a calmer manner.
- Do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
- If you are a cyclist do not cycle for more than 3 hours a week or have a trial period without cycling and see if there is an improvement of the erectile dysfunction.
Some people also find relationship counselling helpful.
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References:
- https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/sildenafil.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1874251/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20800034
- https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/
- https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/infographics/three-decades-of-viagra/20202847.article?firstPass=false
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/
Mens Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected].