Can you take Viagra on an empty stomach?

Viagra is the brand name of the medicine, sildenafil citrate, used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), a common condition that affects men of any age. Men with this condition are unable to reach or maintain an erection to take part in sexual activity.

Viagra, like other ED drugs, works by relaxing smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels in certain areas of the body. This relaxation allows for increased blood flow to the penis, which helps achieve and maintain erections during sexual stimulation.

Viagra works by blocking the negative effect of a specific enzyme ( a small protein that acts to speed up the rate of chemical reactions taking place within cells) on dilation or opening of blood vessels, thereby, allowing blood to flow more freely and quickly to the penis.

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When Viagra is taken orally with a drink of water, the body rapidly absorbs the medicine. The concentration (strength) of Viagra in the blood peaks around 30–120 minutes after ingestion, usually around the 60-minute mark.

Viagra can be taken with or without food, but it works best on an empty stomach. That said, you should always bear in mind that sex consumes a lot of energy, which you may not have on an empty stomach. Viagra takes longer to be absorbed in the body and start working if you take it with or after a meal, especially a high-fat meal, such as a cheeseburger and french fries. The longer it takes for Viagra to be absorbed in your body, the lower the concentration will be in your blood, and the weaker the effect of the medication. This could cause your erection to come later than expected, be less rigid than expected and not last as long as you would’ve liked.

Eating lightly may be the best solution, as it will insure Viagra remains effective, and will also provide you with the energy to sustain sex. If you’ve had a fat-heavy meal, it is recommended that you wait for two before taking Viagra. This is because the fats in the meal can slow down your body’s digestive system and prevent the medication from being absorbed in a timely manner.

As a general rule, it’s best to avoid fatty meals entirely on the days you plan to take Viagra. It’s okay to have some fat, but extremely fat-heavy meals such as a steak, burger, or lasagna, are best avoided. If you can’t resist a satisfying meal, try to plan it in a way that will not reduce the effect of drug. For example, you could make sure you have the fatty meal for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner, assuming you plan to take Viagra towards the end of the day. This way, your body will have already absorbed the fat content of the meal before you take the medication, allowing for quicker and easier absorbtion.

You should also bear in mind that eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice may affect how Viagra works. Avoid consuming grapefruit products while taking the medication, because any grapefruit product may increase the level of Viagra in your blood, and therefore increase the likelihood of side effects.

According to research carried out in Germany in 2002, the absorption of Viagra increased by 23% when taken with grapefruit juice instead of water. Despite increasing Viagra levels, grapefruit juice will actually delay absorption. This last point is important, because Viagra is supposed to be taken one hour before sex, and taking the drug with grapefruit juice may then result in disappointment.