Viagra is the brand name of the medicine, sildenafil citrate, used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), a common condition that affects men and intersex individuals of any age. People with this condition are unable to achieve or maintain an erection to take part in sexual activity.
If you take Viagra or any other prescription drug for ED, you'll want to do everything you can to make sure it's doing its job. Take a few minutes to learn how to get the most out of your medication and get your doctor’s advice whenever necessary. It will pay off later in the bedroom.
You can take Viagra with or without food and it has been suggested that the drug works best on an empty stomach. However, before you decide whether to take Viagra with or without food, there are important things you should know.
First, sometimes eating a big meal right after you take Viagra or any ED medication, may not be the best idea. This is because a big meal reduces the absorption of the drug. Also, your body is then focused on digesting food and can divert blood flow to your digestive system and away from your penis.
Second, avoid a fat-heavy meal before taking Viagra. If you cant resist the temptation of a high-fat meal such as a steak dinner, it is recommended that you wait two hours after eating to take ED medication. The fat in the meal can slow down your body’s digestive system and prevent the medication from being absorbed in a timely manner.
Third, 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 if you haven't eaten. 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.
Fourth, when Viagra is taken with a drink of water, it is apidly absobed. Taking the medication with alcohol however, increases the risk of side effects and can reduce the effectiveness of the medication as well.
Finally, eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice can also affect how Viagra works. Avoid consuming grapefruit products while taking the medication. as grapefruit products may increase the level of the active ingredient in Viagra (sildenafil citrate) in your blood, and therby increase the risk of side effects.
Viagra is available in 3 doses; 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. In finding the minimum effective dose for you, you reduce the risk of side effects. The goal is not to find the highest dose of Viagra you can handle, but to find a dose that is both safe and effective.
If the amount of Viagra you use now doesn't help you get an erection, you may need to take a higher dose. Talk to your doctor before increasing the dose, to see if an increase is the right step for you.
The best time to take Viagra is about 1 hour before sexual activity, but you can take the medication any time from 4 hours to 30 minutes before. So, there’s no need to rush.
Thie short duration of action of Viagra means that timing your medication properly is important to maximize its effect. You should bear in mind that if the active time frame is missed, you should not take another dose for 24 hours. Viagra is almost completely eliminated from the body within 8 to 12 hours.
For more flexibility, you may consider using daily Cialis, which is effective for 24-36 hours.
The best time to take Viagra is about 1 hour before sexual activity, but you can take the medication any time from 4 hours to 30 minutes before. So, there’s no need to rush. Time is on your side. You can't take Viagra and expect to get an erection right away. The medication boosts the effects of a chemical your body makes called nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels in your penis. This improves blood flow and helps you get an maintain an erection.
But for the medication to work, you need to be sexually aroused. So don't rush things. Take some time to get in the mood. Use all of your senses to get turned on.
If you have a heart condition and take nitrates, you should never take ED medication. The combination can cause a dangerous, and sometimes lethal, drop in your blood pressure.
Viagra and nitrates both cause blood vessels to dilate. The enlarged diameter then accomodates more blood, leading to a drop in blood pressure. When Viagra and nitrates are taken together, the effects is augmented, which can lead to a rapid and severe drop in blood pressure. Lowering the blood pressure decreases the flow of blood to the heart and brain, and can lead to a heart ttack or stroke.
To make sure you stay safe, talk to your doctor about all of the medications you take.
Viagra comes in different doses because the goal of ED medication is to find the least amount of medication that still gets positive results. The goal is not to find the highest dose of Viagra you can handle, but to find a dose that is both safe and effective, minimizing the risk of side effects.
If you’re not satisfide with your prescribed dose of Viagra, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose, or recommend trying an alternative ED medication.
While ED drugs work in a similar anner, they each have differences in chemical makeup. This can affect how effective they are, how much time they take to kick in, and how likely they are to cause significant side effects.
Always tell your doctor about any health problems you have been diagnosed with and disclose any medications you are taking. This information will help your doctor find the ED drug that will work best for you.
Reviewed by Dr Roy Kedem, MD
Information last reviewed 12/06/21
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