How to Take Viagra for Best Results
Like other prescription medicines, ViagraⓇ and its generic form, sildenafil, work best when you take them under the right conditions. From your mental state to your eating habits, a range of factors can and will influence the effectiveness of Viagra and other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors like CialisⓇ and StendraⓇ.
Understanding the factors that affect the famous “little blue pill” — and using them to your advantage — can help you enjoy better sex and more reliable erections while reducing your risk of having to deal with side effects.
Below, we’ve covered how you can take Viagra or generic sildenafil for optimal results, from the best time to take Viagra before sexual intercourse to drug interactions and adverse effects that you should know about.
How to Use Viagra for Best Results
It’s common and very normal to have questions about how to use Viagra to treat ED, especially if you’ve just started using an erectile dysfunction medication.
The good news is that Viagra is a fairly easy medication to use once you’re aware of the basics of taking it safely and effectively.
To get the best results from Viagra, you’ll want to keep the following six things in mind:
Viagra works best when it’s taken 30 to 60 minutes before sex.
Eating food that’s high in fat can affect absorption and make Viagra slightly slower to work.
Viagra may not work fully the first time, especially if you feel anxious about sex.
There are drug interactions linked to Viagra.
Viagra can cause side effects, most of which are mild and temporary.
All ED medications work best when they’re combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Alright, so you have the 30-thousand-foot view, now let’s dig a little deeper.
Take Viagra 30-60 Minutes Before Sex, Not Earlier
If you’re planning to have sex, it’s best to take your recommended dose of Viagra ahead of time, even if it means sneaking away for an “unexpected phone call” or taking a quick bathroom break before dessert hits the table.
Viagra doesn’t start working the moment you swallow it — instead, it needs time to make its way into your blood vessels and start increasing blood flow to your penis.
It usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for Viagra or generic sildenafil to start producing a noticeable improvement in your erection quality.
However, make sure not to take your Viagra tablet more than three or four hours before the time you plan to have sex.
On average, Viagra lasts for about four hours, after which it may no longer help you maintain an erection. This means that if you take Viagra in the morning for your evening date, prepare to be super disappointed for dessert.
Knowing when to take Viagra can have a big effect on your results. For better confidence in bed (and better sex), take Viagra 30-60 minutes ahead of time, no earlier.
Avoid Heavy, High-Fat Meals Before Taking Viagra
Viagra can be taken on an empty stomach or with food. However, you’ll want to avoid foods high in fat if you’re looking for the best possible experience with this medication.
This is because fat can interfere with the absorption of sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra. By slowing down your body’s ability to absorb sildenafil, Viagra may take longer to work and produce less impressive results than normal if taken after a heavy meal.
So, if your idea of a perfect date meal is a big, fatty burger with truffle fries and a milkshake for dessert, you might want to reconsider.
If it’s your first time taking Viagra, try opting for something a little lighter. Once you get used to how long it takes for the medication to start working for you, you can adjust your eating habits accordingly. But don't opt for skipping a meal altogether and snorting Viagra instead — suffice to say, this isn't the best method.
If Viagra Doesn’t Work The First Time, Don’t Panic
Does Viagra work the first time? For some guys, yes, but not for everyone. It’s quite common to deal with weak or unreliable erections the first few times you take Viagra — something that may cause you to panic.
If you’re prescribed Viagra and still get ED, one or several things could be at play:
You might not be prescribed the right dosage of Viagra. Viagra comes in a range of different dosages and requires a prescription for a reason. If you still get ED after using Viagra, consider talking to your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosage.
You could have sexual performance anxiety. Feeling anxious, nervous or guilty about sex may cause erectile dysfunction that doesn’t improve with medication like Viagra.
You may suffer from another mental health condition. Other causes of psychological ED include major depressive disorder (MDD), stress and low self-esteem.
You might not feel attracted or in the mood for sex. Viagra works by improving blood flow to your penis, not by changing your mood. As such, it may not work if you don’t feel attracted to your partner or don’t feel interested in sex.
If Viagra doesn’t work for you the first time you use it, don’t panic. Try taking Viagra the next time you plan to have sex and see if you feel more relaxed and able to stay hard.
You can also try taking Viagra when you don’t plan to have sex, just to see if you can get an erection when you don’t feel any pressure around your partner.
If nothing seems to work, reach out to your healthcare provider and let them know. They might recommend changing your Viagra dosage or switching to a different type of ED pill — topics we discuss more in our guide to what to do when Viagra isn’t working.
Check for Drug Interactions Before You Take Viagra
Viagra is safe and effective for most guys. However, it can cause interactions when it’s taken with other drugs, including several common prescription medications.
Both Viagra and generic sildenafil can cause dangerous interactions when they’re used at the same time as nitrates and alpha-blockers used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
When used with nitrates, Viagra can trigger a sudden decrease in blood pressure that may be harmful. In some cases, this drop in blood pressure may result in dizziness, fainting or serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Common nitrates include nitroglycerin, as well as recreational “poppers” that are made using substances such as amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
Other medications that may also interact with Viagra include certain antibiotics and antifungal medications.
Our guide to sildenafil interactions goes into more detail about medications that you should be aware of before using Viagra.
If you currently take any over-the-counter or prescription medications, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know before you use Viagra, sildenafil or similar ED treatments.
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Viagra and Other PDE5 Inhibitors
Viagra isn’t the only PDE5 inhibitor on the market. In fact, the FDA has approved three other PDE5 inhibitors to help treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction:
It’s important not to mix PDE5 inhibitors without the expressed supervision of your healthcare provider. When used together that their full doses, these medications can interact in some pretty dangerous ways.
However, healthcare providers sometimes prescribe multiple PDE5 inhibitors at once to help optimize the effects of each medication for an individual case — usually at a reduced dosage in the form of a compounded medication.
For example, we offer compounded chewable ED medications that combine generic sildenafil and tadalafil at a lower dosage to help you get harder erections and last longer.
Be Aware of the Side Effects of Viagra
Viagra can cause adverse effects. Most of these are mild and rarely stick around for longer than a few hours, but it’s still important to be aware of them.
Common side effects of Viagra include:
Headaches
Flushing
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Abnormal vision (blurred vision and/or changes in color vision)
Increased sensitivity to light
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Nasal congestion
Back pain
Dizziness
Rash
Although rare, Viagra and sildenafil can cause more serious side effects, including:
Chest pain
Sudden vision loss
Hearing loss
Priapism (a prolonged, painful erection)
Priapism is a serious issue that can cause tissue damage to your penis when left untreated, making it important to get emergency medical attention if you develop a painful erection after taking Viagra.
Although these issues might sound alarming, it’s important to keep in mind they only occur in a tiny percentage of men who take Viagra.
Our list of Viagra FAQs goes into more detail about common worries related to Viagra, as well as how you can use this medication while putting safety first.
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Treat ED With a Healthy Lifestyle, Not Just Medication
Viagra makes getting and maintaining an erection easier for the overwhelming majority of men who use it. However, it’s not a miracle drug, and pairing it with healthy habits can make it work far better than relying on it as your sole source of relief from ED.
These include:
Keeping yourself physically active
Eating a healthy, nutritious diet
Doing pelvic floor exercises
Sometimes, even a small improvement in your weight, blood pressure, overall fitness levels or diet can have a noticeable effect on your health and sexual performance.
Our guide to naturally maintaining your erection shares numerous healthy habits that you can use for better erections, sexual function and cardiovascular well-being.
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The Bottom Line on Taking Viagra for the Best Results
If you’re one of the tens of millions of adult men affected by ED, using Viagra can make getting and maintaining an erection much easier, allowing you to enjoy a more satisfying sex life.
To get the best results from Viagra:
Take it 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity while limiting your intake of high-fat foods that can slow down Viagra absorption.
Don’t panic if it doesn’t work the first time. Instead, try using it on your own to see if it’s effective, or talk to your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosage.
Check that you’re not taking any medications that can interact with Viagra and make it less effective or more likely to cause side effects.
Combine Viagra with healthy habits, including regular physical activity, a balanced diet, lots of sleep and pelvic floor exercises.
Interested in trying Viagra or similar ED medication? Take an ED consultation online to learn more about your options for treating and preventing erectile dysfunction.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.