Viagra is a popular drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which allows a man to live normal sex life.
It has a strong effect on the body: it provides the necessary blood flow to the penis. Therefore, you cannot take these pills without control and should special attention to the first dose. This is necessary to assess the body’s response to the drug and not harm health.
Contents:
- What is Viagra?
- Why take Viagra?
- How does Viagra work?
- Viagra for first-time users: what to expect?
- Who should not take Viagra?
- How do you take Viagra for the first time?
- How much Viagra should I take the first time? What’s the average dose?
- Is Viagra safe?
- Can you take Viagra every day?
- What happens if I take too much Viagra?
- Does food or alcohol affect Viagra?
- What is it good to know before taking Viagra?
- How to make Viagra more effective: 5 tips for first-time users
- Does Viagra have any side effects?
- Is there an alternative to Viagra?
- 8 Viagra FAQs for first-time users
- What if Viagra doesn’t work?
- When to call your doctor
What is Viagra?
Viagra is a pharmaceutical drug that helps increase blood flow to the penis, resulting in a long and high-quality erection. The active ingredient of the drug is sildenafil citrate. It belongs to the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor class.
The drug for men is available in tablet form. The tablets have a different dosage of the active ingredient – sildenafil. The common dosage forms are 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg.
Important: if a man lacks sexual desire and attraction to his partner, the drug will not work.
Why take Viagra?
So let’s take a closer look at what Viagra is used for. The description of the medicine says that the tablets are designed to treat erectile dysfunction, which prevents a full sexual life.
It is recommended to take pills to treat erectile dysfunction caused by the following reasons:
- vascular disorders;
- nervous disorders;
- psychological problems.
The drug for men acts relatively quickly. Viagra reviews report that a therapeutic effect is observed 40-60 minutes after using the medication. The main thing is to take it before meals – if you combine the medicine with food, its action will be delayed.
The tablets should only be taken for medical reasons.
Despite the fact that cases of physiological dependence on the drug have not been established by 2020, scientists believe that prolonged and daily use can lead to psychological dependence.
In other words, the constant use of ED pills leads to the fact that the man becomes addicted to a stable erection. And after the withdrawal of sildenafil, it seems to him that it has worsened, although it is not.
What does Viagra do to healthy male? Healthy men can also use the drug since it helps stabilize the functionality of the genitals, accelerates the onset of re-erection, and promotes longer sexual intercourse.
How does Viagra work?
The human body contains an enzyme called phosphodiesterase, which is responsible for blood flow into the cavernous bodies of the genital organ and blood vessels. If this element is blocked, then the blood flow will greatly increase.
Viagra works exactly according to this scheme: it relaxes certain muscles, increases the blood flow that goes to the penis. This is what helps to keep an erection during intercourse. It is important to note that sildenafil is not able to cure the cause of the dysfunction, it only “eliminates” the consequences.
Another important factor that should not be forgotten is that the pills do not intensify sexual desire. This means that it works only on the technical side. If a man doesn’t want intimacy, then the drug may not work.
Viagra for first-time users: what to expect?
Although Viagra can be purchased without a prescription – both in a pharmacy and on the Internet – it is recommended to take pills only after consulting a doctor – when diagnostic studies confirm that the cause of sexual dysfunction is in deviations from the norm of blood circulation in the pelvic area. In other clinical cases, taking tablets at best will be useless, at worst – it can be harmful to health (if there are contraindications).
Before use, you need to make sure that the tablets do not worsen the state of health. Therefore, you should:
- carefully read the instructions for the drug, paying special attention to the sections “Dosage”, “Contraindications”, “Side effects”;
- make sure that the drug has not expired;
- start with a minimum dosage (this will help prevent possible complications and help you choose an individual amount of sildenafil to achieve a lasting and strong erection);
- study drugs incompatible with Viagra;
- if you have any doubts, consult a doctor.
The main rule that will save health in case of negative reactions (they are rare but still happen!): If you feel worse, you should not take another dose of the drug. Such cases should be considered with a doctor who will give medical advice or help you choose an alternative to Viagra.
Who should not take Viagra?
There are a number of diseases, pathologies and health features in which taking “blue pills for men” and drugs with a similar effect can lead to negative consequences:
- Hypertension that cannot be controlled. Sildenafil directly affects blood circulation, increasing blood pressure;
- Pathologies of the heart muscle, for example, narrowing of the aortic valve;
- Disruption of the heart: failure, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, etc.;
- Pulmonary hypertension;
- Oncological diseases;
- Glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP);
- Hemophilia and low blood coagulability in general;
- Renal failure;
- Serious mental disorders;
- Hepatitis of various nature with fibrosis;
- Deformation of the penis;
- Recent surgical intervention.
This is not a complete list of contraindications – the doctor should make a verdict based on the medical history of the man, the characteristics of the body and its condition. The use of the medication is also prohibited to minors.
How do you take Viagra for the first time?
Before you start taking the pills, you need to understand that this product will only help achieve an erection in the presence of sexual stimulation. Therefore, before the first administration, it is important to be in a good mood, pleasant atmosphere and be psychologically prepared for sexual intercourse.
You should also know that the active substance of the drug – sildenafil – begins its work immediately after it enters the bloodstream, where it is absorbed from the digestive tract. On average, a man achieves an erection 30-60 minutes after administration of the drug and the action lasts for 4-6 hours. This is quite enough for several sexual intercourses.
To achieve the best result for taking this drug, you should follow some general rules:
- It is recommended to take the pill 2 hours after eating. The active substance is absorbed into the blood from the stomach, so if it is filled with food, the effect will be weaker. But taking the pill on an empty stomach is also undesirable. You’d better eat “light food” in advance, such as vegetables and fruits. The fat content of the products should not exceed 30%;
- The optimal time of administration is 1 hour before sexual intercourse. During this period, the drug will have time to act properly;
- The pill (or part of it, depending on the dosage) should be washed down with warm soft water or mineral water without gas;
- Store the remaining pills in a dry room in accordance with the instructions.
How much Viagra should I take the first time? What’s the average dose?
The doctor may prescribe sildenafil at a dosage of 25, 50 or 100 mg tablets. The average dose for the first dose of Viagra is 50 mg. The results of clinical studies have shown that this amount of the drug is sufficient for a normal erection for most men. Depending on the reaction, the dosage is left unchanged or adjusted. This is required to achieve the optimal result for each patient. There is another approach in calculating the individual dose: start with 25 mg, and then increase the dose until the desired effect occurs.
The table below reflects the optimal dosage for Viagra recommended by the manufacturer:
| Categories of male patients who have chosen to take Viagra | Daily doses, mg |
| taking the drug for the first time | 50 |
| elderly patients | individual adjustments required (25-50) |
| men with chronic kidney and liver pathologies | 25-50 |
| patients who use the stimulant on a daily basis | 25 |
| patients who use the stimulant together with vasodilators | 25 |
You can take no more than 100 mg of sildenafil per day. Experiments have shown that exceeding the daily dosage leads to discomfort, an increase in the number and strength of side effects. Therefore, taking risks is strongly discouraged. Another limitation concerns the number of doses: you cannot take the drug more often than 1 time in 24 hours.
Is Viagra safe?
If you taking Viagra for the first time, it’s perfectly normal to want to know if the medicine is safe. The answer is yes, Viagra is absolutely safe for use. The product is manufactured by a reputable pharmaceutical company and has undergone countless clinical trials and studies by 2020 to make sure it is safe. If you have no contraindications for use and are using the medicine correctly, sildenafil will do no harm.
However, some men experience minor side effects after taking Viagra (described below). And that’s why you need to consult a doctor prior to using any ED medications.
Can you take Viagra every day?
Viagra perfectly improves an erection but prolonged use of the stimulant required extreme caution.
Male sexual power can be restored temporarily if you take a 50 mg tablet every 24 hours or a 100 mg tablet every 48 hours if necessary (about 1 hour before intercourse).
The duration of intensive therapy at home should not exceed 1 month, then it it is recommended to take a temporary break.
Male patients often increase potency only in such a generally accessible way because the drug helps get self-confidence, helps prolong sexual intercourse. However, if you take Viagra too often, you can damage your health. If you plan to use ED medication every day, experts recommend choosing an analogue of sildenafil, for example, Cialis Daily (2.5 mg).
What happens if I take too much Viagra?
Sildenafil is a fairly safe drug, but its uncontrolled intake always leads to sad consequences. Therefore, do not exceed the recommended dose of the drug! And if the standard dose is not enough for you, then you have serious problems and need to see a doctor.
A severe overdose of sildenafil is accompanied by side effects such as hallucinations, uncontrollable laughter for no reason, dizziness, panic attacks, and a very long and painful erection. The drug affects the cardiovascular system, therefore, a man may experience convulsions, low blood pressure, tachycardia, heart attack.
An overdose of Viagra can lead to artificially induced hypertension, damage to blood vessels and veins under increased pressure, heart attack, nose bleeding, internal hemorrhage. Always read the instructions for use prior to taking any drugs, including those for ED.
Does food or alcohol affect Viagra?
When using Viagra to treat ED, it is important to focus on the following valuable recommendations:
- The drug wears off much faster if taken on a full stomach. Therefore, it is recommended to take it on an empty stomach or in between meals;
- Small doses of alcohol do not diminish the effect of the medication, so you can take the stimulant during a romantic dinner. The maximum that a man can afford is a pair of glasses of quality wine or 0.5 beer;
- Drinking alcohol in large doses can reduce libido and sexual desire. In this case, you will simply feel no effect from the stimulant. Moreover, the use of alcohol-containing drinks introduces an imbalance in the cardiovascular system, so the risk of side effects of taking Viagra for the first time increases several times;
- If the dose of sildenafil is taken after a hearty dinner, you will have to wait more than 1 hour for it to start working. Therefore, you’d better refuse fatty foods during a romantic meeting.
What is it good to know before taking Viagra?
Any medication should be treated with care. And this drug is no exception. A man who decides to use this remedy to treat erectile dysfunction should also know about other nuances:
- Any medications, including herbal remedies, can interact with sildenafil. Pay special attention to medicines that affect blood pressure, antibacterial and antifungal agents. Any combination should be discussed with a physician;
- Always buy your ED drug from a reputable supplier as there are a lot of counterfeit meds on the market;
- Never take other ED drug at the same time as taking Viagra.
How to make Viagra more effective: 5 tips for first-time users
Certain lifestyle changes can help increase the effectiveness of ED medication. When you are taking the tablet, you can maximize its positive effect by:
- Avoiding a heavy meal: A fatty food will delay the onset of the drug action because your stomach will digest the food before it starts processing the medication;
- Avoiding antacids: Taking this indigestion medication can reduce the effectiveness of Viagra;
- Avoiding grapefruit: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can provoke/intensify the side effects of sildenafil so you’d better avoid this combination;
- Avoid or at least reduce the alcohol consumption: A lot of alcohol combined with Viagra can cause a drop in blood pressure (which is extremely dangerous) and other adverse reactions. Besides, alcohol worsens your erection, so it’ll surely make ED medicine less effective;
- Getting in the mood: the blue pills will not work if you aren’t sexually aroused. So you’ll need to get in the mood. Help yourself and do anything that you find sexually stimulating: fantasize, enjoy some solo pleasure, give or receive a sensual massage, read some erotica, watch an erotic movie, engage in foreplay.
Does Viagra have any side effects?
Many medicines have side effects. Viagra is no exclusion. Adverse reactions usually occur when you take too much sildenafil or take it too often. Negative consequences are usually mild/moderate and short-lived.
Common side effects of Viagra include:
- flushed face;
- more frequent migraine attacks;
- decreased visual acuity;
- tachycardia;
- convulsions;
- skin rash;
- hearing impairment or loss;
- pronounced signs of dyspepsia;
- nosebleeds;
- dizziness, fainting.
If you have any mild/moderate side effects after taking the medicine, try a lower dosage next time. If you experience any severe and/or long-lasting negative reactions, stop using the medication and consult a doctor.
Is there an alternative to Viagra?
There are good analogues of Viagra. These are Cialis, Levitra, Kamagra, Stendra, and others. They contain similar active ingredients, the same indications and contraindications.
Let’s consider several analogs in more detail:
- Cialis is a remedy that helps to achieve a long-lasting erection. The main active ingredient is tadalafil. Cialis tablets should be taken 10-15 minutes before sex. The daily dosage is 20 mg, it is recommended to start with a minimum dose of 2.5 mg and increase as needed. The effects may last for up to 36 hours after you take it. There are many contraindications for Cialis so make sure you know all the nuances;
- Levitra also a good substitute to Viagra. It is taken 20-35 minutes before intercourse. The active ingredient of the drug is vardenafil. Contraindications include arterial hypotension, a history of stroke or heart attack, severe kidney or liver pathologies, degenerative diseases of the eye retina, children under 18 years of age. Levitra lasts about 6-8 hours.
The therapeutic effect of Levitra and Cialis is not due to food intake and the amount of food eaten. Both drugs go well with alcoholic beverages. Levitra lasts from 5 to 10 hours, Cialis has a more prolonged effect – up to 36 hours.
Viagra improves erection in men against the background of various disorders in the genital area. Positive reviews indicate a quick result, negative opinions are associated with the development of adverse reactions. There are reviews from healthy men who do not have problems with erection and potency. They note that Viagra is a drug that allows you to experience new emotions in bed.
8 Viagra FAQs for first-time users
How quickly does Viagra work?
Viagra usually starts to work within 30 to 60 minutes but in some cases and under the influence of some factors, it can take as long as 2 hours for the drug to work. If you’re relaxed and sexually aroused, if you have not eaten heavy meals and avoided alcohol, it could start working sooner.
How long does it last?
It depends on several factors: your physical health, age, and what you have eaten prior to taking the medicine – it can all affect how long sildenafil will stay in your system. Typically, Viagra lasts up to 4 hours, but some men say it works only 3 hours, while others have reported it lasting up to 6 hours. As you see it’s very individual. The fact we know for sure is that your erection will go away after ejaculation.
What’s the difference between Viagra and Sildenafil?
Viagra and sildenafil are the same things. Viagra is the brand name for the original drug developed and sold by Pfizer, whereas sildenafil is the active ingredient.
You can also purchase a medicine under the name Sildenafil – it’s a generic version of the product that is much cheaper but has exactly the same efficiency. The only difference between these 2 products is that Sildenafil is not a branded medication. But is has the same onset of action, potential adverse effects, and overall effectiveness.
Can you ejaculate more than once?
It’s definitely possible but depends on some factors: your age, overall health, stamina, and level of arousal. All these determine how many times you’ll be able to climax as far as the drug remains in your system.
What are the potential side effects of the drug?
Like all meds, Viagra can cause temporary adverse reactions. Consult your doctor if you have any side effects that last for a long time. Common side effects of the medicine are headache, back and muscle pain, dizziness, flushing, stuffy or runny nose, feeling sick, blurred vision or a blue hue, rash.
Does Viagra work every time?
No, it doesn’t work perfectly for everyone. In a small percentage of men, the drug works once or twice and then stops improving an erection – this phenomenon is known as a transient unsustainable improvement.
Besides, Viagra may fail to work due to several reasons, including:
- You have eaten a heavy meal;
- You’re not sexually aroused;
- You feel anxious;
- You have taken illegal drugs;
- You have mixed alcohol and Viagra.
What’s the difference between Viagra and other ED drugs?
Like Viagra, most ED medications should be taken 30 to 60 minutes prior to sexual intercourse. The only exception is Stendra (avanafil) which starts working in 15-20 minutes. This is the fastest-acting ED drug available in 2020.
When it comes to duration, Cialis (tadalafil) lasts for 36 hours and has the longest duration of action of all ED drugs.
Is there anything else to consider?
Yes. We recommend that you do not use Viagra for recreational purposes. Be sure the drug prescribed by a healthcare provider. A doctor will prescribe the safest and most effective medication and dose based on your medical history and needs. Self-medication can be dangerous.
What if Viagra doesn’t work?
If you took the pill but did not feel the expected effect, then read these tips for using Viagra for the first time:
- Be sure to take the next dose as directed (on another day);
- Be sure to exclude alcohol consumption, which not only reduces the effectiveness of the drug but also increases the risk of side effects;
- Try to increase the dose (gradually, on the following days);
- Try another ED drug (for example, Levitra, Cialis, Stendra). Sandel Center offers a wide range of drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, as well as other quality medical products from reliable manufacturers, so it won’t be difficult for you to find a good alternative for traditional “blue pills for men”.
When to call your doctor
You should call your doctor immediately if you have:
- sudden loss of vision;
- an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours and does not go away (priapism);
- chest pain, nausea, or dizziness while you’re having sex, and these symptoms remain when you stop having sex;
- sudden decrease/loss of hearing.