If you’re suffering from erectile dysfunction, you might think the higher the dose the longer you’ll stay up. But this is not always the case for most medications, including Sildenafil. Less can be more (time in bed). Popping higher strength pills and upping the dosage is not always the right choice. It really depends on your situation and the factors affecting your erectile dysfunction. The best advice on dose will come from your doctor, so don’t be shy to ask. You want to make sure you’re getting the best out of the medication. Sildenafil comes in 3 doses, 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. Most men are prescribed 50mg, but just because it works on most does not mean it would work for you. We are all unique and each body responds to medication in its own way. It might need some trial and error experimentation with doses before you find one that helps you last longer, but again the doctor’s advice is always the best to follow. Taking Sildenafil on a full stomach affects the rate at which it is absorbed into the body. So do not go just popping pills, find out more about the drug and doses, and listen to your doctor. 

PDE-5 inhibitors such as Sildenafil are medications that block an enzyme (cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5) responsible for regulating the blood flow to the body including the penis. By blocking this enzyme, it enables men to not only get an erection more easily but also to maintain this erection when sexually stimulated. 

Symptoms of ED

The main symptoms of ED are:

  • Difficulty getting an erection
  • Difficulty keeping an erection 
  • Lowered libido

The process of getting aroused in males does not only include the brain but also male hormones, emotions, nerves, blood vessels and mucles. If a problem arises in any of these aformentioned motors that are part of the bigger erection circuit, it can lead to ED. Other problems can be from mental health worries, namely, stress or performance anxiety. The most common causes of ED usually are from both physical and psychological reasons. 

Forms of Sildenafil 

Viagra and Sildenafil are the same medications, just with different names. Viagra is actually just a branded version of Sildenafil. Sildenafil is the chemical component responsible for helping treat erectile dysfunction and Viagra contains this chemical component. Sildenafil is a Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE-5 inhibitor) initially created to treat pulmonary hypertension but now has found a new use in the medical field of erectile dysfunction. Pfizer’s Viagra comes in its iconic small diamond-shaped blue pills (its patented design and appearance). Sildenafil on the other hand can come in different shapes and colours based on the manufacturing company. Viagra and Sildenafil can come in different preparations of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. We at Dr Felix offer Sildenafil and Viagra for erectile dysfunction with shipment straight to your door in plain and discreet packaging. 

Starting dose

Usually, the first prescribed dosage of Sildenafil from your healthcare provider will be at 50mg. This is the recommended starting point for most men as this dose allows you and your doctor to monitor your reaction to the medication. If the 50mg dosage is too effective or produces very potent effects, the medication can be lowered slowly down to 25mg. On the other hand, if the 50mg dose does not have the desired effects it can be upgraded to 100mg. 

Common side effects:

  • Headaches 
  • Stomach aches 
  • Flushing 
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea 
  • Dizziness
  • Rash 
  • Changes in vision 

There are some theorised reasons why 100mg might be better than all the other doses but it is important to understand that we are all unique and what might work for one man might not for another. The efficacy of Sildenafil is thought to be higher at 100mg as the higher preparation of the medication has a more profound effect on the body, however, the side effects can be stronger at higher doses. The common misunderstanding is that the medication has longer-lasting effects at the higher dose and this is not true, the effects last the same amount of time it is just more profound. As the higher dose has a more profound effect, more men taking the 100mg dose get the desired effect and hence there is a higher satisfaction level. This satisfaction is not only sexual but also emotional as they are able to perform in bed helping their relationship and improving their self-esteem.