The effects of Viagra usually last between 4 to 6 hours. However, it might last longer depending on the person taking it because it can vary from person to person. The best way to know is to see how your body responds after taking it.
Several factors can affect how quickly it takes for Viagra to work and how long it lasts in the body. There are also alternative medicines that last longer than Viagra.
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How long does Viagra work for?
Studies have shown that Viagra still improves erections over 4 hours after you take a dose. Levels of Viagra in the body peak within 30 to 120 minutes of taking a tablet on an empty stomach. After this, the body starts to break down the Viagra and gradually get rid of it.
Another study suggests that Viagra may be effective in some men for up to 12 hours after taking a dose. This shows that Viagra may last longer for different men and the duration of effects can differ.
The general advice when taking Viagra is to take it approximately 1 hour before sex or sexual activity. The majority of users will find Viagra can improve their erections if taken an hour before sex. After you have used Viagra several times, you’ll likely get to know how long it lasts for you and when the best time to take it is.
Remember, you need to be sexually aroused for Viagra to work.
Can you make Viagra last longer?
There are several things you can do to improve your erectile dysfunction. Many of these can improve your heart and blood vessel health. Poor heart and blood vessel health is a common cause of ED. Making these changes gives you the best chance of Viagra being effective and lasting as long as possible.
- Losing weight
- If you are overweight, losing weight can be an effective method of improving erectile dysfunction. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fat and high in fruits and vegetables, as well as increasing physical activity.
- Stop smoking
- Smoking can worsen erectile problems. Stopping smoking can improve your heart health and increase blood flow to the penis.
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Drinking alcohol can cause problems getting erections, especially long term alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.
- Exercising
- Being overweight, having high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can all contribute to ED. Increasing physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Other factors can directly affect how long Viagra lasts:
Diet
If you take Viagra with a heavy meal, it may take longer to work because food (especially high-fat food) can delay the absorption of the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. There is some evidence that grapefruit juice may also slow the absorption of Viagra. Ideally, you should avoid grapefruit juice when taking Viagra and take it on an empty stomach.
Viagra and alcohol
Drinking alcohol can make it harder to get an erection, especially drinking large amounts of alcohol. Taking them together may also increase the risk of side effects of alcohol such as dizziness and headaches. We advise men not to drink excessive amounts of alcohol when using Viagra.
Age
In men over 65 years old, the body can take longer to break down and remove Viagra. This means that the effects of Viagra may last longer than in younger men.
Other drugs
Certain medicines can affect how your body reacts to Viagra. Some anti-HIV drugs such as ritonavir can slow the removal of Viagra and cause it to stay in the body for longer. This can be dangerous and your doctor may give you a lower dose or a different medicine if you’re taking ritonavir. Viagra can also have drug interactions with some antibiotics, like erythromycin.
Ask your doctor to check that Viagra is safe to take with your other medicines.
Other health problems
Viagra may remain in the body longer in people with liver and kidney problems. For this reason, it may not be suitable for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns.
Different strengths
A higher strength of Viagra will generally last slightly longer in your body. However, taking a higher dose will increase the risk of side effects. Most people should start with a lower strength of Viagra first to see how their body responds to the drug. Viagra 100 mg is the highest strength available.
How long does it take for Viagra to work?
For most men, it takes between 30-60 minutes for Viagra to start working. However, how long Viagra takes to work can vary from person to person. In some studies, Viagra helped erections as early as 12 minutes after a dose, but for some men it took longer than an hour to work. Most men found Viagra worked after around 30 minutes.
How long do other ED medications last?
There are two other treatments for erectile dysfunction that last in the body for a similar amount of time as Viagra. These different treatments are called Spedra (avanafil) and vardenafil. Although the three have a similar duration in the body, Spedra may be effective as soon as 15 minutes after a dose.
Another common ED medicine is Cialis. The active ingredient is the generic medicine tadalafil, Cialis is the branded version. Tadalafil stays in the body far longer than Viagra and can be effective for longer.
Tadalafil can be taken as a one-off dose like Viagra, or it can be taken at a lower dose every day. After taking a one-off dose, tadalafil can still improve erections up to 36 hours after the dose. Taking a lower dose of tadalafil every day means that it is effective at improving erections at any time of the day. Many people who have frequent sexual activity find this a better option than Viagra.
Visit our online erectile dysfunction clinic for treatment options
You can read more about the differences between both treatments in our Cialis vs Viagra blog post.
Does Viagra make you last longer in bed?
Viagra can be very effective at improving your erections if you suffer from erectile dysfunction. However, Viagra does not make you last longer in bed.
Men who want to last longer in bed may be suffering from another common sexual problem called premature ejaculation. There are medicines you can use to make you last longer in bed. See our online premature ejaculation clinic for further information.
Visit our online premature ejaculation clinic for treatment options