Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist)
Viagra is a medicine used to treat problems in relation to male sexual issues. Its specific use is in the treatment of the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. It works by increasing blood flow to the male sex organ through the blockage of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5). That compound is the enzyme responsible for promoting the breaking down of cGMP, a regulator of blood flow in the penis. The action of the drug on this enzyme enables men to achieve erections hard enough for sex. Its effects go beyond that, helping men maintain an erection during sexual activity.
The strength of the Viagra increases with tablet size, so the 25mg has the least, and the 100mg tablet is the strongest. The Viagra dosage depends on individual needs and is not related to body weight.
What Doses of Viagra Are Available?
The purpose of taking Viagra is to allow men to keep erections during sexual activity, so you take it when you need it, not on a schedule like other medicine. Viagra comes in packets of 4 or 8 tablets of the three tablet sizes, which differ in strength. Side effects of taking Viagra are often proportional to the dosage. So you may experience the worst of it with the higher dosage and vice versa.
Since Viagra is available in the form of tablets in a blue diamond shape, patients take it by mouth. Once you take it, the Viagra tablet begins to take effect within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts up to 5 hours. Viagra is available in three tablet sizes which are:
- 25 mg with the inscription "VGR 25" inscribed on it
- 50 mg with the inscription "VGR 50" inscribed on it
- 100 mg with the inscription "VGR 100" inscribed on it
For first time use of Viagra, you should start with the 50mg tablet, although this requires consulting with a medical professional. The 50mg has proven to work well for most men with a low chance of side effects. If this pill does not produce the desired effect, a patient can then move to the more potent 100mg tablet. Clinical studies have shown that 4 out of 5 men using the 50mg or 100mg tablet get erections hard enough for sex. Or, if side effects occur in the patient with the 50mg pill, trying the 25mg pill can reduce this.
Can You Buy Viagra 200mg?
Original Viagra tablets are only available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablet sizes. Patients shouldn’t exceed the 100mg dosage as this may cause harmful effects and have adverse consequences for health. No 200mg dosage or any other dosage exceeds the 100mg tablet for the official Viagra brand.
Due to the popularity of Viagra, many have tried to cash in by offering counterfeit versions. Some patients with erectile dysfunction worry about discrimination and avoid consulting a doctor. Instead, they seek a discreet way to get a solution, leaving them vulnerable to the counterfeit drug market.
Viagra is one of the most counterfeited drugs found on many unverified sources online. Some unverified online vendors claim to sell 200mg Viagra and other sizes outside the three official versions. Exercising caution with such sellers is vital as these may be different drugs or contaminated versions of Viagra. Taking those may have no effect at best or harm your health at worst. Only registered, FDA-Approved pharmacies are safe to buy from. A genuine online vendor should ask for a doctor’s prescription from a medical professional.
What's the Right Way to Take Viagra?
Viagra is an oral medication taken in the form of tablets by mouth. Patients should take into consideration when they intend to engage in sex, so they take it correctly. Once a patient takes Viagra, it takes effect within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts 5 hours.
You can take Viagra with or without food. If you take it on a full stomach, its absorption into the body can be slower, causing delayed or softer erections. Doctors recommend taking Viagra 1 to 3 hours before the time you intend to engage in sexual activity to give it enough time to take effect.
It’s important to note that Viagra does not cause an erection, contrary to popular belief. Instead, it takes effect to increase blood flow to the penis once sexual stimulation occurs. Other factors like psychological performance anxiety can hinder the action of the drug. You should consider that before opting for higher strengths for better results. Patients mustn’t go over the recommended dosage unless told to do so by a medical professional for advice.
Viagra Use by Men with Kidney Disease
Erectile dysfunction is prevalent among male patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. Some surveys show a prevalence of 80% in chronic kidney disease patients, proposing many reasons for this occurrence.
The use of Viagra by patients suffering from severe kidney disease may cause a decrease in plasma clearance of phosphodiesterase 5(PDE-5) inhibitors. That, in turn, causes drug accumulation. To prevent this, medical professionals should perform a renal assessment on the patient to determine if it’s safe for the patient to take Viagra, as well as the dose and frequency of administration.
Viagra Use by Men with Liver Disease
Any patient with other pre-existing medical conditions must consult a doctor before taking Viagra. Viagra achieves an increase in blood flow to the penis by introducing phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors into the body. Liver metabolism handles the clearing of these inhibitors when the function has taken effect. This prevents the inhibitors from accumulating in the body.
Clinical studies have shown that patients suffering from mild to moderate hepatic (liver) impairment are not affected by the use of Viagra and don’t need dosage modification. Still, starting treatment with the lower dosage, which is the 25mg tablet, is a safe recommendation. Patients with severe liver impairment seem unable to clear the phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors due to the reduced liver function and are not advised to take Viagra due to this complication.
In all cases, a doctor with knowledge of the patient’s condition should assist. The doctor may recommend a dose to ensure that the patient is not affected and obtains the desired result or prescribes an alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Can I Take Viagra After a Stroke?
Viagra increases blood flow in the body to achieve strong erections. A possible effect it can cause is the lowering of blood pressure, which means only hemodynamically stable patients should take it. Patients who have experienced a stroke in the last six months should consult a doctor before using Viagra and should use it with caution when approved.
This also applies to patients who have experienced conditions related to blood flow like heart attack, cardiac failure, and life-threatening arrhythmias within the same period or those experiencing unstable angina resulting from coronary artery disease or left obstructed ventricular outflow.
Since Viagra helps men engage in sexual activity, the effect of sex on patients with certain conditions is of importance. Patients who have experienced cardiovascular complications may be at risk of experiencing difficulties when engaging in sexual activity due to increased heart rate. A doctor can determine if a patient is healthy enough to engage in sexual intercourse, and with the use of any erectile dysfunction medication.
Can I Take Viagra Daily?
Viagra is a medication you should take only when you intend to engage in sexual activity, rather than on a fixed schedule. You can take it as often as needed, without exceeding a recommended maximum of one pill in 24 hours. Frequent use of Viagra has not proven to cause the development of any form of resistance with continued use, so patients can take the drug often and expect the same results. Patients with pre-existing medical conditions must first consult a doctor and enquire about the frequency of drug administration recommended for their particular case.
Several side effects occur in some patients with the use of Viagra. The most common ones include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Flushing
- Stomach upset and diarrhea
- Heartburn
In most cases, the side effects occur to a mild extent, and a doctor may recommend a reduction of the dosage pill. This may result in a patient not being able to take Viagra every day. If you experience these or any other severe symptoms, you may need to stop taking Viagra immediately and call a doctor.
How Often Can I Take Viagra?
You should only take Viagra when you plan to engage in sexual intercourse. That shouldn’t exceed more than once a day. A medical professional should determine how often each patient can take Viagra. The following factors come into consideration to determine how you should take Viagra:
- Age
- General health and cardiovascular function
- Medical history about other pre-existing medical conditions
- Other medications the patient is taking
A patient can consult their doctor on how often they intend to take Viagra in a week or month to get advice based on their health. Taking Viagra can result in the occurrence of side effects in some patients, after which a reduction in dosage or frequency of use may be necessary. A doctor can also prescribe a different medication depending on the frequency one intends to engage in sexual intercourse. If a prescribed dosage is not working as expected, patients must avoid increasing dosage on their own but instead seek advice from their doctor first.
What Happens When You Take Expired Viagra?
Viagra, like other drugs, comes with an expiration date before which it provides the best results. Most manufacturers recommend using medications in one year for efficiency and to avoid any possible side effects. Using drugs like Viagra, which aren’t taken on schedule but a need-basis can result in having some leftovers after the end date.
Taking these may not be a good idea, even if they look fine at a glance. All drugs’ molecules start to break down over time, resulting in the loss of effectiveness. The expiration date is set for long before these molecules begin to break down, which is why you should stick to it.
Expired Viagra has the molecules of the active ingredient, sildenafil, starting to decompose, resulting in reduced effect in providing hard and lasting erections. No adverse side effects occur from taking expired Viagra outside of those resulting from its regular use. The only danger is that you won’t experience the best results in achieving and maintaining your erection.
Can Women Take Viagra?
Viagra has grown a lot in popularity since its release due to the significant effect it has on the sex lives of thousands of men. This resulted in women experiencing sexual challenges, and some getting intrigued to see if it can help them too. It is, however, not possible for Viagra to produce the same results in women due to the difference in body and sexual function of the male and female bodies.
Viagra does not increase sexual desire or arousal. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis to assist in achieving and maintaining erections. Sexual stimulation or arousal is necessary to incite stimulation before Viagra can assist in producing and maintaining the erection during sexual intercourse.
A woman’s sexual function, on the other hand, is not related to blood flow but to lubrication generated in a natural way by arousal. Taking Viagra will increase the woman’s blood flow but won’t affect their ability to have or enjoy sex. Other treatments, designed for women, in particular, are available to help them achieve arousal.
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