It’s estimated that over 30 million men experience erectile dysfunction (ED) in the United States alone.
And when it comes to treating the symptoms of ED, you probably won’t find a more effective option than Viagra®.
Just swallowing the tablet should be enough to increase blood flow and provide an erection once you become aroused, but there are few things you can do to make it even more effective and enhance your results.
What Is Viagra?
Viagra (sildenafil) is an oral medication that is used to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. In the United States, Viagra is only available for purchase with a valid prescription.
The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil. Originally, sildenafil was intended to be a potential treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (severe chest pain). However, the researchers overseeing early experiments discovered that while sildenafil didn’t have much of an impact on these conditions, it did significantly improve the erections of test subjects.
Once this discovery was made, studies shifted to trying sildenafil as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. After years of research and trials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sildenafil as the world’s first oral medication for erectile dysfunction, and Viagra hit the market in 1998.
Since then the patent for Viagra has expired, leading to several pharmaceutical manufacturers creating generic versions of Viagra.
The active ingredient in these generic medications is the same as Viagra, sildenafil, and differences are primarily around precise recipe, color, and shape of the tablet. More importantly, the generic versions are much cheaper than brand name Viagra.
How Does Viagra Work?
Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. This is the same drug class as other popular erectile dysfunction medications such as tadalafil and vardenafil, the active ingredients in Cialis and Levitra, respectively.
These drugs work by helping to dilate and expand blood vessels and arteries in the penis along with relaxing the smooth muscles in this organ. As a result, the amount of blood that enters the penis increases while the flow of blood exiting the penis decreases, creating an erection.
These drugs essentially work by "removing the brakes" on the erection process. CGMP is a substance that promotes blood flow in the penis, while phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is an enzyme that reduces CGMP naturally.
By inhibiting the production of the PDE5 enzyme, PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil remove the brakes and allow a speedier, more robust erection.
Tips That Can Help You Get The Most Out of Your Viagra
For most guys, using Viagra will be enough to achieve an erection and keep it long enough for sex.
That being said, there are several things that you can to increase its effectiveness. Some of these lifestyle changes could even help to reduce the frequency and severity of erectile dysfunction and might eliminate the need for Viagra in the first place.
Plan Ahead
Once you swallow a Viagra or generic Viagra pill, it will take some time before your body puts it to work and the effects begin. If you're planning on taking it right before sex, you might be disappointed.
The amount of time that it takes before you feel the effects of Viagra can depend on a few factors such as your metabolism, age, and contents of your stomach.
On average, it takes between 30 minutes and an hour before Viagra works, so make sure you plan ahead.
Stick To Your Prescribed Dosage
Viagra is only available via prescription for a good reason — it can be dangerous when used irresponsibly because of drug interactions or underlying medical conditions.
Side effects of Viagra can include slight dizziness and a headache, or as serious as abnormal vision, shortness of breath, or low blood pressure.
The most common dose ofViagra is 50 mg, but can be as low as 25 mg or as high as 100 mg. It’s important that you only take the amount recommended by your doctor or healthcare provider.
Taking too much Viagra can lead to severe health complications, and you should never take more than the maximum dose of 100 milligrams in a 24 hour period. If you are dissatisfied with the results of Viagra, try some of the items on this list and talk with your doctor about increasing your dose, but do not take an extra dose in an attempt to boost sexual stimulation.
Get in the Mood
A popular misconception about Viagra is that it provides instant erections.
As mentioned earlier, it takes time for your body to break it down, and the effects might take some time before they are felt. More than that, Viagra is closer to being a booster for the naturally occurring erection process as opposed to a replacement, and Viagra does require some stimulation to get things moving. Don't expect a spontaneous hard-on.
Eat a Light Dinner
For the very best results, Viagra should be taken on an empty stomach.
If you don’t think you can skip a meal, at least make it a light one. Avoid eating a heavy and high fat meal like a large burger and fries before taking Viagra, as large or fat-heavy meals can reduce its effectiveness.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Having a drink or two before taking Viagra most likely won’t have much of an impact, but you should not take Viagra when drunk or drinking heavily.
If you consume a moderate or heavy amount of alcohol, or take Viagra when drunk, it can cause a sudden decrease in blood pressure to dangerous levels. Alcohol can also reduce sensation and blood flow in the body, meaning being drunk can work against Viagra's processes in addition to being dangerous.
Relax
If you take Viagra and it’s not working, don’t panic. Be patient and keep calm. If you get stressed out and your mind starts racing, anxiety can hurt your chances of getting an erection.
Stress and anxiety are two risk factors for erectile dysfunction.
Viagra can help, however, as Viagra is often used to help men get over mental health conditions that might be affecting their sexual function. It's commonly used in the treatment of ED caused by anxiety.
Get Some Exercise
Erections are only possible due to a strong and consistent flow of blood.
Issues and conditions that contribute to circulatory problems, such as high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, all greatly increase the odds of erectile dysfunction.
Getting adequate and regular exercise, at least 160 minutes per week, can strengthen your cardiovascular system and provide healthier blood flow in your body. This can not only increase the effectiveness of Viagra, but reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a diet high in fat, salt, sugar, and processed foods will increase your chances of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and various cardiovascular issues.
Try to reduce your intake of these types of foods and increase your fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. This will contribute to a healthier circulatory system and may provide a stronger and more consistent blood flow.
It can also help you to shed some extra weight. Maintaining a body mass index of 25 or lower will reduce your odds of erectile dysfunction by several times compared to overweight or obese men.
Quit Smoking
It should come as no surprise that smoking is bad for your health, but it can also cause erectile dysfunction. In fact, smoking is the leading cause of erectile dysfunction in men under the age of 40. The chemicals and smoke can hurt your lungs and heart, while the nicotine constricts your blood vessels. The best day to quit smoking is yesterday, but the second best is today.
Check Your Other Medications
One of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction is prescription medications.
Many medications can contribute to erectile dysfunction or worsen its symptoms. If you're taking any other medications––prescription or over the counter––do a little bit of research into whether or not it has a tendency to cause sexual dysfunctions or erectile related issues.
Additionally, remember to be honest with your healthcare provider about what meds you may currently be on, especially nitrates like isosorbide dinitrate or nitroglycerin, as these may not only affect sexual function, but can interact dangerously with ED medications.
On that note, keep in mind that recreational drugs like “poppers” (i.e. amyl nitrate, amyl nitrite, or butyl nitrite) have a negative effect on erectile function and run the same risk for life-threatening adverse effects as well.
The Takeaway
Making a few lifestyle changes can not only increase the overall effectiveness of Viagra, but they might help to reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction and eliminate the need for it.
Viagra is an incredibly effective method of treating erectile dysfunction, but the original branded version can be expensive.
Generic sildenafil is incredibly affordable from Rex MD, and a few lifestyle changes with the tips above should help you to get the most out of whatever medication you choose.
Sources
Onset and duration of action of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Effect of prescription medications on erectile dysfunction
Priapism - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
[Obesity--significant risk factor for erectile dysfunction in men]
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors In the Management of Erectile Dysfunction.
Stress management and erectile dysfunction: a pilot comparative study.
Physical Activity to Improve Erectile Function: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies.
Sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: an overview of the clinical evidence
