Viagra is one of the best-known treatments for adult men suffering from erectile dysfunction and is used by millions of men across the world. But how fast does Viagra work, what factors stop the drug from working as effectively as it could, and how should you prepare for taking it?

How long does Viagra take to work?

Viagra takes about half an hour to work for most men. Research shows that the median time frame for achieving a full erection is 27 minutes, and 82% of men get an erection within 45 minutes. That said, it can take as little as 12 minutes to kick in, or up to an hour depending on you and your circumstances.

What causes these variations? To answer that, it’s worth understanding what happens when you take Viagra.

What happens when you take Viagra?

Why does Viagra work faster for some people than others? To understand why, it’s useful to know what happens when you take Viagra:

• You swallow the pill and it is broken down and absorbed in your stomach.
• Tadalafil, which is the active component in Viagra, contains a compound known as a PDE-5 inhibitor.
• PDE-5 is an enzyme which causes the muscles around the base of your penis to constrict, reducing blood flow into the penis.
• PDE-5 inhibitors work to reduce the action of these enzymes, so the penis remains rigid for longer.
• The body metabolises tadalafil in the liver and it is normally processed out of your system within 24 hours.

Things which slow down how fast Viagra works

There are a number of things which could affect the speed at which Viagra works.

These include:

• Alcohol consumption – If you drink more than one or two units of alcohol, Viagra will be less effective. Excessive alcohol consumption can have an effect on erections whether you are suffering from erectile dysfunction or not.
• Food – If you eat any meal before you take Viagra, the medicine will take effect more slowly as it will be harder for Viagra to enter the bloodstream. It’s best to take Viagra on an empty stomach – try to leave at least two hours after eating before taking Viagra.
• Sexual stimulation – In order for Viagra to work, sexual stimulation is required.

How long does Viagra last?

Viagra has been known to work up to five hours at a time. However, for many men, the effects of the pill wear off just two to three hours after they take it. In order to understand more about how Viagra will work for you, discuss your full medical history and details of other medicines you take with your doctor.

How long Viagra lasts, depends on the following factors:

• Health – If you drink a lot of alcohol, it will be difficult to maintain an erection as drinking alcohol decreases the blood flow to the penis. A single drink is usually OK, but more than two units of alcohol will increase the risk of negative side effects. What’s more, if you have liver or kidney problems, Viagra could actually last longer as the tablet will take time to break down.
• Diet – As noted above, try to avoid taking Viagra after eating a large meal with high-fat content as this slows down absorption.
• Age – Older men will find that the tablet stays in their body for longer as the body’s metabolic system slows down with age. This means Viagra can last longer the older you get.
• Dosage – Viagra comes in tablets ranging from 25 mg to 100 mg. The higher the dose, the more effective and long-lasting the effects will be. It’s important to consult your doctor about which dosage is best for you.

Is it possible to increase the effect of Viagra?

There’s no way to speed up the effects of Viagra. As mentioned above, the best thing to do is to take Viagra in the best possible conditions to ensure that it gets absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This means on an empty stomach, or, if you have to eat, after consuming a low-fat meal rather than fast food. It’s also important not to worry too much about the amount of time it takes Viagra to work – worrying can have an effect on nerves and could affect the impact of the drug too.

Don’t try to speed Viagra’s effects up. Most importantly, avoid the temptation to increase your prescribed dose – this won’t necessarily make Viagra work faster and, more importantly, can have negative side effects. Always follow your doctor’s instructions and if you find the medication isn’t working as fast as you’d like, speak to your GP first.

If Viagra isn’t working in the way you’d like, there are other erectile dysfunction treatments which may work faster and can be taken in different ways. Speak to your doctor about your options here.

Preparing to take Viagra

One of the good things about Viagra is that, once it has kicked in, it will still be very effective for at least five hours – if not longer. This means that you don’t need to ‘rush’ anything once you’ve taken the drug. All it needs is a little preparation:

• Think about when you hope to have sex and take the medication at least half an hour before you start.
• Try and avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol before taking the drug.
• Communication is key to good sex – so if you can, speak to your partner about the fact you are thinking of taking Viagra. This can help you both prepare.

Some people may decide to do a ‘test run’ with Viagra before using it for sex to see how it works for them. While this isn’t strictly necessary, you might find it gives you the confidence taking the drug in advance of the next time you have sex with your partner.

Many of our clients ask how fast does Viagra work, and while there are variations between men, you can be confident you will achieve the erection you’d expect pretty quickly. To answer any other questions you might have, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable and discrete customer service team.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Buy