Viagra Dosage: How Much Should I Take?

Viagra is one of the most well known prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, used for almost 30 years to help men improve their erections.

It's important to take the right Viagra dosage for you to make sure you get the best results from it. Let’s explore the difference between Viagra doses, what the recommended starting dose is and how to take Viagra correctly.

Article Summary

• Viagra is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Taking the right dose at the right time is key to getting the best results.
• Viagra pills come in three doses: 25mg, 50mg (this is the usual starting dose) and 100mg. It should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before sex, on an empty stomach.
• You can physically split a Viagra pill, but doing so reduces the strength of your dose by half. We don't recommend this because it’s difficult to get an exact, even dose by hand. Instead, speak to our clinical team if you’d like to adjust your next dose.

How does Viagra work?

All Viagra doses work in the same way. They all contain the active ingredient sildenafil citrate, which is a type of drug called a PDE5 inhibitor. Sildenafil helps relax the blood vessels at the base of your penis, improving blood flow and helping you get harder erections when you're aroused. [1]

Viagra doses

Viagra comes in three strengths: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. While all three are proven to work, the intensity of the effect increases with the dosage.

Viagra 25mg

This is the lowest dose of Viagra available. If you take other prescription medications, you may start with this dosage to avoid drug interactions. You might also find this Viagra dosage has minimal side effects, or none at all. Viagra 25mg lasts as long as the higher dosage options (four hours after you take it, on average) although the effects can be a little less noticeable.

If this dose doesn’t have the effect you want, speak to your clinical team about whether it’s safe for you to take a higher strength instead. [2]

Viagra 50mg

This is the usual starting dose for men when treating erectile dysfunction. If you find this seems too strong or too weak, your clinical team could recommend either increasing or decreasing your dose. Viagra is effective in 8 in 10 men, based on the fact that 78% experienced improved erections, so it’s likely you’ll benefit from this treatment. [3]

If you find that Viagra 50mg doesn’t work for you the first time you take it, there are a few things you can do. For example:

• Try it on four separate occasions, taking it exactly as recommended.
• If this doesn't work, speak to your clinician about switching to 100mg.
• If 100mg isn’t effective, our expert clinicians will recommend a different erectile dysfunction medication, such as Cialis.

Viagra 100mg

You should take it in exactly the same way as lower doses, 30 to 60 minutes before sex and on an empty stomach. If you have to take it close to eating, make sure you avoid high-fat meals. Never take more than one tablet at a time or take more than one in a 24-hour period.

While the effects don’t last longer than the 50mg dosage, they tend to be stronger. However, side effects are also more likely when taking a larger dose.

If you don't have the desired effect after taking 100mg, you should consult your doctor to explore other options.

How much Viagra should I take the first time?

Here's how to find the right Viagra dose for you:

• The recommended starting dose is 50mg, taken about an hour before sexual activity.
• If 50mg works for you, but you’re experiencing side effects, your clinical team may recommend a lower dose of 25mg, or advise you stop taking Viagra completely and discuss alternative ED treatment options.
• 100mg is the maximum Viagra dosage, prescribed when you don't get the desired results with 25mg or 50mg doses.

How long does Viagra take to work?

Your body absorbs Viagra quickly, so it usually works within 30 to 60 minutes. We recommend you take Viagra around an hour before sex, without food. If you take Viagra with a heavy meal, it absorbs more slowly, so it takes longer to work.

Viagra side effects

The most common side effects of Viagra include:

• Headaches
• Flushing
• Indigestion
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Stuffy nose

All of these are mild side effects, and symptoms shouldn’t last more than a few hours.

If you experience more serious effects, like blurred vision, chest pains, sudden changes in blood pressure or an allergic reaction (your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen, your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow) seek urgent medical attention.

Before taking Viagra it’s important to ensure you’ve discussed your full medical history with your clinical team. Other prescription drugs can interfere with Viagra, so keep your doctor informed if you're planning to take Viagra.

Can you take half a Viagra pill?

Only some sildenafil tablets can be split. Tablet splitting is only suitable for specific scored tablets that are authorised to be divided into equal halves. Not all products are suitable. for example, Viagra Connect 50 mg tablets must not be split because they are not scored.

If a tablet is approved for splitting, each half will give around half the dose (for example, a 50 mg tablet gives about 25 mg per half). However, splitting tablets isn’t perfectly precise, so the amount in each half can vary slightly. This may make the effect feel a little weaker or change side effects for some people.

Splitting a tablet does not change how long it lasts, sildenafil still works for around 4–6 hours. Lower doses usually give a milder effect. Take it 30–60 minutes before sex, as usual.

Always speak to our clinical team before splitting tablets or changing your dose. We’ll check it’s safe and appropriate for you.

Only split tablets that are authorised to be divided, and use a proper pill cutter for better accuracy. Don’t break tablets by hand or with a knife.

Keep tablets whole in their original blister and only split them when you’re ready to take a dose. This helps maintain quality and effectiveness.

Can I take Viagra with other erectile dysfunction drugs?

You should never take different ED medications together. If you do, you could cause a drug interaction and be at risk of severe side effects.

If Viagra doesn’t work for you, you may need to try a different erectile dysfunction medication e.g. tadalafil. Some lifestyle changes, like reducing alcohol intake and not smoking, can also help. If you have mental health concerns, you should speak to your GP for support or counselling. [3] If you think your concern might be premature ejaculation rather than erectile dysfunction, you can learn more about your treatment options here.

Find out what treatment is suitable for you with MedExpress.

References

1. Viagra: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects Information [Internet]. Drugs.com. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/viagra.html
2. How and when to take sildenafil [Internet]. nhs.uk. 2022. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/how-and-when-to-take-sildenafil/
3. Fink HA, Mac Donald R, Rutks IR, Nelson DB, Wilt TJ. Sildenafil for male erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Jun 24;162(12):1349-60. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.12.1349. PMID: 12076233.
4. NHS. Erectile dysfunction (impotence) [Internet]. NHS. 2019. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/