How long does Viagra last?

Viagra It is a type of medication called a PDE5 inhibitor that contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. PDE5 Inhibitors work by blocking PDE5, an enzyme in the walls of blood vessels. Blocking this enzyme causes your blood vessels to relax, which increases blood flow to certain areas of the body. When you increase blood flow to your penis, it becomes easier to get and maintain an erection.

Due to how PDE5 inhibitors work, you do still need to be aroused in order to get an erection, and you shouldn’t get unwanted erections either.

Viagra is normally effective for 4 to 6 hours after you take it, but it can be effective for up to 12 hours, depending on when you’ve taken it and factors like your diet, age and weight. It is most effective within the first 2-3 hours of use.

• The amount of Viagra in your system is highest after 30 minutes to 2 hours of your first dose.
• While Viagra can last up to 12 hours, this varies for each person.
• You will have half as much Viagra in your system after 3 to 5 hours of taking it.

There is no way to predict exactly how long Viagra will last for you, as it differs for each person and can be affected by many different lifestyle factors. We recommend trying Viagra and seeing how long it lasts for you. If it doesn’t last long enough, an alternative treatment may be more suitable for your needs.

Remember: You must not take more than 1 dose of Viagra every 24 hours, even if you are not getting the results you want.

Will Viagra continue to last after orgasm?

Viagra can continue to last after orgasm, but when people orgasm they tend to lose their erection and need to wait a while before they can get hard again. This is perfectly normal, and if you can get an erection after this period, it means that Viagra is still working. Don’t assume Viagra has stopped working because you’ve lost your erection after orgasm.

The length of time an erection lasts with Viagra will vary from one person to another. Viagra works by helping you to get and keep an erection, but does not stop you from ejaculating or make you last longer before orgasm.

How long your erections last can also be affected by:

• what you’ve eaten that day
• how sexually aroused you are
• other medications you’re taking

It’s important to remember that you won’t have a single long lasting erection straight away or for the entire time after you’ve taken Viagra. It should just be easier to get and keep an erection when you need one during the 4 to 6 hour window while it’s effective.

If you get an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, speak to your doctor. If you get a painful erection that lasts longer than 2 hours, seek immediate medical attention.

Viagra should start to work 30 to 60 minutes after you take it, so you shouldn’t expect to get an erection immediately. Due to this, we usually recommend taking Viagra at least 30-60 minutes before you want to have sex, but you can take it up to 4 hours before having sex.

The dose of Viagra you’re taking can also affect how long it takes to work. This is because a higher dose will take slightly longer to reach its maximum level inside your body.

To help Viagra start working, you should:

• make sure you’re sexually aroused
• avoid heavy, high fat meals or wait a few hours for food to digest before taking it
• avoid or limit alcohol as it can make it harder to get an erection.

If you think Viagra isn’t working for you, do not take an extra dose. You can only take 1 dose of Viagra every 24 hours. The only exception to this rule is if you’re taking a low, 25mg dose in which case you can take 1 more dose. If it still isn’t working, do not take a further dose.

If you need an erectile dysfunction treatment that starts working more quickly than Viagra, there are options available:

Spedra: Spedra usually starts working within 15 minutes of taking it. This makes it the fastest working treatment for erectile dysfunction available

Cialis Daily: Unlike Viagra, you take Cialis Daily every single day, and not just when you want to have sex. This means it’s constantly working, so you should be able to get an erection quickly whenever you need to.

The length of time Viagra lasts for can be affected by:

Dose

A smaller dose of Viagra may not last as long as a larger dose. This is because a smaller dose will leave your body faster than a larger dose. If you think your dosage isn’t suitable for you, speak to your doctor. Do not take a larger dose without consulting your doctor beforehand. They will prescribe the correct dose for you.

Age

As you get older, your body may become less effective at removing the effects of Viagra. If this is the case, it can make it last longer.

Diet

If you take Viagra on an empty stomach, it should start to work more quickly. Taking Viagra on a full stomach or after a meal high in fat can make it take longer to work and cause it to be less effective.

Alcohol

Alcohol decreases blood flow to your penis. This makes it more difficult to get an erection. Alcohol also affects the nerves in your penis that control erections, making them slower to respond. It’s also important to remember that drinking over 2 units of alcohol can make side effects from Viagra more likely to occur.

Medication

Certain medications including antibiotics or those used to treat heartburn and high blood pressure can affect how Viagra works for you.

Your overall health can affect how well viagra works:

• Smoking can make viagra less effective
• Problems with your kidneys or liver can make viagra stay in your body for longer
• How physically fit you are also plays a role in how long Viagra lasts
• Physical and mental health conditions like low testosterone, anxiety, and depression

How to make Viagra last longer

You can make Viagra last longer for you with a few lifestyle changes.

Keep a healthy diet

• Eat more whole grains and try to eat more fruit and vegetables
• Avoid saturated fats or reduce your intake as much as possible
• Lower the amount of salt you eat - try to follow a maximum of 6g per day
• Do not drink grapefruit juice as this can stop Viagra from working
• Try to eat less red meat and more lean meats or fish.

Drink less alcohol

• stick to the weekly recommended alcohol limit (14 units, which is equal to 6 pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine)

Get more exercise

• Exercising is great for your heart’s health and doing more of it can improve blood through to your penis, making getting an erection easier. Exercising also reduces stress levels, which can make it easier to get in the mood for sex.

Quit smoking

• Smoking affects your heart health and quitting can improve blood flow, making getting an erection easier.

Viagra will normally stay in your system for 4 to 6 hours, but this can vary depending on factors like your metabolism.

A higher dose will stay in your system for longer. A 100mg dose may take 4 times longer to wear off than a 25mg dose.This is because there is more of the medication for your body to remove.

Viagra, Viagra Connect, and sildenafil should all last for the same length of time. This is because they all contain the same active ingredient (sildenafil).

There are other erectile dysfunction medications available if Viagra is unsuitable for you.

You might want to consider:

Sildenafil

This is the generic form of Viagra. This means it contains the same ingredients as Viagra and works in the same way, but isn’t sold under a brand name. Generic treatments are often more affordable than their branded counterparts, so if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Viagra, this might be right for you. Like Viagra, Sildenafil gets to work in 30-60 minutes, lasts 4 to 6 hours and is effective for 74% of men who take it.

Tadalafil (Generic Cialis)

Tadalafil works in the same way as Viagra, but affects you slightly differently. Tadalafil starts working in just 30 minutes and its effects can last for up to 36 hours. It’s available on the NHS in 4 different doses, and works for 60-70% of people who take it.

Cialis Daily

Cialis Daily is a tablet you take every day, so it’s always working. It’s ideal if you don’t want to worry about taking a pill before having sex, so you don’t have to plan ahead. It’s effective for 70% of people who take it, and it lasts for as long as you’re taking it.

Spedra

Spedra is the fast acting ED treatment available. It starts working in just 15-30 minutes after taking it and lasts for up to 6 hours. Spedra is a branded medication that is effective for 52-71% of people that use it. the fastest acting ED treatment available

Levitra

Levitra is a branded medication that works in the same way as Viagra, but contains a different active ingredient (Vardenafil). It starts working in 30-60 minutes after taking it and lasts for 4-6 hours. It’s an effective treatment for 54-74% of men who try it. It’s also less likely to affect your eyesight than Viagra.

Vardenafil

Vardenafil is the generic form of Levitra, and works in exactly the same way.

Penis Pumps

Penis pumps use suction to draw more blood to your penis to help you get and maintain an erection. When combining using a penis pump with erectile dysfunction tablets like Viagra, 70% to 79% of men reported improvements in their erections.

Which strength lasts the longest?

A higher dose of Viagra will generally last longer than a smaller dose. The maximum dose of Viagra available is 100mg. Higher doses can make side effects more likely, and can also affect how long Viagra takes to get working. You should always consult your doctor before changing to a higher dose.

Can you take more Viagra to make it last longer?

Do not take more Viagra than you have been prescribed even if you are not getting the effect you need.

You should only ever take Viagra as prescribed to you by a doctor including the instructed dose.

Speak to your doctor if the medication is not working or you have any (non urgent) problems.

How often should you take Viagra?

If you are taking 50mg or 100mg of Viagra, you should only take it once per day only. Do not take more than one dose within 24 hours.

If you take a smaller dose of 25mg, you can take one extra tablet that same day if the first dose is not effective.

Will Viagra make me last longer in bed?

The only way Viagra can help you last longer in bed is if you’re losing your erection before you reach orgasm. This is because Viagra will only help you get and keep an erection. It will not act as a treatment for premature ejaculation to stop you ejaculating sooner than you would like.

What happens if Viagra doesn’t work?

If Viagra doesn’t work for you, there are several alternative treatment options for erectile dysfunction. You can discuss these with your doctor to see which one could be right for you.