Taking Viagra for the first time

If you have never taken Viagra before, it is important to know how to take it correctly and what to expect.

Side effects

When you take Viagra for the first time you might get some side effects. These can include flushing of the skin, dizziness, or headaches. These side effects are normal as the blood vessels in your body are adjusting to the effects of Viagra. It usually takes a few hours before these side effects go away.

After you’ve taken Viagra, make sure you do not feel dizzy before you drive or operate machinery.

The most common side effects of Viagra

You might feel some side effects when you take Viagra. As Viagra works on your blood vessels this means the side effects can affect different parts of your body.

The most common side effects are:

• headache
• feeling sick
• dizziness
• visual changes
• stuffy nose
• feeling hot

It is normal for side effects to go away within a few hours as the effects of Viagra wear off. You may not get any side effects at all, or these may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication.

The usual starting dose of Viagra is 50mg, but your doctor will discuss which strength is the right one for you based on your needs.

There are two other strengths of Viagra available:

• 25mg, the lowest dose available. This may be prescribed if you have a mild case of erectile dysfunctionn or you find the side effects of 50mg too severe.
• 100mg, the highest dose available. This is the maximum dose prescribed. 100mg will only be recommended if you have a severe case of erectile dysfunction and you can't get or maintain an erection at 50mg.

You should only take as much as your doctor has prescribed. Remember that it may take a few times for Viagra to work for you.

You should take a Viagra tablet about an hour before you have sex. You can swallow the tablet with a glass of water but make sure you do not crush or chew the tablet. You should only take 1 Viagra tablet in a 24 hour period.

When starting any new medication, it may take a few times before it reaches its full effect. This means that Viagra doesn’t always work the first time. Your doctor will recommend taking it the next time you want to have sex and trying it again, at least 8 times.

You should also make sure you are taking Viagra correctly and following the information on this page to maximise the effects of Viagra.

Viagra usually works in around 30 minutes to an hour, but this is different for every man. It is recommended to take it an hour before sex, but it can work up to 4 hours after. It may take longer to work if you have eaten a big meal before taking Viagra.

The effects of Viagra can last for up to 4 hours. You can usually get an erection with Viagra within the first couple of hours of taking a tablet.

If you find your erection is painful or lasts for more than 4 hours, this might be due to a condition called priapism. If this happens to you, call 999 or visit A&E immediately.

It is safe to take Viagra every day if your doctor has prescribed this. However, you should never take more than 1 tablet in a 24 hour period, so you may have to wait until the next day if you have already taken a tablet that day.

Viagra is a safe and effective medicine you can take to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. However, if you have certain health conditions, you may not be able to use Viagra.

Your doctor or pharmacist will talk to you about your general health to make sure Viagra is safe for you to take. They will also be able to answer any questions you have about treating ED.

If you have any of the following health conditions you should speak to a doctor before using Viagra:

• an allergy to sildenafil or any other ingredients in Viagra
• heart problems
• liver problems
• blood pressure problems

If you have had a stroke or heart attack in the past, then Viagra might not be suitable for you. Viagra is not suitable if you take certain medications for chest pain, known as nitrates.

You can find out whether you can use Viagra by speaking to a doctor, so you can discuss your medical history and current medications.

To maximise the effects of Viagra, you should:

• make sure that you are sexually stimulated before you take it to maintain an erection.
• eat a light meal before you take Viagra. A heavy or greasy meal can slow down how fast Viagra will work, so avoid anything high in fat or deep fried in oil.
• avoid drinking too much alcohol. This does not mean you have to avoid drinking alcohol altogether, but alcohol can make it harder to get and keep an erection. You are also more likely to get side effects if you drink alcohol when taking Viagra, such as getting flushed or red faced, or a headache.

Viagra does not help with premature ejaculation (PE). You may have premature ejaculation if you ejaculate too early when having sex, usually within a few minutes of starting sex.

Viagra only affects your erection and not how soon you ejaculate. There will not be a difference in how quickly you ejaculate after you take Viagra.

Taking Viagra may make you feel more sexually confident. And when you feel confident in yourself, your sexual performance can improve. Having more confidence can help reduce premature ejaculation.

There are different ways to treat premature ejaculation including:

• using a thicker condom
• taking breaks during sex
• using PE medication, such as Emla cream or Priligy tablets

You may be able to take Viagra and a premature ejaculation treatment in combination for better sex.