How to take Viagra
To get the most out of Viagra:
- take it one hour before you plan to have sex;
- swallow one Viagra tablet whole with a glass of water (that’s right, no chewing);
- try not to eat a heavy meal at the same time as taking Viagra, because it might slow the drug down;
- never take more than one tablet in any 24 hour period.
You need to be sexually stimulated for Viagra to work.
How long does Viagra last?
How long Viagra lasts for depends on who’s taking it. For most men, it stays active in the body for four hours after taking it but some research has found it can be active up to 12 hours later. This doesn’t mean you should expect a constant erection the whole time but it should ‘activate’ and cause an erection when you’re sexually stimulated inside this four hour window.
(Just a note: if you do get a constant erection that lasts more than four hours, you should go straight to the hospital.)
Which Viagra dosage works best?
There are three Viagra dosages — 25mg, 50mg and 100mg — and the one that works best depends on a few things like whether you’ve taken it before, or whether you’ve got any underlying illnesses. If you’re taking Viagra for the first time, you’ll normally be advised to take either the 25mg or the 50mg dose and see how that goes. For safety, a doctor or pharmacist will always recommend the lowest dose that works for you.
If you’ve got a medical condition that means your risk of side effects is higher, or if you’re taking certain high blood pressure meds, a doctor may start you on Viagra 25mg. If you’re otherwise healthy, you’ll start on Viagra 50mg. You’ll only be recommended the 100mg dose of Viagra if you’ve tried 50mg and it hasn’t worked quite well enough.
We know that finding the right dose can take time. Our experts are just a button press away. So if you feel like your dose isn’t right, you can discuss other options and switch to one you’re happy with.
Say Viagra doesn’t work. What then?
Viagra usually works on the first or second try. But if it doesn’t, there are plenty of other options for you. So let our prescriber know. You can discuss changing to a higher dose or a different drug. You can do this any time by logging into your account and dropping us a message.
We know it’s tempting, but don’t up the dose yourself. If you do, there’s a higher chance you’ll get side effects.
There are things you can do to make sure Viagra works at its best, including:
- not drinking too much alcohol;
- not eating a heavy meal at the same time as taking it;
- getting plenty of exercise and having a healthy lifestyle.
It’s important to know that Viagra won’t work if you aren’t sexually aroused. Even though it can help you have better erections, it isn’t an aphrodisiac.
