How long before viagra works

A doctor may prescribe someone different dosages of Viagra based on whether they will be taking it as needed or daily. The standard dose of Viagra for ED is 50 mg taken as needed, about one hour before sexual activity.

According to manufacturer instructions, patients should take Viagra only once per day on an as-needed basis unless otherwise advised by a doctor.

For example, men older than 65 or those with hepatic and renal impairment typically take a starting dose of 25 mg per day. The maximum recommended dose of Viagra is mg, and the maximum frequency recommended for taking it is once per day. This can cause side effects that could be life-threatening. Just like with any medication, taking Viagra comes with the potential for experiencing side effects. These are the most common side effects of Viagra:. A single dose of Viagra will leave your system within eight hours, and almost all of it will be gone after 24 hours.

Emmel says. This may be a sign of a serious eye problem called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy NAION. People who are taking Viagra and start to have vision changes should seek medical advice as soon as possible to avoid potential eye damage or loss of vision. Heart attack and stroke: The rarest side effects of Viagra are heart attacks and strokes. People with underlying heart problems, like irregular heartbeat, are the most at risk for having a heart attack or stroke from taking Viagra.

Although the risk of heart attack and stroke is low, people with underlying heart problems should take extra care in talking with their doctor about their medical history.

There are some drug-drug interactions with Viagra. You should not take Viagra with the following medications:. There might also be food-drug interactions with Viagra. Viagra usually leaves your system after 2 to 3 hours. Depending on your metabolism, Viagra can take 5 to 6 hours to fully leave your system. A higher dosage will take longer to leave your body. A mg dose may wear off after a couple of hours, but a mg dose may take nearly four times as long to leave your system.

Viagra often lasts for a few hours. Never take more than mg of Viagra in a hour period. Too much Viagra can cause severe headache, low blood pressure, and orthostasis drop in blood pressure when standing that can lead to fainting. Higher doses can also cause priapism , a painful erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.

Get emergency treatment right away if this happens. Talk with your doctor before you take Viagra or any related medication for ED. Some medications for heart conditions, such as nitroglycerin and other nitrates, can interact dangerously with Viagra and cause your blood pressure to drop too low.

Viagra typically starts working within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for about 2 to 3 hours after that. An erection self-test is a procedure a man can do by himself to determine if the cause of his erectile dysfunction is physical or psychological. Plenty of standard erectile dysfunction treatments exist, but many men prefer natural treatments.

Here's a look at six options. You may assume the likelihood of erectile dysfunction increases with age, but this isn't always the case. Aging doesn't necessarily mean you're…. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra are oral medications for treating erectile dysfunction. Check out side-by-side comparisons of all four drugs. Experts say using too large a dose of Viagra when first starting the erectile dysfunction drug can lead to temporary vision issues.

The "little blue pill" celebrates its year anniversary. During arousal, the arteries leading to the penis expand, allowing more blood to flow through it. The veins leading blood away from the penis also become narrower. The greater blood flow in and restricted blood flow out of the penis cause it to harden, leading to erection.

In erectile dysfunction, however, blood flow to the penis can be too low and disrupt the ability to get or maintain an erection. Drugs such as Viagra relax smooth muscles and increase blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get or keep an erection. Viagra can only work during sexual arousal. If a person is not in a state of arousal, Viagra will not be able to cause an erection. Viagra is a phosphodiesterase PDE 5 inhibitor.

There are several other PDE 5 inhibitors that are also helpful for treating erectile dysfunction, such as Stendra. Several other drugs have a similar effect to Viagra, such as Cialis or Levitra. It can also help to make changes to areas of lifestyle that could be contributing to erectile dysfunction. These changes include :. In some cases, erectile dysfunction does not have a physical cause.

For example, it may occur as a result of stress or an underlying mental health condition, such as depression. If the cause is psychological, psychotherapy or counseling can help treat it. There are also a large variety of complementary and herbal medicines that claim to treat erectile dysfunction, such as herbal supplements. However, there is currently no reliable evidence to suggest that any of these approaches are effective for treating the condition.

There are also safety concerns surrounding herbal remedies and supplements. A doctor can provide guidance on the best course of action and how to reduce the risk of any adverse side effects with treatment. Erectile dysfunction is a sensitive issue, and it can be difficult to seek professional help.

The condition can have a significant impact on well-being.