This post takes a closer look on when men should take Viagra and ED medications before preforming. When it comes to ED and PE, timing and planning play a crucial role in achieving the desired outcome.
Some things have order and rhyme to them. You would not leave an egg for an hour in boiling water if you’re craving a soft boiled egg, would you? Just like with a lot of things, there is the right time to take a pill for Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Have you ever wondered when this right time to take the pill is? Our team dug deep into the timing of erectile dysfunction drugs so you can be ready to go at just the right time.
The most well-known cure for erectile dysfunction — a tiny blue pill that has come to define hope and rejuvenation in the field of male sexual health — is Viagra. Its reputation is not unearned; studies repeatedly show its effectiveness. But the timing of its use is a complex dance requiring knowledge and accuracy to release its full potential.
Sildenafil, which is the active component of Viagra and its generics, falls into a class of drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors. This category of drugs targets an enzyme in your body called phosphodiesterase type-5. Another drugs from this category include Tadalafil (Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra), and Avanafil (Stendra). Smooth muscle relaxation in the penis depends on this enzyme. The more of this enzyme there is, the sooner your erection might go away (or it might not appear in the first place). These medications reduce the amount of this enzyme, therefore improving blood flow and raising the possibility of getting and maintaining an erection. [1]
Timing is crucial in the search for good solutions for erectile dysfunction. At the same time, you don’t want to wait even an extra minute when the mood arises. So to make it easier for you: I'm majority of the patients Sildenafil (Viagra) starts acting around 30 minutes from the moment you take it. In some patients this time can be as little as 12 min or as long as 60. [2] Keep in mind though, that because of the way Viagra works, it would not make you hard without you being aroused.
And a some good news for you: it doesn’t matter what you buy, original Viagra or Sildenafil as a generic (basically the same active component, but from a different brand) — the medical effectiveness stays the same. That means if you want to get hard on a budget - you can buy generic Sildenafil from the same pharmacy where you would normally buy branded Viagra.
How long can one expect the pill to have effects once taken? For most people's their peak performance after taking Sildenafil runs for at least 4 hours. And about every four hours, the concentration of the medicine in your system drops by half; after 24 hours, it is mostly removed. [2] At the same time, some researchers found that Sildenafil can retain some activity up to 12 hours after you take it, though more research is needed to say for sure. [3] Sexual stimulation is still required to get an erection during this period, but the longer window presents lots of chances for the satisfaction of you and your wife.
The human body is a complicated system, and that’s why many elements can affect Viagra performance. At the same time, some of the things might have less impact that you might think. For example, a lot of the people think is really important to avoid taking Sildenafil right after a heavy meal. The reasoning for such a statement seems to be logical at first: a big meal could slow down Sildenafil's absorption in your stomach, therefore postponing its effects. However, when researches studied the effects of food intake on Sildenafil (Viagra) absorption, they were insignificant. [4,5] That means that it doesn’t matter whether you take Viagra on an empty stomach or after you had your dinner.
Some food items can have a more pronounced effect on the drug’s concentration in your system though. Grapefruit juice is one of them. A number of researchers, both in comparative analysis and single observations, came to the conclusion that it might raise the Sildenafil's concentration in your system, therefore raising the chance of side effects affecting your body. [6,7] Another thing you need to be careful with whilst taking Sildenafil is alcohol. Whilst you can take the two together, try to limit your alcohol intake. Considering both alcohol and PDE5 inhibitors (Sildenafil and others) cause the blood vessels to dilate, you can have problems with your blood pressure and your cardiovascular system. [8, 9] Overall, if you want to have a great night without any side effects from the pill you took, be reasonable.
Age plays a big role in all aspects of our lives. As you grow wiser, particularly when you are over 65, your metabolism also slows down. [10] Naturally, it has some effects on how Sildenafil comes to your blood from your stomach: its absorption might be slower. What it means, is that older men may find it takes Viagra longer to take effect and it might last slightly longer. Taking this into consideration, doctors usually start with lower doses of Sildenafil in elderly patients.
Other medical conditions also play a role. Underlying medical disorders that might aggravate erectile dysfunction include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and several cardiac illnesses. [11, 12] Dealing with these health problems is essential for addressing ED since they affect how well medications like Viagra work.
Other Medications also play role, and a more serious one. Tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking since some drugs can affect the efficacy of Viagra. If you are receiving the medications called nitrates for your chest pain (angina), you should avoid taking viagra, as they can potentiate the effects of each other, causing a serious cardiovascular risk. [13]
Should Viagra first fail to provide the expected effects, do not to get overly alarmed. Your healthcare provider can conduct a personalized test to evaluate your medications efficacy over time. This will help you to decide whether to keep on, change the dosage, or investigate alternate therapies. Recall that too high a dosage can be harmful and cause priapism, a painful, protracted erection needing immediate medical treatment.
Although Sildenafil (Viagra) is a well-known medication, there are a number of other medications from the same group. For example. Tadalafil, the main ingredient in Cialis, presents an interesting substitute. Called the "weekend pill", Tadalafil offers a larger window of possibility for spontaneity since it is effective for up to 36 hours. It starts working roughly half an hour after consumption, and peaks two hours later. [14] Tadalafil is an option that gives more flexibility in how your approach your sexual life.
Individual physiology will affect the time your Blue Pill takes to start working, although most men should get effects within 30 to 60 minutes. Given Sildenafil's active component, which keeps working for up to four hours, planning is an important part of your ED therapy. Another PDE5 inhibitor, Tadalafil, offers a longer-lasting solution for people who want greater spontaneity. ED should not, in the end, limit enjoyment. Finding the correct treatment will help you re-establish a happy and fulfilled sex life, and be more connected to your partner, ensuring stronger family bonds.
We here, at Laymune, promise to be with you on this journey. Our company’s principal is to provide you with the right information, tools, experts and solutions to make sure you are safe, healthy and happy in the bedroom and outside of it.
Read our other blogs and subscribe to our waiting list to know when we fully launch our platform to help men like you live a happier life.
Resources:
[1] Smith BP, Babos M. Sildenafil. [Updated 2023 Feb 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558978/
[2] Eardley I, Ellis P, Boolell M, Wulff M. Onset and duration of action of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;53 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):61S-65S. doi: 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.00034.x. PMID: 11879261; PMCID: PMC1874251.
[3] Moncada I, Jara J, Subirá D, Castaño I, Hernández C. Efficacy of sildenafil citrate at 12 hours after dosing: re-exploring the therapeutic window. Eur Urol. 2004 Sep;46(3):357-60; discussion 360-1. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2004.04.025. PMID: 15306108.
[4] Nichols DJ, Muirhead GJ, Harness JA. Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after single oral doses in healthy male subjects: absolute bioavailability, food effects and dose proportionality. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;53 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):5S-12S. doi: 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.00027.x. PMID: 11879254; PMCID: PMC1874258.
[5] Zinner N. Do food and dose timing affect the efficacy of sildenafil? A randomized placebo-controlled study. J Sex Med. 2007 Jan;4(1):137-144. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00400.x. PMID: 17233779.
[6] Troiano, G., & Lazzeri, G. (2019). The potential toxic combination of grapefruit juice and sildenafil. Toxin Reviews, 40(3), 334–337. https://doi.org/10.1080/15569543.2019.1603163
[7] Jetter A, Kinzig-Schippers M, Walchner-Bonjean M, Hering U, Bulitta J, Schreiner P, Sörgel F, Fuhr U. Effects of grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of sildenafil. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2002 Jan;71(1):21-9. doi: 10.1067/mcp.2002.121236. PMID: 11823754.
[8] Kim JN, Oh JJ, Park DS, Hong YK, Yu YD. Influence of Alcohol on Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors Use in Middle- to Old-Aged Men: A Comparative Study of Adverse Events. Sex Med. 2019 Dec;7(4):425-432. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.07.004. Epub 2019 Aug 20. PMID: 31444051; PMCID: PMC6963111.
[9] https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/sildenafil.html?professional=1
[10] Palmer AK, Jensen MD. Metabolic changes in aging humans: current evidence and therapeutic strategies. J Clin Invest. 2022 Aug 15;132(16):e158451. doi: 10.1172/JCI158451. PMID: 35968789; PMCID: PMC9374375.
[11] JJohannes Cb, Araujo Ab, Feldman Ha, Derby Ca, Kleinman Kp, Mckinlay Jb. Incidence Of Erectile Dysfunction In Men 40 To 69 Years Old: Longitudinal Results From The Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Journal of Urology [Internet]. 2000 Feb 1 [cited 2024 Aug 19];163(2):460–3. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(05)67900-1
[12] Guo ZN, He SY, Zhang HL, Wu J, Yang Y. Multiple sclerosis and sexual dysfunction. Asian J Androl. 2012 Jul;14(4):530-5. doi: 10.1038/aja.2011.110. Epub 2012 Mar 26. PMID: 22447199; PMCID: PMC3720075.
[13] Ishikura F, Beppu S, Hamada T, Khandheria BK, Seward JB, Nehra A. Effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) combined with nitrate on the heart. Circulation. 2000 Nov 14;102(20):2516-21. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.102.20.2516. PMID: 11076826.
[14] Frajese GV, Pozzi F, Frajese G. Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction; an overview of the clinical evidence. Clin Interv Aging. 2006;1(4):439-49. doi: 10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.439. PMID: 18046921; PMCID: PMC2699638.
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