If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure what to do after a missed dose. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.

Research Focus	Key Findings	Publication Year	Notes
Efficacy in different populations	Proven effective across age groups	2022	Clinical trials globally
Long-term safety studies	No significant adverse effects in 2-year studies	2023	Ongoing research
New formulations	Sublingual and liquid forms developed	2024	Improving absorption and convenience

Viagra (sildenafil) is a popular medication that’s used to help men achieve and maintain an erection. It only works if you’re aroused. You can take Viagra anywhere from 30 minutes up to 4 hours before sexual activity, but it shouldn’t be taken more than once daily. Viagra is available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save over 98% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies. Believe it or not, Viagra (sildenafil) is one of the most popular medications in the U.S. The blue, diamond-shaped pill is known for its ability to help men fight back against erectile dysfunction (ED).

Medical uses

If you feel faint or dizzy, lie down. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of low blood pressure. You may be at higher risk for this if you take a blood thinner medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you get nosebleeds often while taking sildenafil. If your nosebleed is severe or will not stop after applying pressure, get help right away.

Does Viagra work the first time you use it?

People who are allergic to any of the following should not take sildenafil. Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific sildenafil products they stock. Sildenafil should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking sildenafil, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Can Viagra make sex last longer?

Do not take sildenafil unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Do not share sildenafil with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. Keep sildenafil out of the reach of children. If you keep sildenafil oral liquid in a refrigerator, make sure to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator. Sexual activity can put extra strain on your heart, which may be unsafe for people with certain health problems, such as a recent heart attack. However, Viagra’s popularity doesn’t mean the medication is always self-explanatory. If you’re using this medication for the first time, here’s how to take Viagra for best results.

Product	Dosage	Quantity + Bonus	Price
Kamagra Soft Tabs	100mg	20 Pills	79.79€ 75.99€
Viagra Generic	25mg	360 + 10 Pills	213.68€ 203.50€
Viagra Generic	200mg	10 Pills	40.96€ 39.01€
Viagra Generic	25mg	270 + 8 Pills	184.26€ 175.49€
Kamagra Soft Tabs	100mg	32 Pills	120.11€ 114.39€
Kamagra Oral Jelly	100mg	63 + 7 Sachets	224.18€ 213.50€
Viagra Generic	25mg	120 + 6 Pills	125.56€ 119.58€
Kamagra Oral Jelly	100mg	220 + 18 Sachets	662.24€ 630.70€
Viagra Generic	100mg	360 + 10 Pills	330.21€ 314.49€
Viagra Generic	150mg	90 + 6 Pills	147.18€ 140.17€

Viagra is a prescription medication commonly used to treat ED, a condition that affects over 150 million people worldwide. While the brand-name prescription comes in a blue tablet form, generic sildenafil comes as a white tablet. Viagra, and its generics, are prescribed as 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets. Sildenafil can also be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a type of high blood pressure in the lungs. But only Revatio-equivalent sildenafil is FDA approved for this particular condition. Getting ahead of potential problems: Here are some of the most notable Viagra side effects — from headaches to vision changes — and how to manage them.

The onset of action may be faster if taken on an empty stomach.
It is important to avoid other erectile dysfunction treatments while using this.
Can cause palpitations or a racing heartbeat in some individuals.
The medication's effects can be diminished by excessive alcohol consumption.
It is not recommended for men with low blood pressure or hypertension.
The blue film coating protects the active ingredient from degradation.
A sudden decrease in blood pressure upon standing (orthostasis) may occur.

Several health conditions and interacting medications can make taking Viagra especially risky. Check to find out if these scenarios apply to you.

Condition	Risk Factors	Recommendations
Nitrate medication use	Severe hypotension	Do not combine
Uncontrolled hypertension	Cardiovascular risk	Use with caution
Severe liver impairment	Altered drug metabolism	Consult healthcare provider
Retinal disorders	Potential worsening of symptoms	Use only under medical supervision

Get your questions answered: Curious to know how long Viagra stays in your system? Read more 20mg sildenafil to find out — plus answers to several other frequently asked questions.

Why trust our experts?

Talk to your healthcare provider to see if your heart is strong enough for sex. If you feel chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sex, stop and contact your healthcare provider right away. Sildenafil does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines, known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension. You should not take more than one PDE-5 inhibitor medicine.

Cite this article

Medicines in this group include avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio, and others), tadalafil (Cialis and others), and vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn). Use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose of sildenafil oral liquid. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device. Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

What should I do if I miss a dose of sildenafil?

This will help them determine if sildenafil is right for you. In particular, make sildenafil otc sure that you discuss any of the following. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following. Heart problems, such as heart rhythm problems, chest pain, or heart failure Heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery within the past six months High blood pressure that is still too high despite taking medicines for it Peyronie's disease, or a penis with an abnormal curve or shape An erection lasting longer than four hours A blood disorder, such as sickle cell anemia An inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa Vision loss, or a problem with the nerve between your eyes and brain (optic nerve) Health conditions or factors that raise the risk of optic nerve problems, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, being older than 50, or having a “crowded disc,” which is something an eye doctor may see in an eye exam Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, a condition where blood vessels in the lungs are blocked It is not known if or how sildenafil could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. When you’re aroused, your body releases nitric oxide down below. This is a molecule that triggers the events responsible for an erection. But an enzyme (protein) called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) breaks down certain messengers involved in this process, preventing the desired effect. While there are a number of reasons why someone may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, PDE5 inhibitors that block this enzyme, such as Viagra, are often used as a remedy.

What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?

If you or someone else has used too much sildenafil, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222. For this use, sildenafil is used only when needed. Take it as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually between 30 minutes to four hours before planned sexual activity. Do not take double or extra doses. For this use, take sildenafil as your healthcare provider recommends, which is usually three times a day. Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors, such as Cialis (tadalafil) and vardenafil, help relax muscles and arteries inside the penis. This helps more blood reach the penis. When aroused, the combination of relaxation and increased blood flow helps fill the penis with blood. That’s how you’re able to achieve an erection. Here are a few tips on how to take Viagra safely and effectively. The standard recommended Viagra dosage for treating ED is 50 mg.

The standard dose for pulmonary hypertension is different from ED treatment.
It should not be used by men with hereditary degenerative retinal disorders.
The blue color is consistent across many manufacturers for patient recognition.
Can be part of a study or clinical trial for new uses of sildenafil.
It is important to check the expiration date before consumption.
The medication does not work if there is no sexual arousal or stimulation.
Patients with severe renal impairment should not take more than 25mg.

But your prescriber could recommend taking anywhere from 25 mg to 100 mg per dose, depending on how you respond. Viagra is only recommended to be taken once per day.

Cardiovascular disease

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take sildenafil while breastfeeding. If you take sildenafil after you eat a high-fat meal, such as a burger and fries, it may take longer to start working. Your healthcare provider may recommend limiting or avoiding grapefruit while taking sildenafil. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise sildenafil levels in your body, which can increase the risk of side effects.

Jet lag research

There are no known interactions between sildenafil and alcohol. Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking sildenafil. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken. This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with sildenafil. This means that if you’re planning on engaging in sexual activity more than once throughout the day, you shouldn’t take a pill every time. And if you take a pill and it doesn’t work for you, don’t double up and take another one. Exceeding the recommended Viagra dosage can put you at risk for serious side effects. Because Viagra can also affect other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs, it’s important to stick to the dose and instructions your prescriber provides. And if your prescribed Viagra dose isn’t working for you, they may make adjustments to find one that works. Although it can be taken with or without food, Viagra tends to work best when taken on an empty stomach. So, to maximize its effects, try to take it separately from meals. But, if you do end up eating beforehand, avoid taking it with a high-fat meal. Fatty foods can affect how quickly the medication is absorbed — and delay how fast it takes for Viagra to work.

The pill may have a slight odor or taste, but it is usually masked by coating.
It is not affected by most antibiotics, but interactions should be checked.
Can cause dizziness, so operating machinery after taking it is not advised.
The medication is packaged in blister packs or bottles to protect from moisture.
It is often covered by insurance plans when prescribed for erectile dysfunction.
The effects can be less predictable in men with spinal cord injuries.
A healthcare provider can offer alternatives if sildenafil is not suitable.

The most common Viagra side effects include: More serious side effects are also possible. Viagra and other ED medications can rarely cause dangerously long-lasting erections. An erection lasting longer than 4 hours is known as priapism. If left untreated, this condition can cause permanent damage to the tissue that helps you become erect. What’s more, if you have certain heart conditions or take certain types of blood pressure medications that relax your blood vessels — including nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate or nitroglycerin — your prescriber may warn you not to use Viagra.

The medication is metabolized primarily in the liver by cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Patients with Peyronie's disease or anatomical deformities should use caution.
It is not intended for continuous daily use like some other ED medications.
The average time to peak plasma concentration is about 60 minutes.
Can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan including lifestyle changes.
The blue dye used is usually FD&C Blue No. 2 or a similar approved colorant.
It is important to have realistic expectations about the medication's effects.

This is due to the increased risk of heart attack or dangerously low blood pressure. After taking Viagra, the medication quickly enters your system. Viagra should start working within an hour.