Effects of Viagra

Sildenafil citrate, also popularly known as Viagra, thanks to the brand, is a drug which is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. This drug works by boosting the amount of blood which can flow into the penis of a man. Due to the increased flow, whenever a man is aroused or sexually stimulated, he is able to achieve a sustained erection.

Amount of time taken by Viagra to start working effectively

The effects shown by Viagra vary from individual to individual. In most individuals, it starts working from 30 minutes post the consumption of the drug. It should be noted that Viagra just improves the blood flow and hence taking Viagra alone won’t give a sexual stimulation. Rather in order to get an erection, one also needs to be exposed to some form of erotic stimulation which might be tactile, visual or otherwise.

The duration for which the effects of Viagra last

As is the case for its effect, the amount of time for which Viagra proves effective varies with individuals. However, in most cases, it tends to show an effect for upto 5 hours from the time of consumption, when it is used along with some sexual stimulation. Most men will, however, find the effectiveness of the blue pill wearing off within three hours of consumption.

There are a few factors that decide as to how long the effect of Viagra will last for an individual. These include:

1. Age: Men who have crossed the age of 65 years will find the effects of the tablet lasting longer in their body. The reason for this is, due to age, their metabolic rate tends to slow down thus increasing the effect of Viagra. In simple words, the older one is, the better the effects of Viagra
2. Diet: One who has meals containing higher fat content, will simply increase the time before which Viagra proves effective. The reason for this is, the body works extra hard to digest the food in case of fatty stuff. On the contrary, an empty tummy will accelerate the time before which the drug starts getting effective
3. Alcohol: Alcohol consumption decreases the flow of blood in the penis making it harder to get & keep an erection.
4. Dosage suggested by the doctor: Viagra comes in doses of 25 mg to 100 mg. Higher the dosage, the more potent will be the drug
5. Health Issues: If one suffers from kidney or liver issues, the effects of Viagra might last longer. This is due to the fact that the tablet would be broken down slowly
6. Consumption of alternate medicines: Medicines such as rifampicin which is used as an antibiotic in the treatment of tuberculosis tends to alter the effects of Viagra.

Duration for which Viagra stays in the system

Viagra usually stays in the body for a duration of 4 hours once it is consumed. However, in extremely rare cases, Viagra when taken in combination illegal drugs or other medications causes erection which last more than 4 hours and these erections tend to be painful. This condition is known as priapism and it is an extremely serious medical condition. If one does not get himself treated, it might lead to some form of permanent damage.