Yes, sildenafil (Viagra) can be taken daily. But if you find yourself reaching for sildenafil daily, you may have better options.
Sildenafil (Viagra) and PDE5-inhibiting erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs work by dilating your blood vessels to boost the amount of blood that flows into your penis. This mechanism of action is what helps you achieve and maintain an erection firm and long enough for pleasurable, satisfying sex.
However, sildenafil doesn’t work on its own. Meaning you need to be in a state of sexual arousal for the drug to work. Sexual stimuli direct the brain to boost blood flow to your penis – and sildenafil or Viagra makes the blood stay there for as long as you’re sexually aroused.
Sildenafil begins to work within an hour of taking it and has a duration of action lasting up to six to eight hours.
That said, with sildenafil’s timelines, you’ll need to synchronize your medication with your sexual activity, which isn’t always easy or convenient to do. Worse, if you miss that narrow period that sildenafil works, you can’t take another dose for another 24 hours.
That said, if you’ve taken your usual dose of sildenafil and didn’t get the desired result or missed the window of effectiveness, you’ll need to wait for 24 hours before you pop another pill.
Now that we’ve figured out how often we can take sildenafil, let’s take a look at the science of daily sildenafil use.
What does the research say about taking sildenafil daily?
Most men experience three to five nighttime erections a night. This type of erection serves as a key performance indicator of circulatory and erectile health, besides playing an integral role in delivering blood to the penis. However, as men age or develop medical conditions like cardiovascular disease or nerve problems, the ability to produce and keep erections diminishes.
A group of researchers in a study conducted in 2016 wanted to examine a group of individuals who experienced no nighttime erections as a result of contracting pelvic injuries. The study showed that daily treatment using 50 mg of sildenafil boosted over half of the participants’ frequency of erections.
In another clinical trial conducted in 2011, researchers found that individuals with type 2 diabetes demonstrated enhanced blood flow and consequently firmer erections in a group that received daily sildenafil for ten weeks. While daily sildenafil use isn’t typically the recommended course of treatment, the study’s results show that it might be an option worth examining in the future.
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What are the side effects of sildenafil?
Sildenafil is considered a safe and effective drug when taken as directed by a medical professional.
Common side effects associated with sildenafil use include nasal congestion, headaches, and redness (flushing). Others report gastrointestinal symptoms such as acid reflux or indigestion. However, sildenafil is generally well-tolerated, with an exemplary safety and effectiveness record to boot.
Nevertheless, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know about any potential underlying medical conditions you might have. This includes a history of cardiovascular problems, prostate health issues, strokes, or taking certain prescription drugs or treatments.
Sildenafil can be harmful or fatal when taken with the following drugs:
- Antifungal medications
- Nitroglycerine
- Antiviral medications like ritonavir
What will happen if I take too much sildenafil?
Never exceed the recommended dose of sildenafil. Otherwise, you may develop a painful condition called priapism which requires immediate medical attention. Priapism refers to an erection that lasts longer than four hours. Left untreated, it can cause permanent and irreversible damage to your penis. Again: seek medical attention right away if you experience priapism.
In rare cases, men who take too much sildenafil may experience blurred vision, distortion in perceiving colors, or in even rarer cases, complete and total loss of sight. Taking too much sildenafil may also reduce blood pressure, causing dizziness, fainting spells, or sudden hearing loss. Seek emergency medical treatment if you experience any of these side effects.
How will I know if daily use of erectile dysfunction medication is right for me?
Consult your healthcare provider to determine if daily ED drug use is appropriate, safe, and effective for your condition. These questions will help your doctor decide the best course of treatment:
How frequently do you engage in sexual activity?
If you have sex between one to a dozen times per month, taking sildenafil on an as-needed basis might be appropriate for you. But if you have sex daily or several times a day, you might want to explore more suitable options than sildenafil.
Ask your doctor about tadalafil (Cialis) for daily use. Tadalafil works for up to 36 hours after taking it (as opposed to sildenafil’s six to eight-hour time frame), which makes it a better option for more spontaneous sexual encounters.
Your healthcare provider’s decision will depend on how you and your partner plan to use the drug, as well as how frequently you engage in sexual activity.
Does spontaneity matter when choosing an ED drug?
Sildenafil has a shorter window of effectiveness (six to eight hours) compared to tadalafil (up to 36 hours). That’s why sildenafil is often used on an “as-needed” basis. That means you’ll need to plan out your sexual encounters so that you can take it an hour or two before them.
In contrast, tadalafil’s longer window of activity makes it a better option than sildenafil.
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Have you ever experienced side effects from taking other prescription ED drugs?
If you’ve had a history of side effects from taking prescription ED meds, such as headaches, flushing, nasal congestion, or gastrointestinal discomfort, going on a lower dose for daily use may help relieve them. Consult your healthcare provider if taking another ED medication is right for you.
What pre-existing medical conditions do you have? Do you take maintenance medications?
Despite their sterling record of effectiveness and safety, sildenafil and tadalafil aren’t always safe for everyone. For instance, individuals taking nitrates due to medical history of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes – as well as individuals taking pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs like Revatio or Riociguat – should never take sildenafil.
On the other hand, if you’re taking blood pressure medications such as alpha-blockers like tamsulosin, consult your healthcare provider before taking ED drugs, as you might be prescribed a lower dose.
Tadalafil may not be totally safe for individuals taking antihypertensive drugs, prostate enlargement drugs, or individuals who consume copious amounts of alcohol.
Moreover, don’t mix ED drugs together. Don’t hop from sildenafil to tadalafil, to vardenafil. If you have any other questions about prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction or need further advice, consult your healthcare provider.
