Does sildenafil have a shelf life?
Viagra pills may still work for years after they're first made. But the reduction in chemical activity means that it won't work as well. Expired medications can also grow infectious mold or bacteria. As a rule of thumb, Viagra and other medications have a shelf life of about 2 years.
But serious side effects can also occur—these include chest pain, erections that last longer than four hours, shortness of breath, and vision changes. Once your Viagra is past its expiration date, it's difficult to know your likelihood of developing side effects, even if you have taken it before.
The effects of taking 100 mg of Viagra can last for up to 4 hours after taking the drug. However, the strength of these effects is weaker at 4 hours than 2 hours after taking Viagra. As the concentration of Viagra in the blood typically peaks 60 minutes after taking the drug, the effects are strongest around this time.
Minor differences in packaging aside, brand name Viagra and its generic counterpart sildenafil are exactly the same medication. If you have erectile dysfunction, both medications should produce noticeable improvements in your erections and sexual performance. The key difference, as we mentioned above, is price.
The short answer is yes; you can take Viagra or its generic form, sildenafil, every day. Whether you need to or should, depends. Since each person is different, you should consult with a doctor about what's best for you. They can discuss dosage and frequency.
Does Viagra help you keep an erection after ejaculating? Yes, Viagra may help you keep an erection, even after you ejaculate. But if you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, see a doctor right away.
Taking Sildenafil 100mg
The effects of Sildenafil 100mg do not last longer than the 50mg dosage, but they tend to be stronger. This means that side effects can be more pronounced as well. Side effects associated with Sildenafil include headache, facial flushing, nausea, dizziness and stuffy nose.
Sildenafil tablets for erectile dysfunction come in different strengths ranging from 25mg to 100mg. The usual dose is 50mg, when you need it. Do not take it more than once a day. The dose can be increased to 100mg or decreased to 25mg depending on its effect.
Vardenafil (Levitra) is almost 10 times more biochemically potent than sildenafil, therefore a lower dose is needed to facilitate the penile erection, potentially resulting in less side effects. Selectivity is the ability of the drug to attach to the specific enzyme PDE 5 found in penile tissues.
Men use the product because they want to revamp their sexual performance. But, this isn't something your partner should use recreationally. If they think they have ED, consult them to talk to a specialist first.
Can you become dependent on sildenafil?
Efficacy and safety of sildenafil is rated as good. As for short-term and long-term use, sildenafil does not cause dependence and addiction.
The reported effectiveness of both Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil) is similar. Both drugs are equally powerful. Some people prefer Cialis vs. Viagra because of its longer effect (up to 36 hours).
Without physical action to the penis, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse, sildenafil will not work to cause an erection. Sildenafil is also used in both men and women to treat the symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Why You're Not Getting All the Way Hard. Erectile dysfunction's mechanism is quite simple, but the underlying cause could be a myriad of reasons, from poor diet and exercise habits, diabetes or heart disease, to low self-esteem, depression or anxiety.
Because 100mg is the highest dose available, you should never 'double up' on tablets or take more than one in 24 hours. Sildenafil 100mg is the highest safe dosage you can take – if it is ineffective, you should try another ED treatment.
Dosage and strength for erectile dysfunction
Sildenafil tablets for erectile dysfunction come in different strengths ranging from 25mg to 100mg. The usual dose is 50mg, when you need it. Do not take it more than once a day. The dose can be increased to 100mg or decreased to 25mg depending on its effect.
Sildenafil starts working within 30–60 minutes. Some men find that it works even faster. You should take sildenafil between 30 minutes and four hours before sexual activity. The medication usually stays in your system for 4–5 hours (Zucchi, 2019; DailyMed, 2020).
In clinical trials, researchers found that 82 percent of men with ED reported some improvements in erectile function after using sildenafil at a dosage of 100mg. The same trials found that 74 percent and 63 percent of men reported improvements with 50mg and 25mg of sildenafil, respectively.
There are several reasons Viagra and other ED drugs might not work effectively as treatments for erectile dysfunction. These include using Viagra incorrectly, taking a low dose of Viagra and using Viagra to treat ED that's caused by something other than poor blood flow.
The highest recommended Viagra dose for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) is 100 mg per day, according to the drug's manufacturer. Doses of 150 mg or 200 mg would be considered off-label use.
Is sildenafil as good as Viagra?
Generic Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, works the same as Viagra, but at a lower cost. While Pfizer still manufactures the “little blue pill,” other companies, globally and in the United States, make sildenafil. It may look different, but it's still an effective treatment for ED.
- Headaches. Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. ...
- Feeling sick (nausea) It may help if you avoid rich or spicy food. ...
- Flushing including hot flushes. Try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. ...
- Indigestion. ...
- Stuffy nose. ...
- Feeling dizzy.
Sildenafil (brand name Viagra, or affectionately nicknamed “the little blue pill”; see Important Safety Information) is a highly effective medication to treat erectile dysfunction. However, there is something it can't do. Viagra does not make your penis bigger. No pill does.
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.
Conclusion: Men with erectile dysfunction treated with 100-mg compared with 50-mg sildenafil may be more likely to achieve a greater improvement in erectile function and, within the first 2 weeks, completely hard and fully rigid erections, with little or no greater risk to tolerability.
Alcohol (Ethanol) sildenafil
You may be more likely to experience symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, flushing, headache, and heart palpitations. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with sildenafil, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
The best time to take sildenafil is about 1 hour before sexual activity, but you can take the medication any time from 4 hours to 30 minutes before sexual activity. Sildenafil usually should not be taken more than once every 24 hours.
Pfizer, the company that manufactures this drug, has confirmed that the typical Viagra user is on average 53 years old. The company does not keep records of users younger than 33 years. The drug should not be used in young men who do not have erection problems.
If Viagra is not working for you, it may be because your dosage is too low. The usual starting dose for Viagra is 50mg, but you may be started on a lower dose of 25mg if you take certain medications. The maximum dose of Viagra that you can take is 100mg. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose if it is safe for you.