Taking Viagra for the First Time? Here’s How to Get the Best Results

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). 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.

What is Viagra?

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.

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• 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.

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

How does Viagra work to treat ED?

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.

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.

How to take Viagra for the best results

Here are a few tips on how to take Viagra safely and effectively.

Follow safe, recommended doses

The standard recommended Viagra dosage for treating ED is 50 mg. 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. 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.

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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.

Take it on an empty stomach

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.

Know the potential side effects of Viagra

The most common Viagra side effects include:

• Flushing

• Indigestion or heartburn

• Headache

• Insomnia

• Changes in vision

• Nosebleeds

• Nasal congestion

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. More on this later.

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. This is due to the increased risk of heart attack or dangerously low blood pressure.

How long does it take Viagra to work?

After taking Viagra, the medication quickly enters your system. Viagra should start working within an hour. But this timeframe can vary for different people. You can take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity once you know how it affects you.

You may be wondering if there are ways to help Viagra work even faster, such as chewing or crushing the tablet and dissolving it under your tongue. However, it isn’t made to work that way. Viagra should be swallowed whole.

How long does Viagra last?

The effects of Viagra usually last 4 to 8 hours. The specific time frame Viagra lasts depends on the person and the dose you take. In fact, some people may experience more than one erection during this time.

However, just because Viagra can stay in your body for up to 8 hours, that doesn’t mean your erection should last that long. If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours — even if it’s not painful — seek medical help right away. Priapism should be treated right away to avoid potential long-term damage.

If you have sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, leukemia, or certain penile deformities (such as Peyronie’s disease), you’re more likely to have a prolonged erection.

Does Viagra make you last longer?

Not typically. Just as there are a number of reasons why someone experiences ED, the same goes for premature ejaculation. And while medications like Viagra can help your erection stay firm, it usually isn’t the first choice for preventing ejaculation.

However, the two issues often happen together. Your prescriber may recommend taking Viagra to help address ED. As a result of treatment, you may see some improvement with how long you last.

If you’re still not lasting as long as you’d like during sex, your prescriber may have you try behavioral methods (e.g., practicing ejaculation control), counseling, or other medications — such as numbing creams or antidepressants — to help.

How to save on Viagra

There are ways to save on Viagra, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 98% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Viagra's price for 10 tablets at certain pharmacies is as low as $5.40 with a free GoodRx discount.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance (or don’t have insurance), you may be eligible to save up to 50% off your copay for brand-name Viagra using a savings card from the manufacturer.

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Written by:

Taylor K. Clarke, PharmD

Taylor K. Clarke, PharmD, has 8 years of pharmacy experience working in community practice, hospital pharmacy, and ambulatory care pharmacy. Taylor's commitment to patient education motivated her to pursue health communications as a pharmacist.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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