The Dangers Of Mixing Alcohol With Viagra

Medically reviewed by

Revised on August 16, 2019

Taking Viagra, a prescription medication most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, with alcohol can lead to negative and even dangerous side-effects.

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Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States. Because of this, many people who abuse alcohol or are dependent on it also take prescription drugs, such as Viagra. However, some prescriptions are not safe to mix with alcohol, as the side effects of combining the two substances can be dangerous or have adverse effects.

Understanding which prescriptions a person is taking, the side effects and risks of the drugs, and whether they can be mixed with alcohol are all key to avoiding unnecessary adverse effects and recognizing if and when a person needs treatment for substance misuse.

What Is Viagra?

Viagra, generic name sildenafil citrate, is a prescription most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Another brand name for this drug is Revatio. The drug was originally designed to treat hypertension and angina pectoris (chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart), and it is still sometimes used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

Viagra is a blue, diamond-shaped pill which works by “relaxing muscles in the walls of blood vessels in certain areas of the body,” according to Medical News Today. In this way, Viagra works to help men with penile dysfunction improve their erectile response when they are already stimulated. If the man is not already stimulated, Viagra will not work as it is not a stimulant.

Viagra works by stopping the breakdown of a chemical messenger known as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which dilates arteries, so an erection can continue.

Side Effects Of Viagra

The most common side effects of people who use Viagra include headaches, nasal congestion, sensitivity to light, indigestion, and impaired vision. A few rare cases experienced vision loss, but this mostly happened with people who had specific conditions, including hypertension, heart conditions, diabetes, high cholesterol, or existing vision issues.

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In addition to these, Viagra can cause certain conditions and side effects which may render it problematic to mix with alcohol.

Side effects of mixing Viagra and alcohol may include:

priapism, or a painful, long-term erection
sudden hearing loss
sudden vision loss
increased intraocular pressure (pressure on the fluid inside the eye)
ventricular arrhythmias

It is also possible to overdose on Viagra. Overdose symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, optic nerve swelling, and muscle breakdown.

Side Effects Of Alcohol

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows certain body functions and brain activity. The way alcohol affects each person will depend on a few different factors, including how much alcohol is consumed and the timeline in which it is consumed, how much a person has eaten, and the weight, height, and body fat percentage of a person.

Alcohol works to produce feelings of calm and relaxation, as well as euphoria. When a person drinks, they tend to feel relaxed, happy, and lose their inhibitions.

Short-term side effects and signs of intoxication from alcohol include:

altered senses and perceptions
drowsiness
headache
lack of coordination
loss of senses
memory loss or changes
vomiting
walking unsteadily

Long-term and chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to a number of other side effects, including psychological addiction, physical dependence, tolerance, and overdose (alcohol poisoning). A person who abuses alcohol frequently and over a long period may also experience a number of health consequences, which may include effects to the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and increased risk of several types of cancer.

Alcohol abuse, in general, also lowers the function of the immune system, decreases a person’s overall wellness caused by poor sleep, nutrition, and neglect of hydration, and can lead to osteoporosis, nerve damage, and vitamin deficiencies.

When used in moderation, alcohol can have far less damaging effects, but the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that drinking too much, whether during single-time use or over time, can have drastic effects to a person’s health.

Is It Safe To Mix Alcohol And Viagra?

It may be safe to mix alcohol and Viagra when done in moderation. In other words, a person may be able to take Viagra as prescribed and drink moderately, or less than three drinks in a single day for men, less than two for women, and no more than one drink per hour on average. Mixing alcohol and Viagra is not inherently dangerous in terms of immediate health risks.

However, interactions between the two drugs and effects each has on the body should be considered when combining alcohol and Viagra. First, even when drinking in moderation, which is considered safe, alcohol can worsen the side effects of Viagra.

Secondly, alcohol can actually render this ED drug useless. Viagra is typically used to treat erectile dysfunction. When used recreationally, the drug is also used to prompt long-term erections. Yet alcohol works to slow certain functions within the body, including blood flow, which can undermine the effects of Viagra.

Long-term dangers of mixing alcohol with Viagra may include:

Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis): Long-term use of alcohol in some people is linked to inflammation of the prostate gland, a condition which can also be linked to erectile dysfunction. In other words, mixing alcohol and Viagra, especially repeatedly and over a long period of time, can increase a person’s chances of developing this condition.

Effects to testosterone levels: Testosterone is the hormone in men largely responsible for male sexuality, while estrogen is largely responsible for that of women’s. Chronic alcohol use (alcoholism) can lead to a decrease in testosterone production and an increase in estrogen production, resulting in the opposite effect of what Viagra is attempting to accomplish.

Worsening of each drug’s side effects: While the majority of side effects experienced by those who use Viagra are mild in severity, drinking while taking Viagra can worsen the drug’s side effects. For example, if a person drinks heavily while on Viagra, they may experience a quick drop in blood pressure, extreme dizziness, or rapidly blurred vision.

Ultimately, most doctors agree that mixing alcohol with Viagra is safe, so long as the combination is done in moderation. This means a person must clearly understand what is meant by moderate drinking. A single drink is five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or one shot (1.5 ounces) of hard liquor, and a person should not consume more than two drinks in a single day or time period in order to be drinking moderately.

A person who struggles with alcohol abuse or alcoholism should probably not drink while taking Viagra, though this may be easier said than done.

Addiction, a mental reliance on a substance such as alcohol, and physical dependence can make it hard for a person to stop drinking once they start. Addiction aligns a person’s thinking with alcohol consumption, so a person is unable to stop drinking once they start, even if they know they shouldn’t continue. Physical dependence causes a person to experience uncomfortable, at times life-threatening, withdrawal symptoms so they continue drinking.

People thinking of taking Viagra while drinking should consult their doctor first, and anyone with a substance use issue should seek treatment options before trying new medications.

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Finding Treatment For Substance Abuse

People in need of treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence should consider inpatient treatment. Alcohol dependence is all-consuming, and withdrawal from alcohol is extremely difficult and even dangerous to manage on one’s own. Medically supervised detoxification programs within inpatient rehab centers allow a person to seek the care they need to detox safely, so they can begin formal addiction treatment.

Medications within inpatient rehab programs are monitored and administered by staff to ensure a person does not misuse their medications. Inpatient treatment programs provide individuals with all the tools and treatments necessary to overcome addiction and dependence, such as counseling, behavioral therapies, coping skills, relapse prevention and stress management techniques, and aftercare planning. To learn more about treatment options for alcohol abuse, addiction, and dependence, speak with one of our addiction specialists today.

Written by Addiction Campuses Editorial Team

This page does not provide medical advice.

Medically reviewed by

Revised on August 16, 2019

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This medical content is reliable and evidence-based. It was written based on peer-reviewed medical research, reviewed by medical and/or clinical experts, and provides objective information on the disease and treatment of addiction (substance use disorders). Sources listed for reference.

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