How Long Does 100mg Viagra Take To Kick In

How Long Does Viagra Take To Work?
Viagra comes as a tablet produced by Pfizer in 1998 and is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is an extremely common problem affecting around half of men over the age of fifty and is usually characterised by the inability to achieve or maintain a sufficiently rigid penis as necessary for sexual intercourse. Male impotence can be caused by a variety of problems which can be broadly separated into two categories; physical or psychological. Physical causes of erectile dysfunction include hormonal imbalances, surgery, injury or conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol which are associated with narrowing of the blood vessels going to the penis.
Psychological problems which may result in impotence are anxiety, depression and stress within a relationship. Sometimes erectile dysfunction only happens in certain circumstances, for example, some men are able to get an erection when they are alone but may find it difficult in stressful circumstances. If the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are variable in nature then most likely the cause is psychological, whereas, if the problem is constant then most likely is of a physical origin.
This is naturally a very distressing problem for sufferers and can lead to stress in a relationship or possible depression. However, the good news is that there are treatment options available. Arguably the best available option for suffers of these symptoms is Viagra medication.
Viagra contains the active ingredient Sildenafil citrate and works as a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Viagra exerts its mechanism of action by relaxing/widening blood vessels in a man’s penis/ genital area. This increases blood flow to the region which allows the penis to become sufficiently rigid. This all sounds great but how long should men expect to wait in order to see these results? And the answer to this is in a nutshell is ‘it all depends’, but for many readers this is perhaps too vague so I will discuss further…
Many things affect how long a medicine takes to work but a good estimate and general basis can be found in the literature supplied with the medication. In regards to Viagra, official manufacturers state that Viagra can take approximately 30mintures to one hour for the optimum effect to be observed. However, studies have found that effects for some individuals can take up to four hours to be seen. Indeed, this is a massive variation and none of us want to be let down by our medication. So what are the parameters which affect Viagra’s response time?
Firstly, it is important to realise that the main determinant in how long it is for the medication to work is the user, i.e. you! Everyone is incredibly different in many ways; what we like to do as hobbies, the foods we prefer to eat and even the people we find attractive, and this is because the chemicals that make us up are all different. Differences in biochemistry can affect a man’s metabolism, hormone balances and even predispose him to a greater risk of certain diseases and so how we respond to medication can also greatly vary. This is also why the dose of Viagra changes between different men as well; what may work for some men may be too strong or too weak for others. Therefore, variation in response time for medication is also completely normal.
Further to this, differences in things such as medical conditions may also affect the period in which Viagra takes to work. Examples of this are morbidities such as diabetes, atherosclerosis (a condition characterised by the narrowing of the blood vessels), high blood pressure and high concentrations of cholesterol in the blood. All of these conditions impair and reduce blood flow and so not only may men suffering from these conditions as well as erectile dysfunction need a higher dose of Viagra, they may also wait longer a time period for the desired effects to be observed.
Another parameter which is entirely dependent on the individual is psychological state of mind. Conditions such as anxiety and depression can have a massive effect on how well and how long Viagra takes to work. Indeed, circumstances where a man feels worried or upset, the sexual urge which causes you to have an erection is altered. Indeed, changes in brain biochemistry mean that there isn’t enough stimulation in terms of blood flow thus an erection isn’t achieved. Depression and other psychological difficulties can also reduce a man’s desire for sex, an important and essential aspect in Viagra working properly.
Other reasons which may affect how fast Viagra works on a day to day basis are food and alcohol.
According to the information provided by Pfizer Viagra can be taken with or without food. However, consumption of food can greatly affect how promptly a medication works and to what extent this variation is depends entirely on what you eat. Large meals which are high in fat are among those which slow absorption of medication the most and this is because it takes the body longer to break them down (foods such as chips and burgers are high in carbohydrates which can take the body time to process) and it is only after an initial meal has been dealt with can Viagra start to make its way into the blood stream to exert its effect. Of course everyone has got to eat, but if you do, leave a greater time before the intended sexual intercourse or eat a smaller easily digested meal.
In regards to alcohol, the relationship between alcohol and Viagra has been greatly studied and although patients should not worry about adverse effects it may be beneficial to flag some areas of concern. In low amounts alcohol can act as a stimulant extenuating all sensations which may aid an erection, however, in excess alcohol acts a sedative, slowing our responses and depressing our central nervous system which controls a man’s ability to get an erection. Therefore, perhaps in small amounts alcohol may help users in getting and maintaining an erection alongside Viagra, but surplus levels could make an erection impossible (temporarily, thankfully!) regardless of time or dose.
The actual dose of Viagra tablet can also be significant. As many will expect; the higher the dose, the faster the effect and this can be true, however, a word of warning; it is only recommended to take the lowest dose possible to achieve an erection as higher doses may produce more frequent side effects (most commonly headache) and possibly a longer erection than is necessary or even desired.
One final factor to consider in terms of how rapid Viagra’s action is the age of the user. This too is a grey area as all of us age differently, but in a broad sense the older you are the slower Viagra is to work. The main reason is that our body processes begin to work slower with age and so it can take longer for Viagra to be broken down and absorbed into the blood where it can apply its action.
In conclusion, a lot of things can affect how long it is for Viagra to work and many of these are unpredictable and so it is difficult to estimate. However, what is reassuring this is completely normal and can generally be managed so that you aren’t left feeling deflated. Indeed, at Assured Pharmacy we match patients with their optimum dose of Viagra so you know you can really rely on your medication without worry. Assured Pharmacy; a pharmacy who won’t let you down!
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Assured Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected] .