Viagra Before And After Alcohol

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

Effects on the prostate

Weill Cornell Medical College reports that Viagra works for about 65 percent of men who try it. It does so by blocking PDE5. This is the enzyme that interferes with the increase of blood flow to the penis during an erection.

In fact, having a drink or two might even work in your favor: A 2018 meta-analysis (an analysis of many studies) conducted by the Department of Urology at the West China School of Medicine in Chengdu, China, found that light to moderate alcohol use was actually associated with a decreased risk of erectile dysfunction.

So it’s no wonder that many men want to know if it’s safe to drink alcohol when taking Viagra and if doing so will alter Viagra’s effectiveness.

This molecule is key for erections because it causes the penile muscles to relax and the blood vessels that go into the penis to widen.

Good news for all the guys out there who take prescription drugs to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) . You don’t have to choose between “the little blue pill” and sharing a bottle of wine with your Valentine’s Day date. As long as your alcohol consumption isn’t excessive, it is generally considered safe to have a drink when you are under the influence of Viagra and medications like it.

Along with the very practical advice to avoid excessive drinking, it is also important to choose the right cocktail when mixing Viagra and alcohol. Some are safer than others.

Both binge drinking and chronic alcohol use can affect testosterone and estrogen levels.

Viagra, also known by the 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 initially designed to treat hypertension and angina pectoris, or chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart). Today, it is still sometimes used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, also known as high blood pressure in the lungs.

Drinking alcohol in moderation seems to be safe when you take Viagra. There seems to be no clear sign that the risks of alcohol use are made worse by Viagra. A study published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found no adverse reactions between Viagra and red wine. However, research on this topic is limited.

Alcohol is toxic to testicles. Sources say consuming a lot of alcohol over time can cause shrinkage in your testicles. This reduces the volume and quality of your sperm.

Can alcohol affect erectile dysfunction?

If you have ED, you’re far from alone. The Urology Care Foundation says that between 15 and 30 million men in the United States have ED. There are many options for treating ED, so talk with your doctor about it. If you’re unsure where to start, check out Healthline’s guide to talking with your doctor about ED.

The key phrase here is “a little.” The amount of alcohol matters. The story changes when it comes to men who drink heavily and/or engage in binge drinking (as indicated by the study, and just basic medical advice). Men should not consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day, regardless of whether they take medication ( any medication) or intend to engage in sexual activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In this article, I’ll describe how alcohol interacts with Viagra as well as how drinking can play a role in impotence.

Viagra is designed to be taken shortly before sexual activity.

Just be sure to get to the pharmacy in time if you want to avoid the lines: Valentine’s Day is on a Friday this year, and that’s the most popular day among SingleCare users to fill ED prescriptions.

If the Greyhound (vodka + grapefruit juice) is your drink of choice, that mixer might interfere with your Viagra ( as grapefruit juice does with many medications , according to the FDA). Harvard University reports that while clinical trials and information are incomplete, the Viagra/grapefruit juice combo could trigger side effects such as headaches, flushing, or low blood pressure. If your beverage is citrus-juice free, you’re probably in the clear.

Testosterone in men is made in the testes. It plays a role in many functions of the body. It’s also the hormone most closely linked to male sexuality, and it’s responsible for the development of sexual organs and sperm.

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

Viagra is a prescription drug that can help men with erectile dysfunction. For many people, romance means candlelight, soft music, and a glass of wine. The little blue pill, Viagra, can be part of this picture, but only if you drink small or moderate amounts of alcohol.

According to some sources, alcohol abuse may be associated with prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland). Symptoms may include swelling, pain, and problems with urination. Prostatitis may also be linked with erectile dysfunction.

Does it matter what beverage you choose?

Whether you’re mixing Viagra with alcohol or not, it’s important to know which side effects of Viagra you can expect and those that require medical attention. The most common side effects of ED medication are lightheadedness or headache, stomach upset or indigestion, and back or muscle pain.

Viagra is a blue, diamond-shaped pill that relaxes muscles in the walls of blood vessels in some regions of the body. 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 be effective as it is not a stimulant.

People who abuse alcohol (more than 15 drinks a week) and take Viagra recreationally may have a higher risk of side effects (Kim, 2019).

Viagra is the brand-name version of the drug sildenafil citrate. It was originally made to treat high blood pressure and chest pain, but clinical trials found it was not as effective as drugs that were already on the market. However, study participants showed an unusual side effect: a significant increase in erections. In 1998, Viagra was the first oral medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED.

This information can help you can lead the healthy sex life that you desire.

“[Heavy drinking] will definitely cause a negative impact on a man’s ability to achieve and maintain an erection,” says Nefertiti Childrey, DO , a urologist at Total Urology Care of New York. Excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence can contribute to a number of other medical issues, like metabolic syndrome and liver disease, Dr. Childrey adds.

Side effects of mixing Viagra and alcohol may include:

Side effects of Viagra

Seek medical attention if you experience an erection that lasts longer than four hours. Abnormal vision and hearing loss are also serious side effects that require urgent medical help. Although rare, Viagra can cause a heart attack or stroke in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease. Go to the emergency room if you experience symptoms like chest pain or irregular heart rate. A popular chest pain treatment is nitroglycerin (a nitrate); however, the combination of Viagra (or any ED medication described above) and nitroglycerin is very dangerous, increasing the risk of dangerously low blood pressure, fainting, or heart attack.

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the United States. Because of this, many people who use 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 medications 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. To learn about the dangers of using alcohol and Viagra, contact the alcohol addiction treatment program at Vertava Health by calling 888.601.8693.

One study showed that over 45% of men who took Viagra with alcohol for recreational purposes had a higher risk of side effects, including facial flushing, headaches, chest pain, changes in vision, and lightheadedness (Kim, 2019).

You can address some of these issues by trying these exercises to eliminate ED. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by your habits, however. These can include:

Viagra is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat ED.

If you prefer red wine, you are in luck! Data shows there’s no clinically significant reaction between the two. It was studied specifically in relation to Viagra and hypotension (presumably because of worries that the combination could trigger dangerously low blood pressure levels, a speculation Dr. Myers says is likely overstated). Not only that, another Harvard study found that flavonoid-rich consumables, including red wine, have the potential to reduce the incidence of ED.

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

Is It Safe to Mix Alcohol and Viagra?

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

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects roughly 30 million men in the United States, and Viagra (the name-brand version of sildenafil) is one of the safest and most popular medicines used to treat the condition.

However, interactions between the two drugs and the effects each have on the body should be considered when combining alcohol and Viagra. First, even when drinking in moderation, which is deemed to be 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. However, alcohol works to slow certain functions within the body, including blood flow, which can undermine the effects of Viagra.

People in need of treatment for alcohol addiction or dependence should consider inpatient treatment. Alcohol dependence is all-consuming, and withdrawal from alcohol is challenging 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.

Most men know that a few drinks affects their ability to perform in the bedroom.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) tends to affect men in older age groups, especially those aged 70 years and over. However, ED does not only happen in old age—it can also occur in younger men. Lifestyle factors can also increase the risk of developing this condition. These include obesity, smoking, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption (AUA, 2018).

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The type of alcohol you drink and what you mix it with may also matter. A study looking at men who drank red wine and took Viagra showed no clinically significant interaction with the combination (Leslie, 2004). However, if you prefer grapefruit juice with your cocktails, there may be an interaction with sildenafil.

It’s often recommended to take Viagra on an empty stomach, which could be problematic if you’re drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor if you can take your dose after eating. One study found that there was no significant difference when Viagra was taken before a meal or with food.

What is the threshold for binge drinking? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines it as consuming five or more drinks on any one occasion . And while that doesn’t change the fact that there aren’t any official drug-drug interactions between alcohol and ED drugs, drinking alcohol excessively can dull sexual response. In other words, it makes the use of Viagra and its counterparts somewhat futile. People who misuse alcohol, specifically, fare very poorly. According to research published in 2007 , 72% of male alcoholics experience some type of sexual dysfunction.