You’ve been prescribed Viagra®, or the generic version sildenafil, and finally your erectile dysfunction (ED) problems are over. But then…it doesn’t work. Ugh.
It’s important to remember that Viagra — or any other ED drug, for that matter — isn’t 100 percent effective. As the name suggests, PDE5 inhibitors inhibit PDE5, which degrades cGMP. So when you take Viagra, cGMP builds up in the smooth muscle and is free to do its thing — which is to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow to promote an erection.
Or, in simple terms, Viagra works by increasing blood flow to your penis, resulting in better erections. Bye-bye, ED. It is worth noting that Viagra only affects blood flow. It doesn’t increase sexual arousal or desire, and you’ll still need some sexual stimulation to get hard.
Viagra is an effective treatment for ED, though. Research shows that the
You’re Not Using Viagra Correctly
But this doesn’t mean that you should double up on your dose of Viagra in an attempt to get better results — it could cause dangerous side effects. If you think you need a higher dosage of sildenafil, get medical advice.
And what if 100mg Viagra doesn’t work? Don’t panic. Other ED drugs may work for you instead.
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- You’re trying to have sex too soon. You should take Viagra somewhere between one hour to 30 minutes before having sex. If you pop a pill and try to get it on straight away, the medication won’t have had enough time to work.
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- You’re waiting too long to have sex. On the flip side, you might be waiting too long to have sex after taking Viagra. Viagra can give you ED relief for up to four hours. So if you take it in the morning and try to have sex that evening, it won’t work.
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- You’re taking Viagra and eating a high-fat meal. We’re all for a burger and fries, but if you take Viagra alongside a high-fat meal, you might find the drug takes longer to kick in. Try avoiding heavy meals before Viagra or try taking it on an empty stomach to see if that makes a difference.
You’re Giving Up on Viagra Too Early
We know it can be disheartening if Viagra or sildenafil isn’t working. And when you’re suffering from ED, you want a fix — fast! But you may need to be patient with Viagra.
It’s quite common for Viagra not to work the first time you try it.
