Viagra Side Effects

Viagra is a popular treatment for erectile dysfunction in men, or the inability to achieve and maintain erections for sexual intercourse. It contains the active ingredient Sildenafil, which works by relaxing the muscles in the penis, thereby dilating the blood vessels and increasing the blood flow in the organ. Viagra at a 50mg or 100mg dose has helped approximately four out of five men achieve and maintain an erection.

However, like most medications, Viagra has its side effects, which include, but are not limited to harmless ones:

These are the most common side effects (between 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 people using Viagra) but not everyone gets them. Less common ones may affect 1 in 100 to 1 in 10,000 people:

More dangerous side effects are very rare:

How long the side effects last

Just as side effects can vary from person to person, the same goes for how long they can last. The most common ones are short-term and should disappear in a short while after taking the medication.
If you have prolonged side effects, stop taking Viagra and seek medical attention.

Things to avoid taking with Viagra

There are certain prescription medications which react dangerously with viagra and should not be taken at the same time. These include drugs to treat heart disease, strokes, alpha blockers and those used to treat kidney and liver failure. If you are allergic to sildenafil or any of the ingredients in viagra then it you should not take viagra.
Mixing any other ED medications, alcohol, nitrate-based medication and recreational drugs with Viagra is not advisable and can have serious and potentially fatal consequences.
If in doubt, speak to your GP about whether any medication you are taking including prescription or over the counter medication, vitamin and herbal supplements interact with viagra.

Lower the risks of side effects

• Avoid alcohol as it can make it more difficult to achieve an erection.
• Take the tablets with food – although it is recommended to take Viagra on an empty stomach, taking it with food may reduce the side effects. However, it is more likely to reduce the effectiveness of viagra because it delays the absorption so it is important to find the correct balance for you.
• Do not mix viagra with recreational drugs.
• Lowering the dose will also reduce the side effects. Speak with your doctor if you wish to lower the dose of your viagra medication.
• Getting up slowly from sitting or lying down to avoid getting dizzy.