What to Expect When Taking Viagra for the First Time?

If you’re new to Viagra, taking it for the first time can be daunting, or exciting. You may have seen representations of the drug in popular culture, or heard rumours from friends about its effects. In truth, the only way to know how taking Viagra feels for you is to try it yourself. 

To help you get started, we’re debunking the most common myths about Viagra, so you have all the facts before you decide whether to start a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Myth: “Taking Viagra will make me feel turned on.”

Viagra has no effect on your sexual desire. Instead, it works by relaxing your blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow to your penis during sexual stimulation. Let’s dive a little deeper.

• At the base of your penis, there are contracted ‘smooth’ muscles which stop blood flowing into your penis when you’re not aroused.
• When you’re aroused, chemicals are released and signals travel through your nervous system, relaxing the smooth muscles and allowing blood to enter the penis. This produces an erection. 
• When you stop being turned on, or sometimes for no reason at all, an enzyme called PDE5 is released by your body. This enzyme causes those smooth muscles to contract again, and the erection subsides.
• The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil citrate, which is a type of drug known as a PDE5 inhibitor. This suppresses the PDE5, and helps you to stay hard.

Myth: “Viagra works every time.”

Unfortunately Viagra doesn’t work every time, and sometimes it takes a couple of attempts for you to adjust to it. Here are a few potential reasons why Viagra might not be effective the first time you try it.

• It’s not the right dose or the right drug for you. You might benefit from a higher dose than you’ve been prescribed. Alternatively, you might get along better with another kind of ED treatment.
• You’re not aroused. Viagra depends on you feeling aroused to kick in. If you’re not turned on, it won’t work.
• You’re too stressed or anxious. While Viagra often works well for psychological ED, it still may not work if you are feeling too stressed or anxious. In this case, you might want to consider combining medication with some counseling.
• Medical issues and general health. Viagra may not work if you are taking other kinds of medication, using illegal drugs or have other health issues.

If Viagra doesn’t work after the second or third time you try it, contact your healthcare provider or primary care physician. 

Myth: “Viagra will keep me hard all night.”

The effects of Viagra typically last up to 6 hours, but the length of time you’re able to stay erect can depend on many factors, including your pelvic floor muscle strength and average refractory period. In most cases, you will notice that your erections will remain hard as long as you want. You should also be able to have sex more often when on Viagra, because the ‘refractory period’ (the amount of time you need to wait between having sex again) is often shorter. 

Crucially, you should not have an erection for longer than 4 hours on Viagra — this is known as priapism, and requires prompt medical attention. Priapism is a rare side effect, and more likely to occur when Viagra has interacted with another medication or illegal drug in your system. 

Myth: “I can’t drink alcohol with Viagra.”

You can drink in moderation while taking Viagra, but it’s not recommended due to the risk of alcohol-induced erectile dysfunction, and the increased chance or severity of side effects. 

One drink that is strongly advised against is grapefruit juice — this can change the concentration of the drug in your system, so it’s always best to check food labeling for this in advance.

Myth: “I need to take Viagra on an empty stomach.”

You can take Viagra with food, but studies indicate it can work in as few as 12 minutes when taken on an empty stomach. [1] Because of this, our experts recommend you avoid eating for at least a couple of hours before you take Viagra, and if you do need to eat, avoid heavy meals and high-fat foods as these can make it less effective.

Myth: “Viagra isn’t safe.”

Viagra has been put through countless clinical trials to make sure it is safe. Under normal circumstances and taken correctly, it’s perfectly safe to use. If it’s not safe for your individual medical history or current health, it should not be supplied to you — that’s why you need a prescription from a licensed medical professional who can safely assess your suitability for treatment. Potential blockers to you taking Viagra include drug interactions (such as with certain blood pressure medications) and a history of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack.You can learn more about the safety of Viagra here.

It’s important to note that there are some common side effects for Viagra, but they tend to minor and subside once your treatment wears off. Examples include skin flushes, nausea, headaches, upset stomach, muscle aches or back pain. You can learn more about managing the side effects of ED treatments here, and you can also refer back to the patient information leaflet you receive with your medication for further advice.

3 top tips for first-time users

Now that we’ve separated fact from fiction, you may be wondering — are there any extra tips for taking your treatment? Here’s what our ZipHealth experts recommend to help you make the most of your first experience trying Viagra.

Consider a ‘trial run’

Some people choose to take a ‘trial run’ when taking Viagra. Instead of using it with your partner straight away, you might choose to take it on your own first to see what it’s like.

Talk with your partner

Communication is key to good sex. If you feel comfortable, speak with your partner about your plans for your first-time Viagra experience. This can help you both feel prepared.

Timing sexual activity

Viagra normally takes between 30 minutes and one hour to kick in, so give it some time to take effect. Remember — don’t put too much pressure on yourself to perform. Sex should be enjoyable, not stressful.

Considering starting an erectile dysfunction treatment? Learn more at ZipHealth, and get discreet home delivery with no in-person appointment needed.

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References

1. Eardley I, Ellis P, Boolell M, Wulff M. Onset and duration of action of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2002 Mar 6;53:61S65S.