How to take Viagra for best results: tips to make Viagra more effective

Viagra (sildenafil) is a highly effective, FDA-approved medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). But like any other medication, it’s not a magic pill. So, it makes sense to wonder how to use Viagra for best results. 

Whether you’re not achieving the desired effects after taking the drug for a while or just starting it for the first time, know there are many things you can do to make Viagra more effective. Taking the pill at the right time, without a high-fat meal in your stomach, and without drug or alcohol use all might improve the effectiveness of the medication. Lifestyle changes and healthy habits may also make Viagra more effective.  

When It comes to understanding how to use Viagra for best results, we’ve got you covered. Continue reading to learn more about the factors that can influence Viagra’s effectiveness and how you can make the medication work best for you be it as a seasoned pro or first timer.

Before we get into how to use Viagra for best results, we should make sure you know how the medication works. 

During an erection, chemicals in the body cause tissues in the penis to relax and, in turn, the blood that flows into the penis gets trapped. Viagra blocks what’s called PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5), an enzyme that breaks down chemicals responsible for erections. But when PDE5 is blocked, these chemicals don’t get broken down, so the tissues in the penis stay relaxed and engorged with blood.

Viagra doesn’t cause an erection automatically—sexual arousal is still necessary to get hard on the drug. So, the first step you can take to boost the effects of Viagra is to set the mood. But that’s just the start…

As mentioned above, several factors can influence how quickly and effectively Viagra works once you take it. Ahead, tips for how to use Viagra for best results. 

Avoid taking Viagra on a full stomach

If you take Viagra on a full stomach—particularly if you’ve had a heavy, high-fat meal—the medication may take longer to work.

A full stomach can delay your body's absorption of Viagra by up to an hour. The longer the absorption time, the less concentrated Viagra will be in your bloodstream and, in turn, the less effective the medication may be overall. In other words, if you pop the little blue pill while chowing down on a big, juicy burger, your erection might come later than expected, be weaker than you want, or not last as long as desired. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to take Viagra on an empty stomach, but be mindful of taking it too close to full, heavy meals.

Steer clear of grapefruit and grapefruit juice 

In addition to high-fat foods, you might also want to skip spooning a grapefruit or sipping on the fruit’s juice before taking Viagra. That’s because grapefruit may impact how well the liver can break down the ED medication. Research suggests that eating or drinking grapefruit while taking sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) can increase the amount of the drug circulating in your body, which may increase the risk of common side effects, such as low blood pressure.  

Take Viagra 30-60 minutes before sex 

Ideally, Viagra should be taken 30-60 minutes before you plan to have sex for best results. It needs time to work, and the effects of the medication usually peak 30-120 minutes (typically around 60 minutes) after popping the pill. So, taking Viagra too close to the time that you need it may make it more difficult to get an erection strong enough for satisfying sex. 

Taking Viagra too early may do the same. Because Viagra works for about 4 hours before wearing off, taking it too far in advance of sexual activity (say, in the morning when you plan to have sex at night) might not lead to the erection you want. If you’re new to Viagra, try it out a couple of times solo to see how it affects you. Knowing how you react to Viagra might take some pressure off when it comes to partnered play.

Avoid consuming alcohol or drugs while taking Viagra

While it’s safe to drink alcohol with Viagra in moderation, doing so may make it more difficult to get an erection. Alcohol is a depressant that affects many different systems in the body, including those involved in producing an erection. 

Chronic heavy drinking can damage the liver, heart, and nerves as well as reduces testosterone—all of which can lead to ED and make it more difficult for Viagra to achieve its desired effect. Meanwhile, tobacco smoke contains thousands of toxins that can damage the lining of the blood vessels in your body, including the penis. Research has linked cigarette smoking to erectile dysfunction and shown that stopping smoking can help improve symptoms of ED. 

Improve your overall health

Viagra (and erections in general) work best when you're healthy. A healthy body—particularly a healthy heart—is your best asset in overcoming ED. 

Since an erection requires good blood flow, anything that hinders blood flow makes getting an erection more difficult. That’s true even if you take Viagra. The best way to get longer-lasting, stronger erections is by improving blood flow and blood pressure and maintaining healthy hormone levels. You can keep your heart healthy with these tips:

• Get enough cardiovascular exercise. A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction, especially because it can contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and other medical conditions that affect blood flow. One study found that men who were inactive or moderately active (less than 150 minutes of physical activity a week) were as much as 60% more likely to experience ED than men who got at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

• Maintain a healthy weight. A large, multi-year study found that obesity nearly doubles a person’s chances of developing ED. Obesity is also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which can damage nerves and blood vessels throughout the body. This includes those that supply the penis, which can result in ED. 

Take the recommended dose

When it comes to medication, more is not necessarily better. But if you’re taking Viagra exactly as instructed and it still isn’t working for you, adjusting the dose or switching to a different prescription medication might help. Speak to your healthcare provider so they can make the appropriate adjustments to your prescription (and never take more Viagra than is prescribed to you).

If you’re not satisfied with the results of your Viagra, it’s likely you’ve taken to the Internet for guidance on how  to make the medication work faster (you’re here, after all). While some tips and tricks promise to help you get an erection faster, there is no way to speed up the process of Viagra if you are already taking the medication as prescribed. Here are some myths about making Viagra work faster.

Does chewing Viagra make it work faster?

Does chewing make Viagra work faster? The answer is no. These pills are not made to work that way and should be swallowed as a whole, as recommended by the manufacturer of the medication. If you chew your Viagra, the time it takes to fully process the pill either stays the same, or it may even cause the medication to take even longer to help you achieve an erection.

Does Viagra work faster under the tongue?

Viagra (and its generic counterpart, sildenafil) are meant to be swallowed, not dissolved under the tongue. Viagra must pass through the digestive tract in order to work properly. There are sublingual (under the tongue) options on the market that contain sildenafil and other PDE-5 inhibitors. One such example is Ro Sparks, which is a compounded sublingual prescription treatment that features the sildenafil and tadalafil (the active ingredients of Viagra and Cialis) for faster, longer-lasting effects. Always take your medication the way it’s supposed to be taken. If you’d like a different formulation of it, talk to your healthcare provider about potential options. 

Does Viagra increase your sex drive?

Viagra can increase people’s confidence when it comes to having sex, which may help make it easier to get in the mood. However, it may not always have direct effects on libido. Sexual arousal is needed for the pill to do its job. If you struggle with low libido or mismatched libido with a partner, speak to your healthcare provider. They may refer you to a sex therapist or explore other medical options to increase your sex drive.

All medications have the potential to cause side effects, and ED medications such as Viagra are no different. Common side effects of Viagra tend to be mild and include:

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Flushing

• Upset stomach or indigestion

• Abnormal vision (increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or blue-tinted vision)

• Nasal congestion or runny nose

• Back pain

• Insomnia

• Rash

• Muscle pain

Serious side effects of Viagra are less common but require urgent medical attention if experienced. These include: 

• Priapism (a prolonged, painful erection that won't go away)

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Severe headaches

• Fainting

• Visual changes (like loss of sight)

If you’re taking Viagra but haven’t achieved the desired effects, these strategies may make the medication more effective. If all else fails, a different dosage or alternative medication might be a better fit. Speak with your healthcare provider to learn how you can get the most out of your erectile dysfunction treatment.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

June 11, 2024

Written by

Michael Martin

Fact checked by

Raagini Yedidi, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Raagini Yedidi, MD

Raagini Yedidi, MD, is an internal medicine resident and medical reviewer for Ro.