Viagra

Viagra is an erectile dysfunction treatment that works by increasing blood flow to your penis. When you are sexually aroused, Viagra allows you to get and keep an erection.

Viagra blocks PDE-5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) enzymes in your penis so that your blood vessels get wider. This helps you get enough blood in your penis for an erection to happen.

To take Viagra, you should swallow 1 tablet whole with a glass of water or juice, 1 hour before you have sex. You should only take Viagra once a day. Wait at least 24 hours before you take it again, or any other erectile dysfunction medicine.

Things to avoid while taking Viagra

You can take Viagra on an empty stomach, though you should avoid:

• grapefruit juice
• high fat food, as Viagra may take longer to work or not work as well
• alcohol, for better results, as this can slow down getting an erection

It takes Viagra between 30 to 60 minutes to work after you take the tablet.

Do I need to be aroused for Viagra to work?

Yes. You must be aroused before you have sex for Viagra to work. To make sure Viagra works at its best, you should not drink alcohol or have a large, fatty meal before you take your tablet.

Viagra usually lasts between 4 and 6 hours after you take a tablet, so you can get more than one erection during this time.

Although rare, if you get an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, you might have priapism. You need to call 999 straight away for help.

You can take Viagra if you are over 18 years old and need help getting or maintaining an erection. If you think you have erectile dysfunction, you will need to speak to a doctor before you use Viagra.

When you should not take Viagra

You should not take Viagra if you’ve:

• had a heart attack or stroke
• got kidney, heart, or liver problems
• got a rare inherited eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa
• ever had an allergic reaction to Viagra or a similar medicine in the past
• got low blood pressure
• been prescribed nitrates to treat chest pain

Should I speak to my Doctor first?

You’ll need to speak to a doctor before you take Viagra if you have:

• an irregular penis shape or a curved penis (Peyronie’s disease)
• heart problems
• a stomach ulcer or bleeding problems like haemophilia
• sickle cell anaemia
• cancer

If you want to buy Viagra, you need a prescription. At ZAVA, we help make the process easier and faster, so you can order Viagra online after approval by one of our doctors.

Is Viagra available without a prescription?

You can get Viagra Connect is over the counter, which is another version of Viagra, available without a prescription from a pharmacy. Viagra Connect contains the same active ingredient as Viagra, sildenafil, and is available in 50mg tablets.

You can buy Viagra online from a pharmacy registered with the GPhC, like ZAVA Online Doctor. Before we can prescribe you Viagra, one of our doctors will check your answers to our online questionnaire and make sure it is safe for you to take.

Viagra is available in doses of 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. To use Viagra safely, you should not take more than 1 tablet a day.

Your doctor will generally prescribe you 50mg Viagra tablets to start off with. But if you are on certain types of medication (such as for HIV or blood pressure), your doctor may suggest you try a lower dose, of 25mg.

Which dosage is good for younger men?

For younger men, a 25mg dosage is often sufficient, since psychological causes are often responsible for erectile dysfunction.

For more severe erectile dysfunction cases, the dosage can be increased to 100mg provided medical advice has been sought. At this dosage, side effects are much more likely to occur.

Important: The maximum daily dose for Viagra® is 100 mg. We strongly advise against adjusting the dose or the administration intervals on your own – even if you would not exceed the maximum daily dose of 100mg.

Common side effects

The most common side effects of Viagra should settle within the first few minutes after you take it. If you experience any side effects for longer, it may be worth changing your dose or talking to your doctor.

The most common side effects of Viagra include:

• headaches
• stuffy nose
• blurry vision
• rash
• feeling dizzy or faint
• face flushing
• indigestion
• back or muscle pain

Rare and uncommon side effects

Uncommon and rare side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet.

Other tablets which are similar to Viagra, and work in the same way, include:

• Cialis, which usually costs more, but lasts much longer (up to 36 hours) than Viagra
• Cialis Daily, which is a small dose you should take at the same time once a day, so you can be ready to have sex more often and avoid side effects
• Tadalafil, which is a cheaper (non-branded) version of Cialis and has the same long lasting effect (36 hours)
• Levitra, which is very similar to Viagra but works faster (within 25 to 60 minutes)
• Spedra, which starts working quicker (within 30 to 45 minutes) than Viagra

Are there treatments for erectile dysfunction that are not tablets?

There are also medical alternatives that come as a cream, such as alprostadil (Vitaros), or injections.