What To Do When Viagra Doesn’t Work

While Viagra has a relatively high success rate of over 70%, it is not guaranteed to work every time. ED can have a number of causes, including physical and psychological factors, which can affect whether Viagra will work for you.

Viagra may not work if it is not taken correctly. Things like eating a large meal or drinking alcohol can affect how quickly Viagra kicks in and how long the effects last. Reasons why Viagra might not be working:

If Viagra is not working for you, it may be because your dosage is too low. The usual starting dose for Viagra is 50mg, but you may be started on a lower dose of 25mg, especially if you’re over the age of 65 or take certain medications.

The maximum dose of Viagra that you can take is 100mg. Your doctor can only prescribe a higher dose if it is safe and suitable for you. If you think you may need to increase your Viagra dose, talk to your doctor before making any adjustments to your treatment.

Not taking it correctly

For Viagra to work as it should, you need to ensure you’re taking the medication correctly, which includes:

• swallowing your tablets whole, with a glass of water (and avoiding grapefruit juice)
• taking your tablets around 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to have sex
• becoming sexually aroused or stimulated naturally

You can take it up to 4 hours before sex, but the longer you wait, the less likely it is to work. It may take a few tries (up to 8) with Viagra to find when it works best for you.

Underlying health conditions

Some underlying health conditions can affect how well Viagra works in the body. A few examples of health conditions that cause ED include:

1. High blood pressure and high cholesterol: These conditions can narrow blood vessels, limiting blood flow to the penis, making it harder to achieve and maintain an erection.
2. Hormonal imbalances: Low testosterone levels or having a thyroid disorder (overactive or underactive thyroid), can interfere with libido and erectile function, possibly making the medication less effective.
3. Diabetes: If you’re diabetic, you may experience nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) and blood flow issues, both of which are critical for erections.
4. Peyronie’s disease: This condition causes the development of scar tissue in the penis, leading to curvature and problems with erections.
5. Neurological disorders: Conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or spinal cord injuries can disrupt nerve signals that are essential for achieving an erection.

Your doctor can check for these health issues if your ED symptoms are new and Viagra is not working. If you have a pre-existing health condition, treatment for it could improve your ED and help Viagra work better.

Medications

Certain medications can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction as a side effect, such as:

• antidepressants
• blood pressure medications
• prostate cancer treatments
• sedatives

If you think a medication you’re taking is affecting your ability to get and keep an erection, you should speak to your GP about possible alternatives or solutions.

Drinking alcohol or eating too much

Although you can drink alcohol with Viagra, it can affect how well it works. Drinking alcohol can make it harder to get and maintain an erect penis. It can also make side effects more likely, such as dizziness or headaches.

You should also be mindful of how much you eat before using Viagra. Viagra can be taken with or without food, but having a full stomach means that Viagra will take longer to work. In some cases, it could delay Viagra working for up to 2 hours. If you have eaten a large meal before taking Viagra and noticed it doesn’t work, give it more time.

Psychological causes

Sometimes, no matter how much you prepare, you may experience some psychological barriers to arousal, which means that Viagra won’t work. You must be aroused for Viagra to work. Common emotional and psychological factors impacting erectile dysfunction include:

1. Performance anxiety: Worrying about sexual performance can create a cycle of stress and self-doubt, making it harder to get an erection in the moment.
2. Depression and anxiety: These mental health conditions can reduce libido and interfere with the brain's ability to trigger the physical process of an erection.
3. Stress: Work pressures, financial concerns, or worries about personal relationships can distract from sexual intimacy and impact arousal.
4. Relationship issues: Poor communication, unresolved conflicts, or lack of emotional connection with your partner can reduce sexual satisfaction.
5. Pornography use: If you’re frequently watching porn, you may be reinforcing unrealistic expectations about sexual performance or reducing your sensitivity to real-life sexual experiences.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues and they persist, you can talk to your doctor about how to tackle them. There are many different techniques you can try, from therapy and counselling to address deeper emotional issues, to wider lifestyle changes like getting enough sleep and exercise that can help you to boost overall health, well-being and mindset.

2. Avoid or limit alcohol

It can be tempting to drink alcohol before taking Viagra, as many people believe that they’ll feel more relaxed and therefore more comfortable being intimate. This is especially true in more nerve-wracking social situations like dates, or on special occasions with your partner.

However, to get the best effect from Viagra, we recommend keeping your alcohol intake to a minimum or avoiding it altogether when you want to use it.

3. Take it on an empty stomach

If Viagra doesn’t work, try taking it on an empty stomach next time. If your stomach is empty and you take your tablet with a sip of water, Viagra can work faster.

4. Try it again

The best thing to do is try again and stay relaxed whilst taking Viagra. Your doctor may suggest taking it several times (up to 8 times) before concluding that it is not right for you, as it can take a few tries for it to work as it should.

You should never try again the same day, as you cannot take Viagra more than once a day.

If you’ve tried Viagra several times and it’s not working, your doctor may suggest a dose increase, or recommend an alternative ED treatment.

When to talk to a doctor

If Viagra is not working for you and you’re not seeing any improvement in your erectile dysfunction symptoms, your doctor can help you to identify the underlying cause and suggest alternative solutions. ED can occasionally signal other health issues that may require medical attention.

You should get in touch with a healthcare professional if you experience:

1. Persistent ED despite using Viagra correctly: If you’ve tried Viagra 8 times, followed the instructions carefully, and it still isn’t effective, your doctor can help evaluate whether your dosage or the medication itself is suitable for you.
2. Symptoms of underlying health conditions: ED can be linked to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease. You should talk to your doctor if you have any of these conditions or are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, or shortness of breath during activity.
3. Signs of hormonal imbalances: Low testosterone levels can sometimes impact libido and erectile function. If you have any symptoms like low energy, mood changes, or decreased muscle mass, you may want to organise a blood test at your GP or order a testosterone test kit to check your levels at home.
4. Nerve damage: Conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or nerve damage from surgery or injury can also interfere with erectile function. Your doctor should be made aware of any conditions, surgeries, or injuries that could be influencing ED.
5. Persistent psychological challenges: Ongoing performance anxiety, stress, or depression can all mean that Viagra doesn’t work, even if you’re physically healthy. A doctor or mental health professional can provide tailored support.

Notifying your GP of any concerns you have while on treatment for erectile dysfunction is essential to ensure that you’re getting the help you need.

Yes, if Viagra doesn’t work or you find that the side effects are too severe, your doctor may suggest an alternative treatment for ED.

ZAVA can prescribe a range of erectile dysfunction treatments which work in a similar way to Viagra but contain a different active ingredient, such as:

• tadalafil, which is a generic medication used for ED containing the active ingredient tadalafil, with 10mg being the usual starting dose
• Cialis, a branded version of tadalafil which also comes in a 10mg dose but there is also a 5mg daily dose called Cialis Daily available
• Spedra, which contains the active ingredient avanafil and comes in 100mg or 200mg doses
• Levitra, which contains the active ingredient vardenafil and comes in a 10mg or 20mg dose

You can also try an erectile dysfunction trial pack, which contains 3 different ED treatments.

When choosing alternative ED medications, make sure they are deemed safe and suitable for you by a regulated doctor or pharmacist. Unlicensed products such as Kamagra or Kamagra Oral Jelly may be unsafe.

Like any medication, Viagra works differently for everyone, so you shouldn’t feel disheartened if you’re not getting immediate results. There are many steps you can take to help improve how the tablets are absorbed by your body, from avoiding alcohol and big meals to managing stress levels and addressing any health conditions that could impact the effectiveness of the medication.

If Viagra doesn’t work for you, an alternative ED treatment such as Cialis or Levitra could work better. If you’re looking to start treatment or change your prescription, our team of expert online doctors are happy to help. Explore all erectile dysfunction treatments or fill out our consultation form to get started.