Is Viagra Effective for Erectile Dysfunction?

Nicknamed the little blue pill, Viagra (sildenafil) is the first erectile dysfunction drug to have ever been FDA approved. Roughly 300 million men worldwide experience erectile dysfunction, and this condition is only getting more prevalent. Ever since its approval in 1998, Viagra has been helping men overcome their ED symptoms. With the projected number of ED cases reaching 322 million in 2025, more men than ever are interested in the safety and efficacy of Viagra. ¹ Read on to learn how the Viagra pill works and what you can expect from the world’s first erectile dysfunction drug.

How Does Viagra Work?

Viagra helps men achieve and maintain erections by dilating the body’s blood vessels and allowing more blood to enter the penis when sexually aroused. You may have heard that Viagra is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. All that fancy word refers to is an enzyme that causes erections to go away. Of course, PDE5 serves an important purpose under natural conditions—it’s supposed to cause an erection to go away after sex. Inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme prevents it from working too early, so you can stay erect for longer.

How Quickly Does Viagra Work?

In healthy men, Viagra typically begins to work in under 30 minutes. In two randomized and double-blind studies, men with ED were given Viagra and tested for how long it took to work. Two groups were observed: group one was given the typical starting dose of 50 mg of Viagra; group two was given a placebo. Then, the men in both groups were exposed to visual sexual stimulation.

Researchers then used a monitoring device called a RigiScan to assess the hardness of the participants’ erections. In the end, 86 percent of the participants achieved greater than 60 percent erection hardness (penile rigidity) in under 30 minutes. ²

However, the onset of Viagra depends on your health condition and the medications you’re taking. Drug interactions and conditions like liver disease or kidney failure can cause Viagra to build up in the bloodstream or break down too quickly.

Your body metabolizing sildenafil quickly isn’t dangerous, but a buildup can be. In high concentrations, your Viagra medication can cause a hard-on to last more than four hours and a very painful condition called priapism. To ensure Viagra works in time for sex, it is important to disclose any condition that may affect the normal mechanism of action of sildenafil.

How Long Does Viagra Last?

It is important to know that Viagra does not make you hard in the absence of sexual stimulation. After taking Viagra, it keeps working in your body for approximately 4 to 5 hours, so if you’re aroused during this period, you’ll feel the benefit of this drug, and an erection should be no problem.

Remember, Viagra gives you about a 4-hour window to achieve an erection, but your erections shouldn’t be lasting that long. An erection that lasts longer than 4 hours (priapism) requires emergency medical attention to prevent permanent damage to the penis.

The Long-term Effectiveness of Viagra in Studies

Viagra is effective and safe for most men, even when taken long-term. In a study to assess the benefits and safety of sildenafil, data from more than 48 randomized trials that included 11,000 men were analyzed. In the studies, participants were given Viagra 50 mg an hour before sexual activity, and their dosages were then adjusted based on concurrent medical conditions and their own reports of how well the 50mg dose worked. After 12 weeks, these men were again asked to report whether they experienced improvements in erectile function, sexual desire, and intercourse satisfaction.

The overall results showed that Viagra significantly improves erectile function in men of all age groups when compared with a placebo. This analysis demonstrated that Viagra is highly effective, but it is important to note that sildenafil’s efficacy decreased with age. The report showed that 80 percent of men under 65 experienced improved erectile function, but only 69 percent of men between 65 and 74 felt the same. Additionally, the satisfaction rate dropped to 59 percent in men 75 and older. Still, the decline in sexual satisfaction with age does not reflect poorly on Viagra. Rather, older age is an independent risk factor for more severe ED. ³

What if Viagra Doesn’t Work for Me?

If Viagra isn’t working for you, try taking it on an empty stomach. Taking Viagra with a high-fat meal can delay its effect. If you still cannot get an erection within 4 hours of taking sildenafil, wait at least 24 hours to try another dose. Make sure you don’t take more than one dose of Viagra every 24 hours. Even if you don’t think it’s working, overdosing on sildenafil can cause serious side effects. If Viagra still doesn’t work, contact your physician about adjusting your dose or switching to a different ED medication.

The content in this article is intended for informational purposes only. This website does not provide medical advice. In all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and/or other qualified health professionals(s) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. The content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.