Headaches From ED Medication: Why Does It Happen and How To Treat It

So what is in erectile dysfunction medication that causes its users to experience varying levels of headaches after taking it? 

This is usually due to the main ingredients found in the most commonly prescribed ED medication tablets, such as sildenafil (main ingredient found in Viagra®), vardenafil (found in Levitra®) and tadalafil (found in Cialis®). These ingredients help make it easier for you to get hard and keep an erection by widening the blood vessels, which then improves the blood flow to the soft tissue of your penis. 

However, this widening of blood vessels and increase in blood flow can also cause headaches of varying severity (from mild headaches to painful migraines). These headaches can develop within an hour after taking the medication tablet and can even occur after the ED medication’s effects have worn off. 

Developing headaches caused by ED medication, especially experiencing them shortly after taking the medication, can be a frustrating experience as they can not only affect your sexual performance but can even prevent you from relaxing and sleeping after having sex. 

Here are some effective ways to treat and minimize the intensity of the headaches caused by ED medication: 

1. Lowering The Dosage Of The ED Medication

• In a study done by Baylor College of Medicine, researchers found that side effects like headaches caused by sildenafil directly correlated with the dosage of the medication. It was also found that there was a significant link between the occurrence of other side effects (like nasal congestion and facial flushing) and the higher the dosage of medication. 

• In other words, if you take a high dosage of your erectile dysfunction medication (100mg for Viagra®, 20mg of Levitra® or 20mg of Cialis®), there is a higher possibility that you experience side effects such as headaches. 

• Speak to your doctor about lowering your dosage of ED medication if you find the frequency and severity of your headaches concerning. 

2. Eating A Small Meal Before Taking ED Medication

• While the effectiveness of most ED medication is at its highest when taken on an empty stomach, you can reduce the intensity and severity of the headache (and other side effects) if you eat a light meal or snack an hour before taking the ED medication tablet. Be sure to avoid food that contains a lot of fat as this could affect the effectiveness and absorption of the medication into the bloodstream. 

3. Hydration Is Key

• Dehydration can often cause headaches, however you can experience worse headaches when using ED medication like Viagra®. This is because Viagra is a mild diuretic which increases the amount of salt and water being expelled from the body as urine. 

• Together with the energy expended and sweat loss that happens during sex, the possibility of experiencing dehydration increases after taking ED medication. Therefore, it is important to remember to keep yourself hydrated when taking ED medication, to prevent both dehydration and the headaches induced by it. 

4. Taking OTC Medication For Pain Relief

• While most headaches caused by ED medication will eventually go away, there are some that can potentially persist for a longer time and cause more discomfort. This is usually due to ED medications like Cialis® that are longer-lasting and stay active in your body for more than 24 hours. 

• Over-The-Counter (OTC) pain medication like Panadol® or Tylenol® are safe to use to combat headaches, as they do not interact or cause any adverse reactions with ED medication. 

5. Consider Taking Alternative ED Medication

• While it is not uncommon for ED medication users to report that they experience headaches after consumption, some longer-acting ED medication like Cialis® can cause more persistent and severe headaches compared to shorter-acting drugs like Viagra®. 

• Speak to your doctor if you find the frequency and severity of your headaches to be concerning, as they might be able to suggest another effective ED medication that is shorter-lasting but also causes fewer side effects. 

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