Starting something new is always scary, and the same goes for Viagra consumption. What should you expect when your husband takes Viagra for the first time? Is there anything you can do to help him? In this article, we discuss how Viagra works, what to consider before and after consuming Viagra, and the side effects that you should look out for.
Like many medical disorders, sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED) don’t discriminate. While your marriage might be loving and healthy, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need additional help and support in the bedroom.
In fact, sexual disorders are increasingly common, affecting 35% of men and 43% of women. For men, ED in particular gets more prevalent with age. Once a man enters his 40s, his chances of experiencing ED reaches around 40%, with that likelihood increasing by around 10% every 10 years.
You might be wondering “What does this have to do with marriage?”
Well, while ED only affects men, it is actually seen as a couple’s problem, since it affects both parties’ self-esteem, confidence and quality of life.
Same active ingredient, 70% cheaper and 100% as effective.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to combat ED, one of which is the consumption of Viagra.
Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor. By inhibiting and slowing PDE5, Viagra relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more readily to create and maintain an erection.
Viagra is also one of the most effective and popular ED medications around. According to a 4-year open-label study, most participants were satisfied with the sildenafil treatment for their ED, with few requesting dosage changes or discontinuing consumption.
Like all ED drugs, it takes some time for the effects of Viagra to settle in.
According to a 2002 study, Viagra takes 27 minutes to kick in, with 82% of participants producing an erection within 45 minutes.
As such, we recommend that your husband takes Viagra roughly an hour before sex.
In the meantime, you can help him get in the mood by participating in sexually stimulating activities. Some suggestions include engaging in foreplay or giving each other sensual messages. This is especially important as Viagra only works if the user is sexually aroused.
Here are some tips to maximise the efficacy of Viagra:
1. Keep Meals Light Beforehand
While Viagra still works whether you eat or not, it generally works faster on an empty stomach.
As such, remind your husband to not eat for at least a few hours before consuming Viagra. However, if eating is necessary, it’s best to keep the meal light and avoid high-fat food.
That said, if your husband did have a big meal beforehand, you might want to wait a few hours for it to digest before taking Viagra.
2. Limit Alcohol Consumption Before Taking Viagra
A glass of wine shouldn’t cause much harm. However, anything more than that and the effects of Viagra could be heavily dampened.
How so? Well, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption combined with Viagra lowers blood pressure, making it harder to get an erection as less blood flows freely to the penis.
Low blood pressure is also a sexy mood killer as it causes headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness, which makes getting hard even harder.
Ultimately, if you and your husband feel like a glass of wine is mandatory to get the mood going, then by all means! Just don’t go overboard with it!
3. Look Out for Drug Interactions
This is especially important if your husband is taking medications that can dilate blood vessels, such as nitrates and alpha-blockers, since these medications can interact with Viagra.
If possible, take these medications a few hours before consuming Viagra. For alpha-blockers, the recommended time frame is 4 hours. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to consult a medical professional first before consuming any Viagra.
That said, Viagra is generally safe for consumption and doesn’t alter the biochemical and psychological effects of most drugs.
Here's the question you've been meaning to ask: how long does Viagra last?
Well, Viagra typically lasts for up to 4 hours. For a majority of users, it wears off within 2-3 hours. However, some can last up to 5 hours.
And no, this does not mean that your husband will have a boner for the entire time. It just means that he is able to get hard during that time period, thus making it possible for him to climax more than once. However, this depends on a few factors, such as his stamina, natural refractory period and level of arousal.
Like all ED medication, Viagra consumption comes with a set of side effects, ranging from common to serious.
Common side effects include headaches, dizziness, rash and facial flushing. Check in with your husband occasionally to see if he’s feeling unwell. If he experiences any of these symptoms, it’s best to stop.
On the other hand, serious side effects include priapism (an erection that lasts for more than four hours), severe drug allergic reactions and seizures. If left untreated, these side effects such as priapism can cause irreversible damage. In these scenarios, please seek medical attention immediately.
Don’t Worry If Viagra Doesn’t Work The First Time
While Viagra does indeed have a high success rate, it does not work for all men and at all times. However, this does not mean that all hope is lost!
There are some reasons why Viagra might not work the first time round:
1. Your husband is under an immense amount of stress at work.
In these cases, it’s helpful to reduce stress by creating a soothing environment. These include lighting some scented candles or playing soft music.
2. The dosage is slightly off.
Some men respond to lower doses of Viagra while others require a higher dose for the effects to kick in.
3. Your husband is taking other medication that’s interacting with the Viagra.
Drug interactions affect both the efficacy of the Viagra taken and the dosage required for best results.
If you feel like your husband requires a different dosage or are worried about drug interactions, do consult your doctor beforehand and seek their professional advice.
Be Wary of Overdosing!
While it is tempting to take matters into your own hands and consume another tablet to increase the Viagra’s effectiveness, it is not advisable to do so. Viagra is only meant to be taken once a day, under a strict prescription.
Everyone reacts to Viagra differently, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the underlying issue is something that’s easily resolved, which is exactly what we aim to achieve here at Noah. Our doctors are more than happy to advise on the best next steps.
Interested? Well, all you have to do is visit our website, answer an online evaluation and our licensed doctor will speak to you shortly.
We understand the fear and uncertainty that comes with consuming Viagra for the first time. This is why at Noah, we aim to make your Viagra journey a smooth and worry-free one.
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Ferrini, Monica G., et al. “Aging Related Erectile Dysfunction—Potential Mechanism to Halt or Delay Its Onset.” Translational Andrology and Urology vol. 6,1 (2017): 20–27. (Link)
Jackson, G., et al. “Past, Present, and Future: A 7-Year Update of Viagra® (Sildenafil Citrate).” International Journal of Clinical Practice vol. 59,6 (2005): 680–91. (Link)
McMurray, J. G., et al. “Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Sildenafil Citrate in Men with Erectile Dysfunction.” Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management vol. 3,6 (2007): 975–81. (Link)
Morrison, Clare. “What to Expect When Taking Viagra for the First Time?” MedExpress, 27 Sept. 2019. (Link)
Read, S., et al. “Sexual Dysfunction in Primary Medical Care: Prevalence, Characteristics and Detection by the General Practitioner.” Journal of Public Health vol. 19,4 (1997): 387–91. (Link)
