{"id":180827,"date":"2022-11-06T08:40:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-06T08:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vertica-labs.com\/de\/?p=180827"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:09:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:09:06","slug":"viagra-effect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vertica-labs.com\/de\/blog\/viagra-effect\/","title":{"rendered":"This is the reason why Viagra remains effective only for few hours"},"content":{"rendered":"

So you’ve heard that Viagra can help with erectile problems and you decided to try it. If you’re wondering why it stays effective in your body for a just short time, this article is for you<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sildenafil citrate is the active constituent in Viagra, one of the world’s most common medications for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra is not a cure for the condition, it only treats the symptoms of ED: taking a tablet will improve the blood flow to the penis and consequently help achieve an erection firm enough for satisfying intercourse. However, as is the case with every medication, the active constituent in Viagra has a time range in which it remains active in the body. This determines for how long the drug will exert its effects on erections.<\/p>\n

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How Long does it Take for Viagra to Start Working?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Taken in a tablet form, the medication usually starts to take effect 30 \u2013 60 minutes following ingestion. However, the amount of time required for it to start working may change, depending on several factors. Every man has an individual response time to the medication, and factors such as when and how much a person has eaten before taking the drug will make it longer to start working \u2013 sometimes up to 2 hours after ingestion.<\/p>\n

It is important to remember that taking Viagra will not induce an erection automatically. It will only work if a man has a desire for sex and he feels sexually aroused following sexual stimulation.<\/p>\n

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Viagra’s Duration of Action and Why is it Relatively Short?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Generally, Viagra’s active constituent remains in the system for about 20 hours until it fully clears, though in practice, its effects are maintained for 4 hours on average when taking a 100mg tablet (the exact time frame may vary from patient to patient). This is because liver enzymes start to gradually metabolize the active constituent, and after approximately 4 hours there is a 50% decrease in its blood concentration (which is too low to cause a significant effect), compared to the peak reached during the first 2 hours following ingestion.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, most healthcare providers will recommend taking the drug 30 -60 minutes before sexual intercourse, but in principle, it could be taken up to 4 hours prior to sexual activity. So, if for example, a man who is sexually stimulated has intercourse 4 hours after taking Viagra, evidence suggests he will still be able to achieve an erection lasting for about 15 minutes.\u00a0However, although the drug is effective for 4 hours, the effect at this stage will be much less pronounced than at 2 hours.<\/p>\n

In the graph below you can see Sildenafil’s blood concentrations following \u00a0ingestion of a 100 mg tablet by healthy men: blood concentrations peak after an hour following ingestion, and this is when the drug’s effect is highest. Thereafter, blood concentrations start to decrease and the drug’s effect gradually diminishes[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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*<\/strong>This graph is taken from Viagra<\/strong>‘s leaflet (US) by Pfizer<\/strong>[1<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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Can External Factors Influence Viagra’s Effects?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A few major factors can affect how long Viagra will last after ingestion:<\/p>\n