Daily Viagra: Can you take Viagra every day?

Viagra might be safe for you to take daily if your healthcare provider says your medical history and current medications don’t pose a conflict.

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In developing a satisfying sex life, timing can be everything. That’s especially the case when you’re taking medication to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra (sildenafil), the first and most popular prescription medication for ED, has a specific window of efficacy after you take it. If you find that you need ED medication daily, you might be wondering if Viagra or generic sildenafil is right for you.

Vitals

Never take Viagra (sildenafil) more than once in a 24-hour period.
Viagra might be safe for you to take daily if your healthcare provider says your medical history and current medications don’t pose a conflict.
Viagra has a relatively short effectiveness window.
Taking it may or may not be convenient for you, depending on a number of factors, including how often you have sex.
Other longer-lasting ED medications may be a better option.

What is Viagra?

Viagra is the brand name of sildenafil, an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

Viagra is a medication known as a PDE-5 inhibitor. It works by blocking cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5), an enzyme that causes an erection to subside by encouraging blood to flow out of the penis. When PDE-5 is inhibited, levels of cGMP remain elevated, which relaxes smooth muscle and encourages blood vessels to widen (a process known as vasodilation). That makes blood flow more freely, including to the penis.

Viagra doesn’t work instantly: You must feel sexually aroused for it to work.

ED treatments, prescribed online

A real, U.S.-licensed physician will review your information and get back to you within 24 hours.

Can I take Viagra every day?

First: Never take more than one dose of Viagra per 24-hour period.

It may be safe to take Viagra every day if your healthcare provider believes daily use is right for you. Depending on your health, your healthcare provider may not recommend that you take Viagra every day.

Viagra usually starts to work in about one hour and is effective in the body for six to eight hours.

This narrow “effectiveness window” requires you to do some planning to sync your medication to your sex life—which isn’t always possible or convenient. And if you miss that window, you can’t take more Viagra for another 24 hours.

If you want more flexibility, consider using Cialis (tadalafil), which is longer-lasting than Viagra. It’s available in four doses—2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg—and is effective for 24 to 36 hours after you take it. Additionally, the two lower doses are actually approved for daily use. That can help increase sexual spontaneity.

If your healthcare provider determines it’s appropriate for you, Cialis can be a win-win. But the choice between Cialis and Viagra depends on how you and your partner plan to use ED medication.

How to determine if daily ED medication is right for you

When determining whether you should take daily ED medication, talk with your partner—and a healthcare provider—about which ED medication is safe and makes sense for you. It’s helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

How often do you have sex?

If you’re having sex frequently—say, multiple times a week or even every day—taking daily Cialis might be the option that makes sense for you. If you’re having sex less frequently, you might find that taking Viagra as needed is convenient.

How much does spontaneity matter?

Because of Viagra’s relatively short efficacy window, it tends to be an “on-demand” medication—you need to be fairly sure that sex is a possibility within the next few hours, and be sure to have the medication with you to take within a few hours of sexual activity. Because it works for a full day to a day-and-a-half, Cialis can accommodate more spontaneity.

Have you experienced s >If you’ve experienced unpleasant side effects from Viagra, such as headache or flushing, taking a lower dose of daily medication might help ameliorate that.

Do you have any pre-existing conditions, or are you taking any other medications?

Cialis and Viagra aren’t safe for everyone. For example, people taking nitrates for certain heart conditions, or riociguat for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, should never take Viagra. And Cialis may not be safe for people who take medications for high blood pressure or to treat an enlarged prostate, or who consume substantial amounts of alcohol. To learn more, read important safety information for Viagra and Cialis.