Sildenafil is an oral medication that is used to treat erectile dysfunction. This report answers some of the most common questions about this ED agent and the biggest reasons why men prefer it over other medications when it comes to high efficacy (1).
How Long Does Sildenafil 20 mg Last?
The effects of Sildenafil vary from one person to the other. Initial studies indicated that the effects of this medication last for 5 hours. However, later studies suggest otherwise. For instance, one study shows that its effects can last for as long as 12 hours (2).
However, that doesn’t mean you’ll have an erection for 12 hours straight or even 5 hours. What this drug does is that it will help you get and maintain an erection within that time frame.
It starts working within 30 to 60 minutes after your intake. Note that its effects will start to wear off 2 to 3 hours after taking one dosage. On average, an actual erection with the help of Sildenafil will last for half an hour.
What Is the Recommended Dosage?
The maximum dosage recommended for this drug is 100 mg. Note that manufacturers sell it in 50 mg and 100 mg tablet packages. There are packs sold in lower dosages as well, such as 20 mg and 25 mg tablets per bottle. Studies also confirm that the most effective dose is from 50 to 100 mg (3).
The usual dose taken by consumers is 50 mg 1 hour before sexual intercourse. No more than 1 dose is prescribed per day. This one-hour wait allows the body to absorb the active ingredients and gives it time to take effect.
Sildenafil relaxes the smooth muscles of the penis, specifically the corpus cavernosum. The effect, of course, is that you get harder erections during sexual stimulation. You will also experience a reduction in your blood pressure. This hypotensive effect is also the cause of the contraindications of this drug.
Are There Age-Related Dosage Recommendations?
Lower doses of this drug (i.e. 20 mg and 25 mg tablets) are recommended for older men or for men that have liver or kidney problems (4). This recommendation covers men ages 65 years to 85 years old as well as men with severe hepatic and renal problems.
How Well Is Sildenafil Tolerated by Those Who Take It?
Clinical studies show that Sildenafil is well tolerated by healthy men. Of course, as stated earlier, certain precautions must be undertaken by men who have compromised kidney and liver function.
The efficacy of this drug is also not affected by demographics. For instance, one study was conducted for Mexican volunteers, which is part of the try’s regulatory criteria.
This 2012 study showed that Sildenafil was well tolerated by locals whether they during fasting or not. The clinical data suggest that the bioavailability of this ED agent was not affected (5).
A 2014 study, on the other hand, suggests that Sildenafil is also well tolerated this time by Chinese patients (6). We can conclude, therefore, that demographics have no effect on the effectiveness of this drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Are There Any Side Effects That I Should Be Aware Of?
We have already mentioned earlier that men with compromised renal and hepatic function should only take lower doses of Sildenafil. Age and other preexisting conditions affect the efficacy and tolerability of this ED agent.
Some formulations of Sildenafil-based products are also contraindicated. An example of this is the combination of this product with organic nitrates (7).
The best practice is to read the label carefully and check with your doctor for possible contraindications for medications that you may already be taking. Here are some of the possible side effects that you may possibly experience:
- Abnormal or may be impaired vision
- Nasal congestion
- Dyspepsia
- Flushing
- Headache
- Cardiovascular problems
Top 5 Reasons Why Men Switch to Sildenafil and Why You Should Too
The following are the top 5 benefits of taking Sildenafil. These advantages are also part of the reasons why men prefer to use this ED agent compared to other similar products (8).
Reason #1—Sildenafil Price
Sildenafil is a lot more affordable compared to the main brand of Viagra. According to manufacturer Pfizer, the original price is around $61.54 (actual prices may vary).
Generic variants cost only a quarter of that. For instance, competing drug maker BlueChew sells generic versions of Viagra at a much cheaper cost per pill. Get a BlueChew free trial here.
Note that there are other factors that affect the price. This includes markups from retailers and pharmacies apart from the cost that the drug makers charge.
Reason #2—Rapid Effects
People begin to feel the effects of Sildenafil at varying times. Some guys can penetrative erections as early as 12 minutes. But that may not be the case for everybody.
On average, studies suggest that you can feel the effects of this ED agent within 30 minutes (9). Note that the actual clinical trials show that 71% of study participants experienced erections in 30 minutes, while 82% said they had erections after 45 minutes of intake.
Reason #3—Lasting Duration of Action and Effects
The same study also suggests that the effects of Sildenafil also last for about 4 hours. However, as stated earlier, a significant number of men who have taken this erectile dysfunction agent report that they experienced significant erections after 12 hours of use (2).
Reason #4—It Can Be Ingested With or Without Meals
You can be a complete gentleman and buy your lady a drink before a night of romance and lovemaking. However, note that studies suggest that you don’t have to take in food before dosing with Sildenafil (10). The same study also suggests that the effects of this ED agent can last for more than 10 hours.
Reason #5—Potential of Sildenafil as a Long-Term Solution to ED
Another reason why men prefer to use Sildenafil is its potential as a long-term solution for ED, as one study suggests (11).
Bottom Line
This article has thoroughly answered the question of how long does Sildenafil 20 mg last and also why it is preferred by many men?
Studies suggest that it is an effective alternative to expensive brand-name solutions for erectile dysfunction.
However, please note the side effects and consult your doctor before making it part of your medical regimen.