It’s been three years since the FDA approved Viagra for usage in the United States. In that time, the erectile dysfunction drug reigns supreme as the #1 most prescribed drug in the country.
Since then, Viagra (sildenafil citrate) has been marketed as a treatment for a variety of sexual dysfunctions, from impotence to premature ejaculation. While the drug is certainly effective for what it is designed to treat, it’s also become popular as a potential “drug cheat” due to its extended effectiveness — something the FDA has warned against.
Longer Than You’d Think
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a man or a woman interested in trying out Viagra (or a similar ED drug). As you’ve undoubtedly heard, Viagra works by relaxing the muscles in the penis (and sometimes the colon as well), which in turn allows for increased blood flow into the organ and thus an erection.
This increased blood flow is what gives Viagra its effective duration. In fact, some men have reported being able to maintain an erection for more than six hours. While this is certainly longer than the average erectile dysfunction patient will ever need, it is still somewhat problematic as it requires multiple doses to maintain this effect.
Extended Duration Not Recommended
As mentioned above, one of the side effects of Viagra is an extended duration of its effect. This is something the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, stresses in their warning labels:
“In the clinical trial, men who used Viagra had longer erections than those who took a placebo (sugar pill). However, these men also had significantly more sexual adverse events (which they deemed serious). Men using Viagra also reported more frequent adverse events (such as headache and flushing), although these were generally not deemed serious. In general, men using Viagra had more sexual adverse events than those taking a placebo. These events included things like prolonged erections, decreased libido (sexual desire), and difficulty in maintaining an erection. These are all potential problems for men taking Viagra, and we recommend that men taking this drug use it with caution and under medical supervision if they experience any side effects that are not listed in their patient information guide.”
Potential Risks From Using Viagra For Too Long
Taking Viagra for too long could potentially be dangerous to your health. Specifically, the FDA has cautioned patients against using the drug for more than four hours due to the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. For this reason, it is recommended that men using Viagra limit their time in bed to four hours or less.
There are other risks as well that come with extended use of Viagra. Chief among them is the possible buildup of fatty deposits around the liver and heart, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Additionally, taking ED drugs like Viagra for a long period can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in later life.
In summary, the risks associated with long-term Viagra use seem fairly obvious. Aside from the cardiac risks mentioned above, users could potentially develop liver problems, ED, or even get cancer. So, it’s best to be careful and only use the drug for what is recommended by your doctor — which is generally four hours or less.