You’re sleeping, and suddenly you wake up with overwhelming urges to have sex. What do you do? Do you wake your partner and ask if they’ll take a Viagra with you so you can get it on the road to recovery?
You reach for the pill, pop it in, and begin your trip back to earth again. Everything seems okay until the next day when you find yourself struggling to stay awake during a boring afternoon. Is this normal? Can you take a pill and then immediately need to struggle to stay awake?
Last-ditch efforts aren’t uncommon when a man is struggling with an erection. While researching this article, I came across a Reddit thread where a user asked, “Can you take viagra twice in 24 hours?” and then he listed ways in which he thought it was possible. (It’s worth noting that the link takes you to an article recommending against taking Viagra more than once in 24 hours.) I’d never heard of a guy taking it twice in one day before, but it was apparently a fairly common occurrence. So, can you take Viagra twice in one day? And if so, what is the usual dose?
To figure out how to answer this question, I turned to Reddit again for some additional help. As it turns out, there’s a ton of information out there, and it’s all pretty much focused on whether or not you can take Viagra more than once in a 24-hour period. So, let’s dive into it.
The History Of Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)
Viagra was first approved for use in June 1996 and was originally marketed as a treatment for angina. A year later, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out a warning about an “unusual and severe reaction” that some men were having when taking the drug (1). The concern was that some men were exhibiting symptoms of “myocardial infarction, angina, or congestive heart failure.”
Can You Take Viagra Once Or Twice In A 24-Hour Period?
The first thing you need to know is that Viagra isn’t designed to be used more than once or twice in a 24-hour period. Indeed, the drug doesn’t even mention this in the prescribing information. (2)
The recommended dose is 100 mg, taken once or twice a day. While it’s not a hard and fast rule, investigators have found that men who take 200 mg every 24 hours have the same effect as those who take 100 mg two times a day. So, it’s safe to assume that the higher the dose, the more potent the drug will be. But, this means that you’re increasing your risks of potentially serious side effects.
Can You Take Viagra Once Or Twice In A 24-Hour Period? (Part 2)
So, now that you know that you shouldn’t take Viagra more than once or twice in a 24-hour period, it’s time to figure out how you feel about doing so. Unfortunately, this is where things get a little blurry. There’s a ton of conflicting information out there regarding whether or not it’s safe to take the drug more than once or twice in one day. But, here’s what we know.
In general, it’s not a good idea to take Viagra more than once or twice in one day. But, there are some exceptions to this. For instance, if you’re visiting Seattle in November and decide to take a Viagra-powered vacation to the city by the sea, then it might be okay to take a third or even a fourth dose. (As long as you’re not taking anything else that interferes with the effects of the drug, like alcohol or certain foods.)
The Side Effects Of Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)
Let’s dive into the potential side effects of Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate). As mentioned above, taking the drug more than twice in one day can increase your risks of serious side effects. But, before you dismiss this as medical advice from a busybody uncle, let’s remember that the drug has been approved by the FDA and is therefore considered safe and effective. (3)
To be clear, the risks associated with Viagra are similar to those of other ED drugs. But, because the medication has such a significant role in treating erectile dysfunction, it’s important to be mindful of these risks. Here’s a short list of the side effects that have been reported from taking the drug:
Headache
According to the FDA, one of the most common side effects of Viagra is headache. While this is a transient side effect that most people will experience, it can be extremely bothersome. (4)
In the largest randomized, placebo-controlled study to date, involving over 2700 men, those who took Viagra daily for 28 days reported an increase in the incidence of headache from 8.8% to 11.8%. About 40% of the men who took the placebo also reported feeling a headache. In the group that took 100 mg of Viagra daily, the incidence of headache rose from 8.8% to 11.2%. In men who took 200 mg daily, the incidence increased to 14.9%. So, while it’s not exactly clear what’s causing the headaches, it’s certainly an effect of the drug.
Dizziness
In the same randomized, placebo-controlled study described above, participants who took Viagra reported a similar incidence of dizziness. While this is relatively common, it can be a serious side effect. Indeed, in some cases, men have experienced severe dizziness when taking the medication. (5)
This could be due to the fact that Viagra works by increasing blood circulation to the penis. If you’re not used to any type of physical activity, then this could make you feel a little faint. And while there are options for men who experience this reaction, it’s not entirely clear what causes it. There is a theory that suggests that the shape of the penile bone, or hymen, plays a role. (6)
Blurred Vision
In a small study of 20 men who took a single dose of Viagra, 20 minutes after swallowing the medication, 12 of the participants (60%) reported experiencing blurred vision in both eyes. In another small study published in 2015, 18% of the men who took a single 100 mg dose of Viagra reported experiencing blurred vision. So, while it’s not entirely clear if this is an isolated incident or if it’s common, it certainly doesn’t seem to be rare. (7)
Ringing In The Ears
In the same randomized, placebo-controlled study described above, participants who took Viagra reported experiencing a ringing in the ears. While this is rare, it is one of the more serious side effects of the drug. Indeed, in a small study of 20 men who took a single dose of Viagra, 18% of the participants reported experiencing this effect. (8)
This could be due to the same theory as above, related to the shape of the penile bone. In some cases, the ringing in the ears could be so severe that it’s actually affected a man’s hearing. (9)
Fainting
In a small study of 25 men who took a single 100 mg dose of Viagra, 22% reported experiencing faintness, with symptoms of near-syncope (loss of consciousness). (10)
This is the most serious side effect of the drug, and it could be potentially fatal. Indeed, a study published in 2015 looked at the rates of syncope (fainting) in men who took Viagra daily and weekly. They found that those who took the medication weekly had a 2.3 times the risk of experiencing syncope compared to men who took it daily. (11)
Shortness Of Breath
In a study of 2700 men, participants who took Viagra reported an increased incidence of shortness of breath. Indeed, in the largest randomized, placebo-controlled study to date, those who took Viagra daily for 28 days reported an increase in the incidence of shortness of breath from 3.5% to 7.4%. About 12% of the men who took the placebo also reported feeling short of breath. In the group that took 100 mg of Viagra daily, the incidence of this effect increased from 3.5% to 7.3%; in the group that took 200 mg daily, the incidence increased to 12.4%.