It is often said that life can be unpredictable. But, when it comes to your sex life, you can rest assured that nothing is unpredictable. Once you know how things work, you can prepare for whatever may come. On that note, let’s dive into the world of sex and medication with Viagra.
The Basics
You may be familiar with the side effects of Viagra. If you are not, they include things such as blurred vision, headache, and sometimes increased blood pressure. While these are common side effects, they are generally mild and only affect a small percentage of people. If you experience them, there is no need to worry. Taking this medication does not mean that you will necessarily have bad sex. It simply means that you will need to practice caution and be observant of any symptoms.
How Does It Work?
Viagra works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels. This allows more blood to flow into your penis and cause it to become engorged with blood. As a result, you will experience improved sexual performance. Interestingly, even though it works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels, it can still cause a rise in your blood pressure. So, if you have a history of high blood pressure, make sure you consult your physician before you begin taking Viagra or any other erection-related medication.
When Should You Take It?
Since Viagra works more effectively when taken on an empty stomach, it is advised that you take it at least one hour before sexual activity. If you are taking it just to improve your sexual performance, it is also advisable to wait at least eight hours after eating or drinking before taking it. This will ensure that your stomach has had enough time to process the food or drink before you take the medication.
The Dosage
The recommended dose of Viagra is one pill per day, taken at the same time each day. Though this may vary from one pill to another, it is always a safe bet that each pill will contain the same amount of active ingredient. If you are just beginning to take the medication, start out with a low dose and gradually increase it over the course of several weeks or months until you reach the desired effect. Remember to consult your physician or pharmacist for advice on the proper dosage for your age and weight.
Other Substances
Though the vast majority of people experience good results from taking Viagra, there is the occasional risk that it may not work for you. In rare cases, people have experienced such horrible side effects from taking this medication that they would rather remove themselves from the risk altogether. In these rare instances, other medications, including antidepressants and anxiolytics, have been shown to work better for them. So, if you experience poor or no results from taking Viagra, don’t be discouraged. You may simply need to try another medication.
The list of medications that affect Viagra’s effectiveness can be found here. People taking any of these medications need to be particularly careful around bedtime since they may experience a higher risk of having a heart attack or suffering a stroke. In this case, if you are sexually active, you should avoid having sex. Instead, you should use a condom (male or female) or practice safe sex (i.e., only have sex with someone you trust completely). Remember also that these medications can cause you to have anxiety and depression as well, so you might not want to pop your pill and dive into bed with your partner either. This last point is huge. Why? Because it means you have to take care of your mental health too! Seeking help when you’re feeling down or anxious or having difficulty sleeping can help a lot.
Risks
While there are numerous benefits to taking Viagra, there are also some risks associated with this medication. The vast majority of people will experience no risks from taking it, but just as with any medication or supplement you take, there is always the risk of side effects. Fortunately, these are generally mild and transitory. The only risk associated with Viagra is that, in rare instances, people have had a severe allergic reaction to it. If you have taken any medication in the past and had severe side effects, make sure you consult your physician before you begin taking it again.
Aside from the risks associated with taking Viagra, there is also the risk of having a heart attack or suffering a stroke. As previously stated, this is a very rare occurrence, but it does happen. In fact, people taking these medications have a higher risk of these types of vascular accidents. Even more rare is when patients take Viagra and have a reaction to it that leads to death. While this has never occurred directly as a result of taking Viagra, many experts believe that it has helped to contribute to the death of a few people. Due to the extremely low chances of this happening, it is generally considered a fatal side effect of the drug. If you are experiencing any of these risks, seek medical help right away so that you can minimize the severity of the situation.
Overall Opinion
At this point, you may be thinking that taking Viagra is something you want to try. You may be experiencing low sexual desire and think that taking a pill may be the answer you’re looking for. If this is the case, go ahead and try it. Just be sure that you’re aware of the potential risks that are associated with it. In most cases, these risks are relatively mild and can be treated successfully. But, as with any medication or supplement, it’s still something you need to be careful about. Just remember to try and stay as safe as possible while also feeling confident enough that you can improve your quality of life through this medication.