How long does Viagra stay in your system?

In this article:

• How long does Viagra last?
• What affects duration?
• Side effects
• Optimal use
• The bottom line

In this article

• How long does Viagra last?
• What affects duration?
• Side effects
• Optimal use
• The bottom line

A prescription for the “little blue pill” often comes with a lot of questions. How does it work? When should you expect it to kick in? How long does it stay in your system? Viagra, the brand name for sildenafil citrate, is prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)—a common condition affecting millions of men in the U.S. It belongs to a class of ED medications called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors that work by dilating your blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis. It was the first oral medication approved by the FDA to improve erectile function. Viagra will stay active for about four to six hours but remains in your body for up to about 24 hours or longer, depending on the dose.

How long does Viagra stay in your system?

“Viagra is active for between four to six hours after ingestion. It can stay in your system for up to 24 hours,” explains Mehran Movassaghi, MD, a provider board-certified in urology and director of Pacific Men’s Health in Santa Monica, California.

If it’s only effective for up to six hours, why does it remain in your body for so long? That’s due to the half-life of the medication. “The half-life, which is the time in which half the drug is metabolized by the body, is about four hours. It would be completely out of the body within four to five half-lives,” Philip Werthman, MD, board-certified urologist and director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Vasectomy Reversal in Los Angeles, California.

 “Viagra is most effective before its half-life,” Dr. Werthman says. It’s a fast-acting prescription medication intended to be taken on an empty stomach one hour before sex. One study found that it can start working as quickly as 12 minutes after taking the ED treatment. For most, though, Viagra starts to work within 30 minutes and works best for a four-hour window. “Viagra’s effectiveness peaks around one to two hours after taking the medication,” says Dr. Mobassaghi.

There is some variability in how quickly it works and how long it lasts because the medication’s metabolism is affected by individual factors, such as overall health and diet.

What affects how long Viagra stays in your system?

A few factors can influence how long the effects of Viagra last for ED. Some are in your control, and others depend on your age and individual metabolism.

Diet

Viagra works best on an empty stomach. Drs. Movassaghi and Werthman agree that heavy, high-fat meals can make Viagra take longer to become effective because fat slows the absorption of the active ingredient. That means you’ll have to wait more time before seeing improvements in sexual performance, and the effectiveness may be slightly diminished. “Before or in between meals might be the best time to take it,” Dr. Movassaghi recommends.

Because fatty meals can slow down how quickly the body absorbs Viagra, it may stay in your system longer, though the effects will be less potent.

Age and metabolism

As you get older, metabolism changes can interfere with how long it takes for sildenafil to work and leave your system. “Metabolism slows down as men age. Therefore, older men have a slower response to Viagra than younger men,”  Dr. Movassaghi says. This does not mean Viagra will not work for older men—it just might take a longer period to kick in and can take a bit longer to fully leave your system due to a slowdown in how quickly the liver and kidney process the medication.

One study showed that Viagra is an effective treatment for ED in men of all ages, including those over the age of 75. To speed up absorption, Dr. Movassaghi suggests asking your provider for a sublingual form of sildenafil, a tablet you place under your tongue to dissolve.

Viagra side effects and risks

Though many people won’t experience any adverse effects, “just like aspirin or any other drug, Viagra has a long list of potential side effects,” Dr. Werthman says.

Common side effects of Viagra include:

• Headaches
• Stuffy nose
• Flushing
• Nausea

Side effects are generally short-lived and should go away as Viagra leaves your system. If they do not, you should contact your prescribing provider for medical advice. Side effects are more likely with higher doses, greater than 100 mg.

RELATED: How to avoid Viagra side effects

Viagra is not a good choice for everyone. “People who have glaucoma, retina problems, nitroglycerin, high blood pressure should consult with their healthcare provider prior to taking it,” Dr. Werthman says.

Viagra can also cause potentially serious interactions with other medications, such as nitrates found in drugs like nitroglycerin. Complications, like heart attack and stroke, may occur due to the interactions. If you take medicines to lower blood pressure adding Viagra to the mix may also cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Before taking Viagra, share a list of all of your current medications—including over-the-counter supplements—with your provider and pharmacist to help avoid a drug interaction.

Taking Viagra may cause long-term medical conditions for some people. These can include:

• Vision problems
• Hearing loss
• Psychological dependency
• Priapism (development of a painful erection that lasts for several hours)

Seek medical attention if you experience any of these health conditions after taking Viagra.

There’s no known interaction between Viagra and alcohol, but drinking alcohol counteracts the medication’s effects and may worsen side effects. Additionally, Viagra and alcohol both dilate your blood vessels. It’s how the medication improves circulation to the penis and why alcohol sometimes makes your face flush after a few sips. When the two are combined, it can cause dangerously low blood pressure. If you binge drink or drink frequently, you may want to discuss your alcohol consumption with a healthcare provider before taking Viagra.

How to optimize the effect of Viagra

Viagra stays active in your system for about four to six hours. It generally peaks within one to two hours of taking it. For best results, follow these rules for taking Viagra:

• Take Viagra on an empty stomach about an hour before anticipated sexual activity.
• Avoid eating a high-fat meal or drinking alcohol before taking this medication.
• Take the medication as directed. Don’t take more than the prescribed dose of Viagra to increase the effects.
• Only take Viagra as needed. “You can take it every day, but just like any other medicine, don’t take it if you don’t need it or don’t plan to engage in sexual activity,” Dr. Werthman says.
• Consider the effective timeframe. For example, if you are planning a romantic weekend away, “you may want to consider different erectile dysfunction medications with a longer active timeframe compared to Viagra, such as Cialis,” says Dr. Werthman. “Cialis, or tadalafil, can stay effective for about 17 hours, giving some more flexibility compared to Viagra and making it potentially more cost-effective than Viagra in these situations.”
• Ask your provider about your testosterone levels: “A man needs both a level of sexual desire and a reasonably normal level of testosterone for Viagra to work effectively,” explains Dr. Werthman. “Testosterone works on the end organ whereas these medications work on the nerves to dilate the blood vessels in the penis to bring more oxygen in.” Lower testosterone levels may lessen the body’s response to Viagra for men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

If you do not feel like it is working well or causing too many side effects, you may want to discuss adjustment of your dose with a healthcare provider. You have a higher chance of developing side effects with higher doses, but some men need higher doses for optimal effectiveness.

The bottom line

Viagra generally starts working within a half hour of taking the medication but is most effective about one to two hours after taking it. How long Viagra lasts varies slightly, but Viagra can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. 

You can take Viagra daily but should only use it on an as-needed basis. It is important to work with a qualified healthcare professional to find the optimal dose for you while minimizing the risk of side effects.