{"id":630417,"date":"2024-11-22T09:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T14:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630417"},"modified":"2024-11-13T15:19:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T20:19:26","slug":"how-long-does-viagra-stay-in-your-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-long-does-viagra-stay-in-your-system\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does Viagra stay in your system?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A prescription for the \u201clittle blue pill\u201d 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? <\/span>Viagra<\/span><\/a>, the brand name for <\/span>sildenafil citrate<\/span><\/a>, is prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED)\u2014a common condition affecting <\/span>millions of men in the U.S.<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does Viagra stay in your system?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201c<\/span>Viagra is active for between four to six hours after ingestion. It can stay in your system for up to 24 hours,\u201d explains <\/span>Mehran Movassaghi, MD<\/span><\/a>, a provider board-certified in urology and director of Pacific Men\u2019s Health in Santa Monica, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s only effective for up to six hours, why does it remain in your body for so long? That\u2019s due to the half-life of the medication. \u201cThe 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,\u201d <\/span>Philip Werthman, MD<\/span><\/a>, board-certified urologist and director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Vasectomy Reversal in Los Angeles, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cViagra is most effective before its half-life,\u201d Dr. Werthman says. It\u2019s a fast-acting prescription medication intended to be taken on an empty stomach one hour before sex. <\/span>One study<\/span><\/a> found that it can start working as quickly as 12 minutes after taking the <\/span>ED treatment<\/span><\/a>. For most, though, Viagra starts to work within 30 minutes and works best for a four-hour window. \u201cViagra\u2019s effectiveness peaks around one to two hours after taking the medication,\u201d says Dr. Mobassaghi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

What affects how long Viagra stays in your system?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet<\/span><\/h3>\n

Viagra works best on an empty stomach. Drs. Movassaghi and Werthman agree that heavy, <\/span>high-fat meals<\/span><\/a> can make Viagra take longer to become effective because fat slows the absorption of the active ingredient. That means you\u2019ll have to wait more time before seeing improvements in sexual performance, and the effectiveness may be slightly diminished. \u201cBefore or in between meals might be the best time to take it,\u201d Dr. Movassaghi recommends.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Age and metabolism<\/span><\/h3>\n

As you get older, metabolism changes can interfere with how long it takes for sildenafil to work and leave your system. \u201cMetabolism slows down as men age. Therefore, older men have a slower response to Viagra than younger men,\u201d\u00a0 Dr. Movassaghi says. This does not mean Viagra will not work for older men\u2014it just might take a longer period to kick in and <\/span>can take a bit longer<\/span><\/a> to fully leave your system due to a slowdown in how quickly the liver and kidney process the medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

One study<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Viagra side effects and risks<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though many people won\u2019t experience any adverse effects, \u201cjust like aspirin or any other drug, Viagra has a long list of potential side effects,\u201d Dr. Werthman says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common side effects of Viagra include:<\/span><\/p>\n