Exact Answer: 2 – 3 Hours
Viagra is the brand name of the drug and the original name of the drug is sildenafil. This drug is only prescribed to men only. This is because, when Viagra is taken, it helps in increasing the blood flow towards the penis which allows men to get an erection. Thus, Viagra helps treat the symptoms of ED (erectile dysfunction), as ED makes it unable for a man to have an erection. Although taking Viagra doesn’t cure the ED, it helps in the relaxation of the muscles in blood vessel walls. The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has only approved the use of Viagra on men having age 18 years or older.
How Long After Viagra Can I Drink?
| Dosage | How Long Viagra Lasts |
| 25-mg | 2 – 3 Hours |
| 50-mg | 3 – 4 Hours |
| 100-mg | 4 – 5 Hours |
Viagra or sildenafil is a drug that is taken orally. It is recommended to consume only the amount prescribed by the doctor and not use this drug twice a day. The doctor takes your medical conditions and other medications into consideration before deciding the dosage of Viagra. For most cases, the dosage of 50-mg sildenafil is prescribed. But this dosage can vary from 25-mg to 100-mg, depending on other medications.
You are allowed to take Viagra at most 4 hours before having sex, or at least 30 minutes before having sex. But taking Viagra 1 hour before sexual intercourse is proved to be most effective. The prevention which you need to take is that you should always consume Viagra on an empty stomach. You should also avoid consuming any alcoholic drink along with Viagra, as it can make the side effects of Viagra more severe.
Once the Viagra is consumed, it lasts for about 2 – 3 hours, i.e., it is the most effective in these 2 – 3 hours. After 4 – 5 hours, the Viagra will completely leave your system. How long the Viagra stays and remains effective in your system, depends on the dosage which is prescribed to you. If you’re given a dosage of 25-mg, it will wear off sooner as compared to when 100-mg of Viagra is given. For a 100-mg dosage, it will be effective for a longer period.
Thus, depending on the dosage, you can decide when you can drink. But usually, you can after 2 – 3 hours, once the effects of Viagra start reducing.
Why Can You Drink That Long After Viagra?
When you consume Viagra, it takes about 30 minutes to get absorbed into the bloodstream. You can feel the effects of Viagra about an hour later, after consuming it. And it takes about 5 – 6 hours for the effects to wear off and for Viagra to completely leave your system. But this time taken by Viagra can differ according to each individual’s metabolism.
Along with the dosage, there are various other factors as well, which affect the time taken by Viagra to leave your system. These factors include age, mental and physical health, and other medications. If it is an elderly (having age of 65 or more) taking Viagra, then he will be prescribed a smaller dosage. This is because, the metabolism rate in the elderly is slow, thus, a small dose of Viagra can last for a longer period as compared to younger people. Some medical conditions like diabetes can also cause the Viagra to not last for a longer period. If the man is not mentally stable, then that can also influence how long the Viagra can last.
Men taking Viagra already experience some side effects. If they also consume alcohol when the Viagra is still effective, it can worsen those side effects. When alcohol is consumed, it can also lower the effects of Viagra. This is because Viagra and alcohol both cause your blood pressure to go down. If your blood pressure lowers too much, you may feel dizzy or you may even faint. Thus, having such side effects is dangerous, and it will also affect your erection.
Conclusion
You are told to avoid taking alcohol because alcohol may have been the reason for your ED. Although it’s not quite proved yet, it is said that alcohol can affect your hormone-producing gland which results in the reduction of testosterone secretion, thus causing ED.
Yet, some men still wish to consume alcohol along with Viagra. In such cases, you can drink at most one glass of beer or wine. But it will be suggested to wait for the Viagra to completely leave your system before consuming any drink. As Viagra takes 5 – 6 hours to leave your system, drinking after that would be recommended. Also as mentioned before, how long after Viagra you can drink, can depend on the dosage and that individual’s metabolism rate.