Viagra, an oral medication available by prescription, treats erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to either acquire or maintain an erection. The Minnesota Men's Health Center reports that nearly 10 percent of men throughout the world experience this condition. Viagra helps men overcome erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to their penis, thus increasing their chances of having an erection.
How to Take It
Viagra should only be taken as needed and not on any regular dosing schedule. Men can take one Viagra pill anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours before engaging in sexual activity, according to Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. However, it is important to note that Viagra requires sexual stimulation to work.
Dosage
Recommended doses of Viagra range from 25 mg to 100 mg, with the average being 50 mg, according to Drugs.com. No more than one Viagra pill should be taken in any 24-hour period.
Contraindications
Men who take nitrate-based drugs should not take Viagra. Examples of these types of drugs include: nitroglycerin patches, nitroglycerin ointment, nitroglycerin pills and isosorbide pills. Drugs.com states that taking Viagra with nitrate-based medications can lead to low blood pressure. Furthermore, Viagra should not be taken within four hours of taking an alpha-blocking drug, as this could also lead to low blood pressure. Alpha-blocking drugs treat enlarged prostates and high blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com.
Side Effects
Men should stop using Viagra and seek medical attention if they develop any of the serious side effects associated with use of the medication. Side effects include: vision problems, such as blurring, loss of vision or sensitivity to light. Other side effects include diarrhea, flushing, acid indigestion, nasal congestion, headache, cardiac symptoms during sex, urinary tract infection or erections lasting longer than four hours, according to Drugs.com.
Warnings
Men with preexisting cardiac problems should not take Viagra. Also, Viagra should not be used with other medications to treat erectile dysfunction.
