Viagra, the little blue pill that contains sildenafil citrate, is one of the blockbuster drugs for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Just a small blue pill is all it takes to help men achieve and sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity.
The drug works by supplying enough blood to the penile organ so it can achieve a hard and durable erection during sexual arousal.
Like all medications, Viagra is known to have a specific half-life that determines how long it lasts in the body.
The terminal half-life of sildenafil citrate is three to five hours; therefore, its therapeutic response can be sustained for at least three hours following a dose of Viagra 100 mg, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The amount of time Viagra lasts can depend on several factors, according to Hims, an online pharmacy that sells branded and generic versions of the blue pill.
Hims says, “Most men notice the active effects of Viagra for approximately two to three hours. The drug can work for up to five hours in total, although it usually starts to become less effective and ‘wear off’ after three hours.”
Some experts say this ED medicine may last for up to four hours.
“Sildenafil for ED lasts about four hours,” says Sarah Lewis, a pharmacist and a medical writer at Healthgrades. “It reaches peak concentrations in about an hour, so it’s best to take sildenafil 30 to 60 minutes before sex.”
“While you can take it up to four hours beforehand, the effects will decrease after two hours or so,” she added. “Sildenafil works by increasing blood flow to the penis improving erection.”
A 2002 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that Viagra produces a penetrative erection as early as 12 minutes. The study also found that for most ED patients, the drug produces the effect within 30 minutes of dosage, with a duration of action lasting at least four hours.
However, certain factors can influence how long Viagra lasts, such as age, dosage, food, alcohol, and other treatments.
Sildenafil may last longer in older men due to their slow metabolism. In some users, a high dose of Viagra is likely to be more effective and last longer in their system. The blue pill may not even show its effects if you take it with a heavy, fatty meal, or alcohol.
Although Viagra last for around four hours post-dosage, it does not mean you will have an erection lasting for four hours. It means the drug actively remains in your system for four hours and during that period, you will be able to achieve and sustain an erection when you are sexually aroused. However, please note that this is an average duration of action and not the case for all men who take the drug. Check with your doctor for more information on how long Viagra can last in your system.
