Medically reviewed by Katelyn Hagerty, FNP
Written by Our Editorial Team
Last updated 5/5/2021
Viagra® has a reputation as a safe and effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, and that reputation has only grown over the decades since it first entered the market.
In many ways, Viagra could be considered a miracle drug for its relative effectiveness and safety. But that reputation doesn’t mean you should disregard safety information and medical recommendations. Despite that, some people may falsely assume that Viagra is safe enough to mishandle by taking it multiple times in a day.
We get it: as an ED medication, Viagra isn’t perfect. The pill gives you one reliable session a day, but after that, you’re stuck waiting for a clock to run out.
If this sounds familiar, you're probably here wondering a simple question: can I take two Viagra pills on the same day, or at the same time.
Can you take two Viagra pills at once? Well, not really, no. There are a few instances in which it might be okay, but these are rare exceptions to the rules you should be following.
Before we explore why taking two pills is generally a bad idea, let’s first explore what Viagra is, and how it works.
Erections and Erectile Dysfunction
The best place to start with understanding this Viagra question is probably with the central character in the story: your penis, and how it works.
You get an erection when blood flow to the penis increases, and the blood becomes trapped in the corpora cavernosa: two cavernous chambers meant for balloon-like inflating. Arousal sends signals from your brain to the blood vessels in your penis to start the process, which results in your member becoming engorged, giving you an erection.
Erectile dysfunction is any condition that interrupts the process of getting hard, especially in a way that prohibits you from engaging in sexual intercourse. A lot of factors can be at play in giving you erectile dysfunction: heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, drug use, high cholesterol, obesity, sexual performance anxiety and even diabetes.
The NIH defines erectile dysfunction as a “condition in which you are unable to get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.” ED is a common condition — the National Institutes of Health estimates 30 million men experience some degree of ED nationwide.
What Is Viagra?
Viagra is the original modern ED medication. The generic version of Viagra (sildenafil) is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor — a drug that sustains dilation and blood flow in the penis, resulting in firmer, complete erections.
Viagra is an in-the-moment kind of medication. While competitor Cialis® (tadalafil) can work for a day or more, Viagra is best taken within 30 minutes of intimacy, according to the National Library of Medicine.
About 70 percent of men respond well to PDE5 inhibitors, but it’s largely dependent on the source of your problem. Men with “no identifiable organic cause” generally fare the best, with a 90 percent success rate.
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Double The Pills, Double The Risk
Given how this medication works, it might sound like taking a double dose might provide a double benefit. Unfortunately, that’s one of many dangerous logical fallacies when it comes to ED medications: taking two pills isn’t going to make your erection twice as hard, or twice as large — it’s just going to cause your risk of adverse effects to double.
According to the FDA, Viagra is prescribed in certain dosages based on a healthcare professional’s expert medical opinion of what you need to function, and there are generally three doses you’ll see on market: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg.
When you get going at a double dose, you increase your risk of taking too much Viagra, and therefore, of experiencing adverse effects — and the potential severity. Especially if you’re looking to make two 100mg’s into one 200mg Viagra.
Common side effects for sildenafil include a variety of things with a range of severity, but highlights include headaches, dizziness, rashes, and sudden drops in blood pressure. While this might sound like a benefit if you have high blood pressure, it’s actually not — these drops can cause death, especially when sildenafil is mixed with other blood pressure medications.
Here’s another side effect that you don’t want: prolonged erections that last for several hours. Also called “priapism,” prolonged erections are a medical condition that can permanently damage your penis, which is definitely not the kind of change you want this drug to bring to your sex life. In any case, if you ever experience a painful erection lasting more than a few hours, you should see a doctor immediately.
Some ED sufferers might wrongly believe that taking a double dose might override arousal issues, as well. That’s not true. PDE-5 inhibitors merely create the proper conditions for an erection, but arousal still has to happen for you to get hard, meaning that if you’re suffering from depression or another psychological issue preventing arousal, this pill isn’t going to fix that — even if you take two.
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When You Can Take Viagra More Than Once
Is there ever an instance when taking two pills is a good idea?
There are some limited contexts in which you could take two Viagra pills at once to improve your sexual activity,, though. For instance, if you’re initially prescribed a low dose (25 mg) and then your healthcare professional increases your prescription to 50 mg, you could take two pills at once, if the healthcare professional says it’s okay.
But in that case, they should not be spaced out throughout the day — even the Viagra website specifically warns against taking Viagra more than once a day.
This is a very limited context in which two pills could ever be okay — anything outside of that (and particularly without a doctor’s recommendation) is dangerous.
Unfortunately, this does mean that a morning session and evening session are mutually exclusive while using Viagra. If this is a major concern because you’re just having sexual intercourse all the damn time, well, congratulations. You might want to talk to your healthcare professional about tadalafil (Cialis), which can give you an all-day solution to ED issues.
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The Bigger Picture
ED is a hard problem to talk about, and even though a large number of men deal with it, there’s a social stigma about it that many can’t seem to get over. We realize that can cause some men to feel avoidant towards professional help, and situations where you have to talk freely about a problem some might consider shameful.
But talking to a healthcare professional is essential for proper treatment, if only because it will help you avoid making decisions on your own that could be bad for you — like taking two Viagra pills at once.
10 Sources
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references.
- The Food And Drug Administration. (2017). VIAGRA® (Viagra citrate) tablets, for oral use. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020895s048lbl.pdf.
- Getting started with viagra. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2021, from https://www.viagra.com/taking-viagra.
- Publishing, H. (n.d.). Which drug for erectile dysfunction? Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/which-drug-for-erectile-dysfunction.
- Erectile dysfunction: The Viagra revolution. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2021, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Erectile_dysfunction_The_Viagra_revolution.
- Huang, S., & Lie, J. (2013, July). Phosphodiesterase-5 (pde5) inhibitors in the management of erectile dysfunction. Retrieved April 19, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776492/table/t2-ptj3807407/?report=objectonly.
- Araujo, A. B., Travison, T. G., Ganz, P., Chiu, G. R., Kupelian, V., Rosen, R. C., Hall, S. A., & McKinlay, J. B. (2009). Erectile dysfunction and mortality. The journal of sexual medicine, 6(9), 2445–2454. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26559652/.
- Yafi, F. A., Jenkins, L., Albersen, M., Corona, G., Isidori, A. M., Goldfarb, S., Maggi, M., Nelson, C. J., Parish, S., Salonia, A., Tan, R., Mulhall, J. P., & Hellstrom, W. J. (2016). Erectile dysfunction. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 2, 16003. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5027992/.
- Erection & Ejaculation: How Does It Work. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10036-erection-ejaculation-how-it-occurs.
- National Institute of Health. (n.d.). Erectile Dysfunction (ED). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction
- Food And Drug Administration. (2014). Label: VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablets. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/20895s039s042lbl.pdf
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
FAQs
How can I make Viagra work better? ›
- Eat a light meal beforehand. Viagra can be taken with or without food, but if you like to fuel up before getting busy, try to keep your meal choice light. ...
- Give yourself time for it to work. ...
- Don't drink alcohol after taking. ...
- Get in the mood.
What is the maximum dose of Viagra? The maximum dosage of Viagra is 100 mg once per day. You should not take more than one dose of Viagra in a day. The usual starting dose of Viagra is 50 mg taken when needed 1 hour before sexual activity.
Can I take 2 50mg sildenafil? ›Taking two 50mg sildenafil tablets for a 100mg dose
50mg is the standard starting dosage for sildenafil (Viagra). If 50mg does not produce the desired effect, or the effect does not last long enough, then taking two 50mg sildenafil tablets could be more effective.
Although we've all enjoyed the odd energy drink, a beverage known as Power Natural High Energy Drink SX might give you more of a kick than you expect. Zambian authorities have just banned the drink after tests showed it was spiked with sildenafil citrate – a medication better known as Viagra.
What next if Viagra is not working? ›Speak with your healthcare provider about a different dose
If Viagra isn't working for you, you might need a higher dose. But don't experiment on your own: Always speak with a healthcare provider about dosage changes and never take more than one dose of Viagra in any 24 hour period.
For most people, the maximum recommended dosage of Viagra is 100 mg once per day. This dosage may be too high for people who have certain medical conditions or take certain medications. So it's important not to take more Viagra than your doctor prescribes for you.
Is it OK to take two Viagra tablets? ›If you have found Sildenafil 100mg to be ineffective, you should talk to your prescribing doctor. They will probably encourage you to try it a few more times before you move onto something else. Because 100mg is the highest dose available, you should never 'double up' on tablets or take more than one in 24 hours.
Can I take two Viagra 100mg at once? ›You should never increase your dose, double your dose, or change how you take ED medication without the advice of your healthcare provider. If Viagra isn't working the way you'd like or you're experiencing side effects, speak to your healthcare provider.
Why is my 50 mg Viagra not working? ›If Viagra is not working for you, it may be because your dosage is too low. The usual starting dose for Viagra is 50mg, but you may be started on a lower dose of 25mg if you take certain medications. The maximum dose of Viagra that you can take is 100mg. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose if it is safe for you.
Why is my sildenafil not working? ›There are several reasons Viagra and other ED drugs might not work effectively as treatments for erectile dysfunction. These include using Viagra incorrectly, taking a low dose of Viagra and using Viagra to treat ED that's caused by something other than poor blood flow.
Does sildenafil keep you hard after coming? ›
Does Viagra help you keep an erection after ejaculating? Yes, Viagra may help you keep an erection, even after you ejaculate. But if you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, see a doctor right away. This could be a medical emergency, and it can cause damage to your penis.
What natural drinks help with erectile dysfunction? ›Two natural erectile dysfunction treatments that have shown promise are red ginseng and pomegranate juice. “Ginseng is thought to increase nitric oxide production, leading to improved blood flow," he says.
What can I drink to get hard? ›Feel free to drink more caffeine
Love coffee or tea? Great! A 2005 review showed that caffeine may improve blood flow and relax the muscles that help you get and keep an erection. Try to keep it to black coffee, unsweetened tea, and caffeinated drinks without sweeteners.
- 12 minutes after – One study has shown that some men got an erection just 12 minutes after taking Viagra. ...
- 27 minutes later – This is the average time for Viagra to start working, helping you to get an erection.
do not take sildenafil if you are taking or have recently taken riociguat (Adempas) or nitrates (medications for chest pain) such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket), and nitroglycerin (Minitran, Nitro-Dur, Nitromist, Nitrostat, others).
Why does my Viagra only work sometimes? ›Low testosterone levels
Viagra cannot replace testosterone levels, so when those levels drop too low, Viagra cannot stimulate enough blood flow into the penis to make up for the drop in hormone levels. That results in Viagra no longer working as well as it should or failing to work at all.
Viagra (sildenafil) is an oral medication that's used to treat erectile dysfunction. You can take Viagra take 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity, but it shouldn't be taken more than once daily. For most men, Viagra begins to work within an hour.
Is it OK to take 200mg of sildenafil? ›The highest recommended Viagra dose for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) is 100 mg per day, according to the drug's manufacturer. Doses of 150 mg or 200 mg would be considered off-label use.
Is sildenafil the same as Viagra? ›Sildenafil is the generic for two common brand-name products: Viagra and Revatio. These medications are FDA approved for two different health conditions. While Viagra treats ED, Revatio is approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
What is stronger than Viagra? ›Vardenafil (Levitra) is almost 10 times more biochemically potent than sildenafil, therefore a lower dose is needed to facilitate the penile erection, potentially resulting in less side effects. Selectivity is the ability of the drug to attach to the specific enzyme PDE 5 found in penile tissues.
How long does 100mg sildenafil last? ›
Sildenafil starts working within 30–60 minutes. Some men find that it works even faster. You should take sildenafil between 30 minutes and four hours before sexual activity. The medication usually stays in your system for 4–5 hours (Zucchi, 2019; DailyMed, 2020).
How long can the average man stay erect? ›A penile erection can normally last anywhere from a few minutes to about half an hour. On average, men have five erections a night while they're sleeping, each lasting about 25 to 35 minutes (Youn, 2017).
When is the best time to take Viagra? ›Viagra is a useful form of treatment for erectile dysfunction. It is best to take the drug around 60 minutes before sexual activity, and its effects can last up to 4 hours. Viagra cannot cause an erection if there is a lack of sexual arousal.
How should I take sildenafil for best results? ›Ideally, Viagra should be taken 30–60 minutes before you plan to have sex for best results. It needs time to work, so taking Viagra too close to the time that you need it may make it more difficult to get an erection strong enough for satisfying sex. Taking Viagra too early may do the same.
Does Viagra work with alcohol? ›"Taking Viagra with alcohol increases your risk of side effects. Alcohol also makes it much more difficult to get and keep an erection." Many men who take Viagra also want to have a drink at the same time. However, combining the two could actually have a negative impact on your ability to get an erection.
What happens if you take too much sildenafil? ›Taking too much sildenafil can cause unpleasant side effects. Talk to your doctor if you take too much sildenafil and you're worried about any of these side effects: headaches. dizziness.
Is there a shot for erectile dysfunction? ›Penile injection therapy is used by people of all ages to treat ED with a variety of causes. It can be used long-term, though you'll want to vary injection sites each time you inject. This helps avoid creating any scar tissue.
Is sildenafil weaker than Viagra? ›Minor differences in packaging aside, brand name Viagra and its generic counterpart sildenafil are exactly the same medication. If you have erectile dysfunction, both medications should produce noticeable improvements in your erections and sexual performance. The key difference, as we mentioned above, is price.
How long does sildenafil stay hard? ›Viagra typically starts working within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for about 2 to 3 hours after that. Seek medical attention if you experience an erection lasting longer than 4 hours.
Does sildenafil work better if you take it everyday? ›Taking a daily dose of Viagra can help stop the intensity of the progression of ED. It also has other benefits, including improving your ability to urinate and improving your quality of life in general. Discuss dosage and frequency with your doctor to determine what works best for you.
Does sildenafil increase size? ›
Sildenafil (brand name Viagra, or affectionately nicknamed “the little blue pill”; see Important Safety Information) is a highly effective medication to treat erectile dysfunction. However, there is something it can't do. Viagra does not make your penis bigger. No pill does.
Why can't I get hard after the first round? ›After sex. After orgasm, every man goes through a recovery cycle, called the refractory period, which is when it is not possible to get another erection. This resolution stage can take anything from minutes to days and varies from man to man, generally extending as you get older.
What affects the effectiveness of Viagra? ›Viagra's effectiveness is decreased if you take it after a heavy meal or consuming large amounts of alcohol. Without sexual stimulation Viagra won't produce any results. The underlying cause and severity of your erectile dysfunction also impacts on how successfully you respond to Viagra.
Does grapefruit juice enhance the effects of Viagra? ›Conclusions: Grapefruit juice increases sildenafil bioavailability and tends to delay sildenafil absorption.
Does Viagra become less effective the more you take it? ›Even when Viagra works, one of the problems for people who need to take it indefinitely is that it becomes less effective over the course of months or years. “This is quite common. Most patients will experience a worsening of their erections after they've been on Viagra for a while,” says Hatzichristodoulou.
When is the peak effect of Viagra? ›The concentration of Viagra in the blood peaks around 30–120 minutes after taking the drug — usually around the 60 minute mark. It is possible to start feeling the effects of Viagra at any time during this window. Viagra tablets typically come in 25, 50, or 100 milligram (mg) doses.
How do you know when Viagra is working? ›Viagra doesn't start working immediately after taking it, as the medication needs time to be absorbed into your blood. For most men, it takes around 30 minutes before you start to feel the effects of Viagra. 12 minutes after – One study has shown that some men got an erection just 12 minutes after taking Viagra.
What makes you hard in Viagra? ›Viagra and similar forms of erectile dysfunction medication work by inhibiting PDE5 and making it easier for blood to flow to your penis and produce an erection. By inhibiting PDE5, the blood vessels that supply your penis can relax, increasing their size and allowing blood to flow more freely.
What should you not mix Viagra with? ›For example, combining it with nitrates and alpha blockers can cause dangerously low blood pressure. Sildenafil also interacts with alcohol, grapefruit juice, and medications that affect liver proteins. This can result in a worsening of side effects like dizziness, headaches, and flushing.
What is the difference between Viagra and Cialis? ›The biggest difference between Viagra and Cialis is the amount of time their effects last. Viagra remains effective for 4 to 6 hours, which offers ample opportunity to have sex on multiple occasions if you wish. However Cialis typically allows you to achieve erections for up to 36 hours after taking a tablet.
How long after drinking grapefruit juice can I take Viagra? ›
Potential Negative Interaction
In one study, ingestion of 250 ml (approximately 1 cup) of grapefruit juice one hour before and together with sildenafil increased the total amount of sildenafil absorbed by 23%, but tended to delay the absorption of the drug.
There is not a great deal of difference between Sildenafil 100mg and 50mg, although in clinical trials, the higher dosage was seen to be 82% effective, as opposed to 74% effective. The effects of Sildenafil 100mg do not last longer than the 50mg dosage, but they tend to be stronger.
Does alcohol affect Viagra? ›It's best to avoid consuming alcohol while taking ED medications like Viagra: Not only can alcohol counteract the medication's effects, but it can also worsen side effects, like flushing and headaches. Again, talk to your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol if you're taking medications like Viagra.
Why is my ED medicine not working? ›Another reason drugs may not work is because your ED is caused by an underlying health condition. This can include issues with nerves, blood vessels, or hormones. If ED medication isn't working for you, talk to a healthcare provider about getting evaluated for other things that could be causing the issue.