How does grapefruit juice affect how Viagra works? Is it safe to take them together?
There is a well-known effect where grapefruit juice can interact with medications. It may increase the "bioavailability" of Viagra, increasing its effectiveness.
In effect, what you are doing is mixing drugs, which can have unpredictable effects. When you drink the grapefruit juice (or eat the grapefruit), how much you drink or eat, what type it is, etc. can all play a factor. What else you've eaten, your weight, etc. can also have an effect. So there's just no way to predict how your body will react.
So, generally, it's not recommended to mix the two.
If you are determined to try this combination, we recommend trying it at home, in a safe environment, with a very low dose of Viagra at first - at most 25mg, and perhaps even less. That way you can test the drug interaction. You may experience better effectiveness, but you also may experience increased side effects like headache, stuffiness, etc.
Note: if you are taking any other medications, or have any other serious health issues, you should consult with your doctor before even considering this. The grapefruit juice could interact with some other medication you are taking, with truly unpredictable, and perhaps dangerous, results.
I've heard that Viagra can actually increase penis size. Is that true?
First, let's be clear. Viagra is not a penis enlargement pill. It is an erection-inducing pill.
However, for years we've received reports from readers that they felt like Viagra made them longer or thicker than usual. Here are just a few of the dozens of reports we've received:
"My wife said that the Viagra made my dick bigger than it has ever been."
"She noticed I was both longer and thicker."
"I am bigger and harder than ever before, and i shoot my load farther than I have
ever seen."
"Lasted much,much longer than usual. Bigger and longer in size also."
What is going on here? Could Viagra actually be increasing penis size?
We think there are two things going on. A full erection is likely to be larger than the partial erection many men get without Viagra; in this case, men may actually be bigger on Viagra. They probably aren't bigger than they were when they didn't have erectile difficulties, but they may in fact be bigger than the have been since suffering from ED.
Another factor is that Viagra does make men harder than usual, often even harder than they were before they had ED. Being so hard can feel to their partner like they are bigger. In other words, they may be making a bigger impression, even though the actual size may not be increased.
We don't know of any clinical studies of this issue, so we're left with this anecdotal evidence and our best guesses. But these consistent reports should not be ignored.
I've been taking Viagra for two years but recently it's stopped working. What can I do?
In a situation like this, the first thing we'd recommend is going to see your doctor, Whatever is the underlying cause of your ED may be getting worse, or some new problem may have developed, so you want to get a full physical to make sure everything is OK.
If that doesn't turn up anything, try to figure out if anything else has changed. If you are taking Viagra at a different time of day, after different foods or alcohol, etc. that may have an effect. Try taking it on an empty stomach and without any alcohol to see if that is more effective.
You can always try increasing your dose; 100mg is the maximum dose per day. The downside of a higher dose is that you're likely to experience more side effects.
The other option is to try another drug like Levitra or Cialis; those may be more effective.
It's important to remember, though, that all of these drugs require sufficient stimulation. If for some reason you aren't being excited like you were before, that could be the culprit. It could be a psychological or emotional issue and have nothing to do with the drug at all.
My husband took Viagra and I am having a BIG issue. I feel that when he makes
love to me it is because of the pill and not because he loves me... I
might be stupid but I am having big problems accepting it. Age 60, Toronto
In all the excitement men feel over their new-found prowess after taking Viagra, what's often overlooked is the uncertainty their partners often feel. Your concern, far from being stupid, is very common and natural. Let us try to put your mind at ease a bit.
First, it's very important to remember that Viagra doesn't make a man want sex. Your husband doesn't take Viagra and then want to have sex with you; he wants to have sex with you and then takes Viagra to make that possible. Viagra only works on a physical level, not a mental or emotional one. The desire has to be there too.
That said, sometimes men go overboard when they first start taking Viagra, especially if they've suffered from ED for a long time. Finally they are able to get and maintain an erection, and they want to take full advantage of it. They are like a kid who rediscovers a long-forgotten toy; they want to play with it as much as possible. The feelings and needs of their partner can easily get overlooked lost in the excitement.
The best thing to do is share your feelings with him. He probably is expecting you to be as overwhelmed with excitement as he is; he may not realize that any change this dramatic takes some time to adjust to.
Most likely, as the novelty wears off and his confidence returns, you two will get back into a mutually satisfying pattern that meets both of your needs. Some more communication and a little patience will help you both discover that Viagra is only a small part of a loving relationship.
For most people, Viagra works the first time they take it. You should expect it to kick in anywhere from half an hour to two hours after you take it. What should happen is, with sufficient stimulation, you should be able to achieve a strong erection. Remember, Viagra works on a physical level, not a mental one. I doesn't make you want sex, or feel sexy, it only allows you to get an erection with sexual stimulation.
Some of our readers report that it takes several tries for Viagra to start working. If you don't have any success, you should wait 24 hours and take another dose. Try to take it on an empty stomach and without any alcohol to maximize its effect. You can also increase the dose, but you shouldn't go above the maximum dose of 100mg.
If you still don't get any effect after several tries, you might try Levitra or Cialis. Some men find that these drugs work if Viagra doesn't (and vice versa). Each person reacts differently. Experiment to find the best treatment for your erectile dysfunction.
What if you try the maximum dose of Viagra (100 mg) and it doesn't work for you. What should you do? Should you go above the maximum dose?
We get this question a lot. The first thing you should do, before even considering upping the dose, is to see what other steps you can take to make the drug more effective.
First thing to make sure of is that you have sufficient sexual stimulation. If you have no desire for sex, or have nothing to stimulate your interest in sex, Viagra alone won't do anything for you. It isn't like the old injection therapies for ED that produced instant erections; you need something to excite you for it to work.
Also, make sure you've given enough time for it to work. You probably should wait at least 30 minutes, and probably an hour, before attempting anything.
Most importantly, try it on an empty stomach and completely sober. Fatty foods and alcohol can hurt the drug's effectiveness.
If you try all of these things and still don't get any result, ask your doctor whether a higher dose might be appropriate. The higher the dose, the more likely you are to experience side effects, so we strongly recommend not going above 100mg without a doctor's supervision.
Another option would be to try Levitra or Cialis. These drugs work better for some men. However, never mix medications. You should never take Viagra and Levitra within the same 24 hours, and you should give Cialis several days to leave your system before taking Viagra or Levitra.
Viagra's harmless side effects are common and well-known. Many users report headache, nasal congestion, facial flushing, or upset stomach.
The most important thing you can do to lessen side effects is take as low a dose as possible. The higher the dose, the more likely you are to experience side effects. So if you are bothered by side effects, experiment with your dosage. Many men find success with 25mg or even less.
Our readers have suggested many other ways to limit side effects. Many men take the pill with a big glass of water. Others, who consistently experience a certain side effect, will take a preventative medicine ahead of time. So men who always get a headache when they take Viagra might take a Tylenol ahead of time to lessen the effect.
You can also experiment whether you take it on a full or empty stomach. Some men find that abstaining from alcohol can increase effectiveness and so require a lower dose; in that way, they can reduce side effects as well.
Of course, if you experience more serious side effects, like dizziness, fainting, vision difficulties, etc. you should contact your doctor immediately.
