Is It Safe To Take Sildenafil And Alcohol Together?

Let us talk about something a lot of people wonder but rarely talk about, which is whether it is safe to take sildenafil or Viagra and alcohol together.

Sildenafil, the generic option for brand Viagra has been a boon to men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). Often, men trying set a date night may want to have a drink. But is it safe to have a drink when taking this ED medicine?

Mixing these two can have some effects on your body that you should definitely know about before you decide to do it. Let us break down what really happens when you take alcohol and sildenafil together.

Sildenafil And Erectile Dysfunction

Sildenafil is a well-known medication that treats Erectile dysfunction in men. It is a condition that is characterized by the disability of a person to achieve or sustain a firm erection.

The Sildenafil tablet, also known as generic Viagra, belongs to the phosphodiesterase-type 5 inhibitor drug class. It is approved by the FDA, MHRA, and TGA guidelines and starts working within 30-60 minutes after administration. The effects of this ED medicine last for about 4-6 hours. Along with Sildenafil, the other generic options include Cenforce, Aurogra, and Malegra.

Does Alcohol Cause ED?

There are no studies that directly link the use of alcohol to ED. In fact, some researches suggest that mild to moderate consumption of alcohol can lower your risk of ED. However, there are numerous other studies contradicting this claim.

As previously mentioned having alcohol do not directly result in ED but it can affect your organs, nerves and blood vessels which play an essential role in getting an erection. Long-term alcohol use can also affect your level of sex hormones, further increasing the risk of ED.

Excessive drinking can also reduce testosterone production in the body by promoting oxidative stress and inflammation. This can affect normal hormone balance, resulting in lower testosterone levels. This can further affect sexual function, mood, and muscle mass.

What Happens When You Mix Sildenafil With Alcohol?

Taking Sildenafil and Alcohol can prevent this ED medicine from working well. In general, alcohol consumption can make it harder to get an erection, and the risk is higher in people who drink frequently. So, when you take Sildenafil to improve your ED symptoms, drinking alcohol can clash with its effects.

Further, the intake of alcohol can increase the risk of experiencing side effects from Sildenafil.

A 2019 study on the influence of PDE5 inhibitors in middle-aged to old age men suggests that it increases the risk of side effects such as heart palpitation, headache, and flushing.

Additionally, studies have shown that sexual dysfunction issues like premature ejaculation and low sexual desire are more common in people who have alcohol dependence.

How Much Alcohol Can You Drink With Sildenafil?

Many people often consider having one or two drinks with Sildenafil or any other PDE5 inhibitor to be okay. But we recommend refraining from using them together and consulting a doctor before use.

Your health conditions and the medicines you take can also impact how they interact. For example, the use of Sildenafil tablets and alcohol can both lower your blood pressure. However, this can have a mild effect on many people. But in people who already suffer from low blood pressure, this can result in a serious health condition.

What Else Should You Avoid While Using Sildenafil?

Health care providers advise you to avoid combining grapefruit juice with generic Viagra tablet. Grapefruit juice can affect how your liver breaks down Sildenafil in the body. If you combine the ED medicine with grapefruit juice, it could result in increased levels of the medicine in your body. This can increase your risk of experiencing side effects.

It is also crucial to give your doctor a complete list of your current medicines to prevent dangerous drug interactions. Some examples of medicines that can cause an adverse interaction resulting in severe low blood pressure are –

• Nitrates such as nitroglycerine (used to treat chest pain or angina)
• Alpha-blockers such as doxazosin (used to treat benign enlargement of the prostate gland)
• Blood pressure medications such as amlodipine, lisinopril, and losartan
• Diuretics or water pills.

How Long After Taking Sildenafil Can You Drink Alcohol?

If your doctor has advised you to avoid alcohol while taking this ED medicine, it is best to wait till the medicine leaves your body. It takes about 20 to 24 hours to eliminate Sildenafil or its other generic options, such as Malegra, Aurogra, and Cenforce.

Potential Sildenafil Side Effects With Alcohol

Taking high levels of alcohol with Sildenafil can increase your risk of experiencing the following side effects-

• Low blood pressure
• Indigestion
• Muscle soreness
• Abnormal vision
• Back pain
• Nasal congestion
• Rash
• Nausea
• Dizziness

A study in the journal Sexual Medicine found that men who drink in higher amounts are more likely to experience flushing and headaches from ED medicine than men who do not drink.

Sildenafil Interaction With Alcohol- The Bottom Line

Even though it is thought that mild drinking is safe while taking the Sildenafil tablet, we personally do not recommend doing so. Since each person interacts differently and their underlying health conditions can worsen the effect of the interaction. Combining Sildenafil and alcohol can increase the risk of side effects such as flushing, headaches, and palpitations. This interaction can also make the ED medicine less effective as alcohol use can make it harder to get and maintain an erection.