Thanks to medications available online like Viagra, sexual medical problems like Erectile Dysfunction (ED), or impotence in men, are fully curable. Millions of patients, worldwide, have already tried this medication and are quite satisfied with the results. Yet, in a few rare cases, some patients experienced a couple of side effects. Let us see how and what are the potential side effects that Viagra holds.
Important things to know about Viagra Pills for ED
- Viagra is a branded pharmaceutical drug based on the salt of Sildenafil citrate which is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
- It is primarily used to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction in men.
- It is capable of producing a penial erection for about four to five hours duration.
- Additionally, it is also used in cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Is Viagra available without a prescription/as an OTC Drug?
It is not at all advisable to get Viagra as an OTC drug. It is a branded prescription drug that should only be taken after having a thorough diagnosis by an authorized healthcare professional.
However, certain e-pharmacies sell some ‘natural or herbal’ nutritional supplements, often marketed as ED supplements or ED OTC medicines. Yet, patients should consult doctors before taking such products as even some of the natural ingredients might bring some reactions if not taken under guidance.
Not every patient reacts to certain drugs the same way. Moreover, it so happens that certain drugs or even natural and herbal ingredients might react adversely when taken while being under some other medication’s influence.
Hence the importance of a thorough diagnosis that includes one’s present and past medical history; which is extremely crucial to determine the suitability of a particular drug for that individual.
What are the Side Effects of taking Viagra Tablets?
Severe Side Effects of Viagra (1 in 100 people)
Viagra, when taken in an unregulated manner, can cause some severe side effects, as mentioned below. Hence, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking Viagra.
- Prolonged and painful erection
- Deafness
- Increased heartbeat
- heart attack symptoms – chest pain or pressure,
- vision changes or sudden vision loss;
- ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss;
- irregular heartbeat;
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
- shortness of breath;
- seizure (convulsions)
- a sensation of motion, usually whirling, either of one’s self or of one’s surroundings
- Multiple sexual problems in men including failure to experience a sexual orgasm
- numbness or tingling of the hands, legs, or feet
- rectal bleeding
- Bloody and cloudy urine
- Nose bleeding
- Asthma
Less Severe Side Effects of Viagra
There are a few comparatively less severe side effects that Viagra can inflict on a few patients, as mentioned below.
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Dizziness
- sores in the mouth and on the lips
- Nasal congestion
- Frequent urination
Common Viagra Side Effects (1 in 10 people)
There is a very minuscule percentage of chance that Viagra shows adverse effects in ED patients. Below is a table showing the percentage of men who get certain side effects from Viagra, based on the dose they take.
| Common Side Effects | 25 mg | 50mg | 100mg |
| Headache | 16% | 21% | 28% |
| Flushing | 10% | 19% | 18% |
| Dyspepsia | 3% | 9% | 17% |
| Abnormal vision | 1% | 2% | 11% |
| Nasal congestion | 4% | 4% | 9% |
| Back pain | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Myalgia | 2% | 2% | 4% |
| Nausea | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Dizziness | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Rash | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Uncommon or Rare Viagra Side Effects (1 in 100 people)
In some rarest of rare cases, patients might experience the following problems on taking Viagra without a doctor’s prescription.
- Prolonged and painful erection
- Deafness
- Increased heartbeat
- heart attack symptoms – chest pain or pressure
Side Effects of Viagra in Older Men
There has been sufficient research to prove that most men over 70 years can tolerate Viagra treatment without any serious problems. However, the medical conditions that come with old age might sometimes make Viagra a problematic medication.
- Cardiomyopathy
- Tachycardia
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart failure
- Cerebral thrombosis
- Angina pectoris
- AV block
- Hypotension, including postural hypotension
- Myocardial ischemia
- Palpitations
- Syncope (loss of consciousness)
- Migraine
- Abnormal EKG (electrocardiogram), also called ECG
Side Effects of Viagra Overdose
Even in case of missing a dose, a patient should simply wait for the scheduled time for the next dose and not take two doses at once. Overdose of Viagra might lead to the following side effects.
- Headaches
- Flushing
- Indigestion
- Nasal congestion
- Vision problems
Side Effects of Viagra on Women
Some research has also been conducted to understand the repercussions that women with sexual dysfunction might experience, on taking Viagra (Sildenafil).
- Headache
- Nausea
- Nasal congestion
- Flushing
- Vision changes
Side Effects of Viagra on Heart Patients
This medication can actually go fatal in ED patients with heart problems. Those who are already heart patients might experience the following adversaries, on taking Viagra, without consulting a doctor.
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Arrhythmia
- Hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Death
Side Effects of Viagra on Blood Pressure Patients
Studies have proven the substantial role that Viagra plays in patients with the problem of high blood pressure. It has been seen that Viagra tends to lower BP as it relaxes the blood vessels.
- Blindness
- Chest pain
- Complications in pregnancy (preeclampsia or eclampsia)
- Heart attack
- Memory loss, personality changes, trouble concentrating, irritability, or progressive loss of consciousness
- Severe damage to the body’s main artery (aortic dissection)
- Stroke
- Sudden impaired pumping of the heart, leading to fluid backup in the lungs resulting in shortness of breath (pulmonary edema)
- Sudden loss of kidney function
Side Effects of Viagra when Consumed with Alcohol
It often happens that men want to take alcohol before or just after taking Viagra pills, mostly to get into the mood. Having just one or two pegs might help someone to move out of the shyness and get into the right mood, but going overboard with it often brings adverse effects. Hence alcohol consumption should be avoided as much as possible when one is under the influence of Viagra.
- Facial flushing
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Disturbed Vision
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Increase in heart palpitations
How to get rid of Viagra Side Effects?
Viagra should not be bothering someone if taken as per a doctor’s instructions. Yet, in some rarest of rare cases, a few side effects might appear. But fortunately, most of those mild side effects of Viagra either tend to go away within a period of one to twelve hours. Below lies a chart showing approximately what percentage of men still have such side effects after a certain amount of time.
| Time after taking Viagra | % of men still experiencing side effects |
| 18 mins | Less than 90% |
| 24 mins | Less than 90% |
| 30 mins | Less than 80% |
| 54 mins | Less than 70% |
| 1 hour | Less than 50% |
| 3 hours | Less than 30% |
| 7 hours | Less than 20% |
| 12 hours | Less than 10% |
| Over 12 hours | 3% |
However, in case any of the side effects are persistent or bothering too much, then one should immediate;y call for a doctor’s help and refrain from self-medication.
Is there any Viagra Tablet without Side Effects?
As any pharmaceutical drug would come with some risk of side effects, we tend to look out for the drugs with the least possibilities of side effects. Coming to medicines for erectile dysfunction, Sildenafil Citrate (generic) is quite a popular choice. It comes in multiple branded versions like Viagra, Kamagra, Stendra, Cenforce, etc. Of these, although Viagra is the most popular one, it comes with a lot of side effects. Stendra on the other hand, comes with the most negligible side effects.
However, many people across the globe have already tried this medication and are more than satisfied with the positive results. Hence, one should not get afraid and make any preconceived notion about the drug, looking at the above-mentioned side effects; rather get proper consultation from an authorized medical practitioner and understand his or her suitability for the drug, and get the right dosage.