Viagra and Alcohol: Essential Information
Approximately one-third of adult men will experience erectile dysfunction (ED) at some stage in their lifetimes. Eventually, many of these men turn to ED prescription medications, such as Viagra, for assistance. Every medication comes with a list of adverse effects and warnings against combining it with alcohol. Because Viagra is not a daily medication, it does not accumulate in the blood, so adverse effects subside as the drug departs the body.
Frequent Adverse Effects of Combining Viagra And Alcohol
Headaches
Headaches are the most prevalent adverse effect of Viagra (and other ED medications). This is because ED medications increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels. This occurs throughout the entire body, not just the genitalia. Approximately 25% of Viagra users experience headaches.
Reddened Skin
Due to the thinness of the epidermis on the face, 10 to 19% of Viagra users experience flushing around the nostrils, cheekbones, and forehead. As the effects of the medication wane off, the blushing subsides.
Sinus Congestion
After taking Viagra, between four and nine percent of men experience nasal congestion. Similar to migraines, this is due to the dilation of blood vessels that causes nasal obstruction.
Muscle Hurts
Men have also reported back pain and muscle discomfort after taking Viagra. In two to four percent of men taking Viagra, discomfort in a specific area, such as the lower back, fluctuates in severity from mild to noticeable.
Mild Vertigo or Blurry Vision
Due to the modest reduction in blood pressure that occurs when blood vessels dilate, some men may experience mild vertigo, particularly when standing up quickly. As your body adjusts to the medication, the vertigo rapidly disappears. In men with cardiovascular disease or hypertension, this abrupt decrease in blood pressure can have detrimental long-term health consequences.
Viagra can cause vision-related adverse effects, including blurred vision, abnormal vision, and sudden loss of vision, at higher concentrations.
Heartburn or Nausea
Because the smooth muscle of the penis begins to relax, blood flow can increase. The lower esophageal sphincter, which separates the stomach from the esophagus and stomach, also contains smooth muscle. It is possible for a small quantity of gastric acid to enter the esophagus when this muscle relaxes, producing heartburn or indigestion.
Two to three percent of men taking Viagra experience nausea promptly after each dose, with symptoms subsiding as the drug wears off.
Alcohol consumption while taking Viagra may exacerbate adverse effects.
Drinking excessive quantities of alcohol has negative effects on one's health, including but not limited to disorientation, irregular pulse, and elevated blood pressure.
Although it is not recommended to consume alcohol while taking Viagra or other ED medications, drinking a small amount of alcohol (up to two cans of beer or two glasses of wine) on the evenings you intend to take Viagra is unlikely to cause negative side effects. As with other ED medications, the greatest risk of mixing Viagra and alcohol is that alcohol constricts blood vessels, whereas Viagra works by relaxing blood vessels, meaning that alcohol may negate the positive effects of the drug. Men taking Viagra who consume above-average quantities of alcohol are also more likely to develop migraines.
Some alcoholic beverages can also exacerbate the adverse effects associated with Viagra. For instance, if you have gluten sensitivity, combining Viagra with beer could exacerbate facial flushing. beverages containing grapefruit juice, such as Greyhounds, Palomas, Brown Derbies, Sea Breezes, and some margaritas and mojitos, enhance the bioavailability of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, thereby increasing its effects and side effects; these beverages should be avoided while taking Viagra.
Combining Viagra And Alcohol Can Counteract Viagra's Effects.
Other effects of mixing Viagra and alcohol on the body may reduce the drug's efficacy. Excessive alcohol consumption can counteract the effects of Viagra, making it more difficult to achieve and maintain an erection when aroused (the entire purpose of the medication), or even worse, alcohol-induced erectile dysfunction. Alcohol can also reduce testosterone levels in the body, diminishing your desire and prohibiting you from becoming aroused. Abuse of alcohol or excessive drinking can increase a man's risk of a heart attack, and concurrent use of Viagra increases this risk even further.
Before deciding whether Viagra or other ED drugs are appropriate for you, discuss your alcohol consumption and other medications with your physician.
Wingman MD
1062 Old Des Peres Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131
13144710069
Approximately one-third of adult men will experience erectile dysfunction (ED) at some stage in their lifetimes. Eventually, many of these men turn to ED prescription medications, such as Viagra, for assistance. Every medication comes with a list of adverse effects and warnings against combining it with alcohol. Because Viagra is not a daily medication, it…