How To Get Rid Of Viagra Side Effects

Viagra is the most popular medication for erectile dysfunction, and is safe and effective for most men. However, it can cause side effects for less than 2% of men who use it. These side effects usually aren't serious and most go away after a few hours.

If you're worried about getting side effects from Viagra, we have a few tips for keeping your risk low and a doctor can help you find the right dose for you.

Last reviewed: 23/12/2020 by Dr Simran Deo

What are the side effects of Viagra?

Common side effects (affect up to 1 in 10 people who use Viagra):

Nausea (feeling sick
Facial flushing (face turning red)
Hot flush (sudden feeling of heat in your upper body)
Indigestion
Your vision changing colour
Blurred vision
Visual disturbances
Stuffy nose
Dizziness

Uncommon side effects (affect up to 1 in 100 people who use Viagra):

Vomiting (throwing up)
Skin rash
Eye irritation
Bloodshot or red eyes
Eye pain
Seeing flashes of light
Thing looking brighter than normal
Light sensitivity
Watery eyes
A pounding heartbeat
Rapid heartbeat
High blood pressure
Low blood pressure
Muscle pain
Feeling sleepy
A reduced sense of touch
Vertigo (feeling things are moving or spinning around)
A ringing in your ears
Dry mouth
Blocked or stuffy sinuses
Inflammation of the lining of the nose (symptoms include runny nose, sneezing and a stuffy nose)
Pain at the top of your stomach
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux, symptoms include heartburn)
Blood in urine (pee)
Pain in the arms or legs
Nosebleed
Feeling hot
Feeling tired

Rare side effects (affect up to 1 in 100 people who use Viagra):

Fainting
Stroke
Heart attack
Irregular heartbeat
Temporary decreased blood flow to parts of the brain
Feeling of tightening of the throat
A numb mouth
Bleeding at the back of the eye
Double vision
Reduced sharpness of vision
Abnormal sensation (strange feeling) in the eye
Swelling of the eye or eyelid
Seeing small particles or spots in your vision
Seeing halos (rings of colour) around lights,
Dilation of the pupil of the eye (your pupil looking bigger)
Discolouration (colour change) of the white part of your eye
Penile bleeding
Blood in semen
A dry nose
Swelling of the inside of the nose
Feeling irritable
Having trouble hearing or losing hearing completely

When side effects are an emergency

If you get any of the following serious side effects, or signs of an allergic reaction, you should get emergency medical help by calling 111 or 999 or see the NHS page on emergency medical services.

Serious side effects:
An allergic reaction:
Sudden wheezing or chest tightness
Trouble breathing or dizziness
Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, or tongue
Chest pain
Ongoing painful erections
Vision getting worse or loss of vision
Serious skin reactions:
Severe peeling and swelling
Blistering around the mouth, genitals, and eyes
Fever

Does Viagra cause blood pressure problems?

Viagra can cause changes in blood pressure for some men, and both high and low blood pressure are listed as uncommon side effects of taking Viagra. Studies show that Viagra does drop blood pressure in men who take it, whether they already have blood pressure problems or not. This drop is considered to be 'clinically insignificant', which means it's not going to cause health problems for most men.

This effect Viagra has on blood pressure is not surprising since it was discovered by accident when scientists were looking for new blood pressure treatments. This change in blood pressure is related to how Viagra works and is part of the reason why Viagra makes it easier to get erections.

How long do side effects last?

Most men find their side effects go away after 1 hour, and after 12 hours almost all side effects go away. The table below shows what percentage of men still have side effects after a certain amount of time after taking a dose of Viagra.

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%

Are there long-term side effects?

Looking at the long-term effects of Sildenafil, research shows that the number of men stopping treatment because of side effects remains very low – less than 1%.
Men appear to be able to take Sildenafil long term without serious risk to their health, and without an increased chance of getting side effects.

Plus, evidence shows that men who take Sildenafil long term still find their treatment effective and don't become resistant to it. This means that it's safe to take Viagra for as long as you need it.

Do higher doses make Viagra side effects worse?

There's a small increase in your chance of getting side effects as the dose of Viagra goes up. Still, there's only a less than 2% chance of side effects across all doses.

This table shows the percentage of men who get certain side effects from Viagra, based on the dose they take. This shows that of the small percentage of men who get side effects, 16% of them will get a headache when taking 25mg of Viagra.

Common side effect	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%

See our page on Viagra Dosages for more information on the different doses of Viagra.

Are side effects different for generic or over the counter Viagra?

The side effects of Viagra and over the counter Viagra Connect are the same. This is because they share the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate.

This is also the case with Sildenafil, the generic version of Viagra, which also has exactly the same active ingredient and dosages as Viagra, the possible side effects. And your chance of getting them, will be the same.

But, since different manufacturers put slightly different ingredients in their tablets, you could see some difference in side effects between Viagra and Sildenafil from different companies. For example, some manufacturers use lactose in their tablets and some don't, which might cause a reaction for people with lactose intolerance.

Are side effects worse for older men?

There isn't a lot of difference in the side effects experienced by older men compared to younger men. Research shows even most men over 70 can tolerate Viagra treatment without any serious problems.

As you get older, your chance of getting other health conditions that could make Viagra unsafe does go up, so some older men may need to take lower doses of Viagra. Also as you get older your body may get less efficient at removing Viagra from your system, so side effects may last a little longer than they would for younger men.

Does alcohol cause side effects?

Alcohol doesn't have a serious reaction with Viagra so you can drink in moderation and use Viagra safely.

But, alcohol does make it more likely that you will get side effects from Viagra. Alcohol also makes it harder for you to get and keep erections, so drinking alcohol can make Viagra less effective.

You can find more information on our page about taking alcohol and Viagra at the same time.

Other causes of side effects?

Does Viagra give women side effects?

Studies on women using Viagra show that they get similar side effects to men taking Viagra, and don't get any extra serious side effects. One instance of female genital bleeding was recorded, similar to the rare side effect of penile bleeding in men.

Even if some research suggests Viagra might be able to help with female sexual disorders, there isn't enough evidence to support treatment. Because of this, and the risk of side effects that comes with Viagra, doctors can't prescribe Viagra to women with sexual disorders.

Since women in the UK can't get approved for Viagra treatment, it means they can't be sure it's safe for them to take it. Even if many women would only get mild side effects, if a doctor hasn't made sure it's safe, taking Viagra could come with a risk of serious or even life-threatening side effects.

See our page on Viagra for Women for more information.

Does fake/herbal Viagra cause side effects?

There's a wide range of different products marketed as a herbal alternative to Viagra, so it's hard to say exactly what side effects they might cause.

Many of these kinds of products aren't properly regulated, and it's hard to be certain of what ingredients are in them or how they are made. This means that they could have ingredients that cause side effects, possibly even serious ones. Some of these products may also contain unsafe amounts of actual medication, or combinations of medications, which could put you at risk of serious side effects.

Rather than put your health and your wallet at risk with potentially ineffective and unsafe products, it's better to get authentic treatment, either online or from your GP or pharmacist.

What to do about side effects

How to avoid them

The best way to avoid getting side effects from Viagra is to take your medication as your doctor suggests. The tips below may also help you keep the risk low, and get the most out of your treatment:

Be as accurate as possible with the information you give your doctor when getting Viagra treatment
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your Viagra
Only take one tablet every 24 hours
Don't take Viagra with other erectile dysfunction medication
Don't drink alcohol
Avoid grapefruit juice
Avoid drug use, particularly amyl nitrates (poppers)

Taking the lower 25mg dose of Viagra will also give you a lower risk of side effects but it also has less chance of working. We recommend only moving down to 25mg with the help of a doctor once you've already tried 50mg.

How to get rid of them

Since most men find their side effects go away after just one hour, you might not need to do anything. If your side effects last for a long time, or happen every time you take Viagra, you should get in touch with a doctor. They'll be able to make sure that it's still safe for you to take Viagra, or whether there's something else causing these side effects.

To stop side effects coming back next time you use Viagra, you could:

Follow the advice above on how to avoid side effects
Switch to a lower dosage with the help of a doctor
Switch to a different erectile dysfunction treatment

Is Viagra safe?

Viagra is a safe and effective medication for most men. Less than 2% of men get side effects from Viagra and most people who do get side effects don't get serious ones. As long as a doctor has approved treatment for you, you can be sure it's safe for you to use.

Does Viagra react with other medications?

Viagra can react with other medications but as long as you've told your doctor what medications you're taking and they still approve treatment, it shouldn't be a problem.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

nitrates
nitric oxide donors ("poppers")
protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV)
alpha-blocker therapy
riociguat used for pulmonary hypertension

How to avoid side effects

1. Get a prescription from your GP or online doctor.

You doctor will check and make sure Viagra is suitable for you before prescribing your treatment. If you have any medical conditions or are taking any other medication, you may be at an increased risk of side effects.

2. Don't drink too much alcohol.

Alcohol increases the risk of certain side effects, such as low blood pressure and dizziness. It also reduces your ability to get an erection. Avoiding alcohol will help you minimise your risk of side effects and help you get the most from your medication.

3. Don't take more Viagra than you have been prescribed.

You should never exceed the dosage that your doctor has prescribed. Consult your doctor if you feel that the dosage you are taking is not high enough.

4. Don't mix Viagra with recreational drugs.

Avoid using recreational drugs during your treatment with Viagra – some illegal or 'legal high' drugs interact with Viagra and taking them can be dangerous.

5. If you experience side effects, try a lower dosage.

If you suffer from side effects you may benefit from trying a lower dosage. You can also take the tablet with food. It will take longer to take effect when taken alongside a meal but will also be less likely to cause certain side effects.