Whether it's a glass of wine over a romantic dinner or a few drinks at a bar on a first date, alcohol often plays its part in the journey to the bedroom. But what if you’re on erectile dysfunction medication? Can you take Viagra and alcohol at the same time? Or is it best to avoid mixing the two?
Below, we cover everything you need to know about drinking alcohol with Viagra (sildenafil), from safety to side effects.
Three key takeaways
You can safely take Viagra with alcohol, but you should only drink in moderation. Aim for a maximum of two alcoholic drinks.
Alcohol can limit the effects of taking Viagra and increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects.
The most common side effects associated with taking Viagra while drinking alcohol are headaches and flushing.
Is drinking alcohol with Viagra safe?
Yes, drinking alcohol with Viagra is generally considered to be safe. Indeed, one study found no adverse reactions between Viagra and red wine.
However, combining the two can become more dangerous the more alcohol you drink. Not only does alcohol lower your blood pressure, but so does Viagra. This means it’s important to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking Viagra.
“To manage mixing alcohol and Viagra, it’s important to know how much alcohol you can normally drink without feeling drunk. Set this as a limit for yourself and make sure you don’t drink past it.
"For example, try drinking slowly and alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks. If you aren’t sure of your own limits, try and stick to a maximum of two alcohol drinks.”
Your hormone levels. Alcohol can reduce your levels of testosterone, the hormone most closely connected to male sexuality.
Your central nervous system. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, meaning it slows down brain activity, which can affect the control you have over your body and coordination.
Your blood pressure. Alcohol lowers your blood pressure and constricts your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to travel to your penis and cause an erection.
What happens when you mix Viagra with alcohol?
If you mix Viagra with alcohol, it can make it more difficult to get an erection and can also increase your risk of experiencing the side effects of Viagra.
An erection begins when aroused nerve impulses travel from the brain to the penis. These impulses trigger an increase in blood flow, which causes the penis to fill with blood and become bigger and more erect. ED occurs if there is a problem with any of the mechanisms controlling this process, such as your hormones, blood supply or nerves.
So, how does Viagra work? As a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, it relaxes the muscles in the penis to increase blood flow in response to sexual stimulation. However, alcohol can get in the way of this process by lowering your blood pressure and affecting your central nervous system. As a result, alcohol can prevent Viagra from doing its job effectively.
Side effects of Viagra and alcohol
Common side effects of Viagra, which can be exacerbated by alcohol, include:
headaches
nausea (feeling or being sick)
hot flushes and facial flushing
indigestion
stuffy nose
dizziness
muscle soreness
vision changes
However, this is just an overview of the potential side effects that can be caused by Viagra. We’ve discussed these in more detail in our guide to the side effects of Viagra.
What else to avoid when taking Viagra
So, we’ve established that it’s ok to drink a moderate amount of alcohol while taking Viagra. But you may be surprised to learn that you need to be particularly cautious with drinks containing grapefruit juice.
This is because grapefruit juice slows down the metabolism of sildenafil. This means it increases the amount of the drug that can have an active effect on your body.
As a result, if you combine Viagra with grapefruit juice, the effects and side effects may last longer. This may not sound like a bad thing, but it can increase your risk of experiencing something called priapism, a painful erection that lasts longer than four hours.
FAQs
What is the most common side effect of taking Viagra and drinking alcohol?
One study demonstrated that men who consumed above-average amounts of alcohol were more likely to develop headaches and flushing from ED medications, like Viagra, than men who don’t drink.
How long does it take Viagra to leave your system?
Typically, Viagra lasts for between four to six hours. This means you can take it up to a couple of hours before you want to have sex, so you can be spontaneous. However, you shouldn’t take it too many hours before you want to have sex, as you can’t predict how quickly it will leave your system.
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