Sildenafil Dosage: How Much Sildenafil is Too Much?

Table of Contents

• What is Sildenafil?
• Sildenafil Starting Dose - 50mg
• Can I Take Sildenafil 50mg Daily?
• What Should I Do If 50mg Doesn't Work?
• Can I Take Two 50mg Tablets?
• What Is The Maximum Dose of Sildenafil?
• Can I Take Sildenafil 100mg Daily?
• Can I Take Two 100mg Tablets?
• What Should I Do If The Maximum Dose Does Not Work?
• How Much Sildenafil is Too Much?
• Side Effects of Sildenafil
• Which Strength of Sildenafil Should I Take? The Verdict

What is Sildenafil?

Sildenafil is the non-branded version of Viagra, often referred to as "generic Viagra". It is renowned for being an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction in many men and is available on prescription or you can also buy it from online pharmacies.

Sildenafil works in the same way as Viagra as it relaxes and widens blood vessels, allowing more blood to enter the penis, upon sexual stimulation. This helps men to achieve and maintain an erection.

Important note: Sildenafil will not increase your sex drive. If you are experiencing low libido, you should visit your doctor or pharmacist.

Sildenafil Starting Dose - 50mg

The recommended starting dose is 50mg. You are likely to be prescribed this if you are taking sildenafil for the first time. It is also available over the counter as Viagra Connect, which you can purchase after having a consultation with a pharmacist. Both medications contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, and are as good as each other. It is important to note that sildenafil does not increase sexual desire, so you will need to be sexually aroused in order for it to be effective.

Some important points before taking sildenafil:

• Ensure to take a tablet one hour before sexual activity, as timing is key. This gives sildenafil enough time to build up in your system.
• Food can affect the absorption of sildenafil. Heavy meals can delay the absorption of sildenafil, making it less effective. For best results, take the medication on an empty stomach.
• A small amount of alcohol is usually safe to consume before you plan on taking sildenafil. However, you should avoid drinking more than 1-2 units of alcohol, as excess alcohol and sildenafil can lower your blood pressure, causing side effects such as dizziness and headaches. Too much alcohol can also reduce your ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
• If you take sildenafil as prescribed, the effects can last for up to four hours.

Whilst 50 mg is the starting dose, your doctor or healthcare provider will recommend an appropriate dose based on factors such as your body weight, pre-existing medical conditions, any medication you may be taking and other lifestyle factors. For example, it may not be appropriate to prescribe the highest strength of sildenafil to those with heart problems.

50mg is usually enough to provide the desired effects for most men. If this amount of sildenafil is effective for you, there is no need to increase your dose. Doing so will not improve results if the medication is already working well for you. Taking more than you need can also increase the risk of side effects.

Can I Take Sildenafil 50mg Daily?

You can safely take sildenafil 50mg every day. Remember, sildenafil has a relatively short half-life, which means it exits the body within 6 hours. You will need to consume sildenafil around one hour before sexual activity.

What Should I Do If 50mg Doesn't Work?

Sildenafil 50mg is an effective dose and usually enough to have a positive effect on men with erectile dysfunction. However, if you find that 50mg sildenafil is not working for you, there are a few things to try:

• Try taking sildenafil another seven times. UK national guidelines state that you should try taking sildenafil on eight separate occasions, before deciding to increase the strength. Remember, you should not take more than one tablet a day, so you should try taking sildenafil on another day.
• Try taking sildenafil on an empty stomach. Food affects the absorption of sildenafil, which means that its effectiveness may be reduced if taken after a heavy meal.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about increasing the strength to 100mg. You should only do this if your doctor or pharmacist instructs you to do so. Taking too much can cause unwanted side effects such as headaches, light-headedness, and indigestion.
• Avoid alcohol as this can reduce your ability to get an erection.

Important note: If you are experiencing the desired results from sildenafil 50mg, but are experiencing side effects, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist about trying sildenafil 25mg. You can still benefit from the positive results of treatment at half the strength whilst reducing the likelihood of experiencing side effects.

Can I Take Two 50mg Tablets?

You can take two 50mg doses of sildenafil to give you 100mg. You should only do this if your doctor or pharmacist prescribes you with sildenafil 100 mg.

What Is The Maximum Dose of Sildenafil?

Sildenafil 100mg is primarily used to treat ED in those that have limited success with lower strength doses. It is the highest strength available and can help to provide a higher level of sildenafil in the bloodstream. It takes around one hour to take effect and will last for around 4 hours. A higher dose of sildenafil does not mean that it will work quicker, or last for longer. However, the effects can be stronger, which may increase the likelihood of side effects.

Can I Take Sildenafil 100mg Daily?

It is safe to take sildenafil 100mg every day, but this is the maximum dose, and you should not take more than 100mg within 24 hours. Sildenafil has a short-half life of around 3 hours, and it takes around 6 hours for sildenafil to leave your system. This means that you will need to remember to take the medication around one hour before you plan to have sex. If you wish to benefit from a daily dose tablet that provides a continuous effect, you should consider using tadalafil (generic Cialis).

Can I Take Two 100mg Tablets?

You should not take two 100mg tablets, as this is too much. The maximum licensed dose is 100mg daily. Taking too much sildenafil can cause serious side effects, such as a drop in blood pressure and priapism, a painful erection lasting longer than four hours. Taking 200mg, or more than you have been prescribed, will not necessarily improve results. It has been proven to significantly increase the chances of experiencing unwanted side effects too.

What Should I Do If The Maximum Dose Does Not Work?

If after trying the highest dose you find that sildenafil doesn't work for you, you should visit your doctor or pharmacist for advice. You will usually be advised to try sildenafil 100mg on eight separate occasions, before deciding on what to do next. Often, sildenafil will become more effective after you try it a few times, as you become more comfortable with ED treatment and confident in its ability.

You should try taking sildenafil on an empty stomach, as food can affect the absorption of sildenafil, reducing the amount in your bloodstream. You should also limit your intake of alcohol, as alcohol can reduce your ability to get an erection. Alcohol can also interact with sildenafil, increasing your chances of experiencing side effects.

There are other treatment options available, such as tadalafil and vardenafil. Although they belong to the same group of drugs as sildenafil, known as PDE5 inhibitors, they can prove to be effective for many men who have limited results with sildenafil.

How Much Sildenafil is Too Much?

Essentially, taking more than what has been prescribed for you, is too much. The maximum dose is 100mg, and any more than this can cause dangerous side effects such as a drop in blood pressure, headaches, sickness and a stomach upset. Your doctor or pharmacist may have prescribed a lower dose. If this is the case, it is important to follow the instructions you have been given. If you feel that you require a higher dose, it is important to discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist, before deciding to increase the dose yourself.

Side Effects of Sildenafil

Like many medications, sildenafil can cause some unwanted side effects although it is important to note that not everyone will experience them. Headaches can be very common amongst users, affecting around 25% of users. 

Other common side effects may include:

• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Facial Flushing
• Stuffy Nose
• Blurred Vision

With the higher dose, side effects may be more pronounced. It is important to read the patient information for a full list of potential side effects. If you experience any side effects, you should inform your doctor or pharmacist, or in serious cases, seek medical advice. Adverse effects usually last for a few hours and are not permanent.

Which Strength of Sildenafil Should I Take? The Verdict

If you are trying sildenafil for the first time, you should try sildenafil 50mg, provided your doctor or pharmacist has advised that it is safe for you to take. Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction has proven to be effective and has a relatively low side effect profile.

If you are experiencing side effects, your doctor or pharmacist may suggest reducing the dose to 25mg.

If you are not experiencing significant side effects, and you have tried taking sildenafil 50mg on eight separate occasions with limited results, your doctor or pharmacist may suggest increasing the strength to sildenafil 100mg.

For the best results, you should use sildenafil on an empty stomach, and avoid alcohol. Remember, you should try to relax and get yourself in the mood, as sildenafil will only work when you are sexually stimulated.  

Always read the patient information leaflet (pil) before taking sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. You should stop taking sildenafil and seek urgent medical attention if you experience chest pain, loss or decrease in vision, an erection lasting 4 hours or more, seizures or any signs of an allergic reaction. Do not take more than one tablet within 24 hours.

Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.