What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Take With Viagra

A Few Food and Drink Pointers To Help The Cause.

If you’ve been prescribed erectile dysfunction medication (EDM) like Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra—congratulations. You might very well be on your way to improving your erectile function and sexual health like millions of men before you. 

Your doctor or pharmacist will be the best person to give you the ins and outs of taking PDE5 inhibitors, so make sure to listen to their advice and read the patient leaflet for more information. But if you’re boning up on your EDM knowledge, and want to know a thing or two about how to take Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, here are a few frequently asked questions. 

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Q: Should I take Viagra with food or on an empty stomach?

A: This will depend on which medicine you’ve been prescribed. For sildenafil (the generic name for Viagra), your best bet is to take it on an empty stomach. Eating a meal before taking Viagra may slow its absorption into your bloodstream and lower its effectiveness. 

On the other hand, tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) can both be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Although, Levitra users should probably avoid a high-fat meal before taking the medicine. Eating a meal high in fats like steak, lasagna or cheeseburgers might delay the absorption. 

Read more: Viagra Vs. Cialis: What Is There To Know? A Full Review

Q: Should I take Viagra with water or milk?

A: The short answer is: either will do—just make sure you use one of them. Depending on your dosage, Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra pack a lot of punch into a small capsule. Neutral beverages like water and milk can help the medicine ease its way into your system without causing too much commotion along the way. 

Animal milk (dairy or goat) can present some additional benefits if you’re worried about common side effects like nausea and upset stomach. Milk can serve as a neutralizer that will help your stomach handle some of the acidity from EDM medication. If you’re sensitive to taste, milk might do a better job of masking any saveur you might pick up from Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. 

Q: Why Can’t I Take Viagra with Grapefruit Juice?

A: Ah, you’ve read the fine print—good for you. Grapefruit juice and grapefruit products should be avoided when taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. Some of the compounds in grapefruits can serve to concentrate the active ingredients in these EDM and make it more likely you’ll experience side effects. 

Q: Can I Drink Alcohol and Take Viagra?

A: If you’ve had an evening or two out on the town where you’ve consumed a good amount of alcohol and then been unable to perform in the bedroom, you’ll be able to intuit the answer to this question. Of course, everyone’s body is different, and some men’s erections may be less affected by alcohol than others. But producers of sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil all caution against the consumption of too much alcohol when taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. If you must stick to one or two drinks. 

Q: Can I drink Coffee and Take Viagra?

A: The only beverages the makers of Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra specifically recommend you avoid are alcohol and grapefruit juice. So technically, coffee, other juices, teas, sodas aren’t off the table. But the acidity in these drinks might cause an upset stomach, so proceed with caution. Although, while drinking coffee right before taking viagra might not be your best bet, drinking caffeine earlier in the day might help you out later at night. 

Read more: 30 Viagra FAQs: Answers To Every Viagra Question

What You Should and Shouldn't Take With Viagra

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