What Happens When Men Take Viagra Every Day

Viagra (sildenafil) belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors that relax your blood vessels and improve blood flow to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Your doctor will prescribe the right dose of Viagra to help you develop an erection during sexual arousal. Viagra is taken on an as-needed basis, which means you take your dose 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity.

Although you don't need to take Viagra every day to treat ED, it's safe to take every day, says urologist Justin Dubin, M.D., in an interview with Health Digest. "It is important to understand that Viagra only lasts 4 to 6 hours, so unless you are timing it correctly for sexual activity every day, it may not be benefiting you," he said.

Dubin adds that taking Viagra every day only improves your blood flow while the medication is in your system. Other PDE5 inhibitors stay in the body longer. "Longer acting Cialis, which lasts up to 36 hours, is typically the ED medication I recommend for men who are interested in taking a medication daily," he said. 

One reason you might consider taking Viagra every day is to possibly reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Viagra blocks PDE5 and increases a messenger in your cells called cGMP, and cGMP is important for brain health. People with Alzheimer's disease have more active PDE5 enzymes, which break down cGMP. According to a 2020 review in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, Viagra might improve not only blood flow to the penis but also to the brain. Low doses of Viagra might activate a protein that protects the brain and helps promote energy production in cells.

In a 2021 study in Human and Experimental Toxicology, sildenafil was given to Alzheimer's rats. The drug improved their memory, reduced the damage in their brain cells, and lowered brain inflammation. A 2021 study analyzed health data from more than 7 million people who took various drugs like sildenafil to see who was more likely to develop Alzheimer's (here are the warning signs of Alzheimer's). People who took sildenafil had a 69% lower risk of Alzheimer's compared to similarly matched people who didn't take sildenafil. This reduced risk of Alzheimer's was also seen compared to people who took other drugs for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. However, clinical research on humans is needed.

According to Dr. Justin Dubin, Viagra can have side effects such as headache, runny nose, acid reflux, or facial flushing, but most people tolerate the medication well. Some people might experience dangerous side effects of Viagra, such as reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. Taking too much Viagra can increase your risk of these side effects, so be sure to take Viagra as directed by your doctor. "It is unlikely that side effects will increase if you take it daily, as the medication only lasts 4 to 6 hours in your system," Dubin said. "If you have side effects in the first place, consider taking one of the other ED medications once talking with your provider."

Your doctor should know if you have a history of cardiac issues before taking Viagra. People taking nitrates for chest pain or heart problems should not take Viagra. "Men who use poppers (inhaling vapors to get you high) also cannot use Viagra or Cialis," Dubin said. "Taking poppers or nitrates with Viagra or Cialis can drop your blood pressure low enough to put you at risk for heart attack or stroke."