Things you should know before your partner takes Viagra

Gettyimages.com/Couple hugging at window

So your partner wants to take Viagra. That’s very generous of him considering he’ll be taking a prescription drug partly to benefit you. If we can speak within the trust for a moment, most women know that their partners don’t ask their doctors enough questions or take enough precautions about their health. So when your partner starts taking a new drug, you know you partially just took on a new responsibility—the responsibility of learning about it, looking out for side effects, and making sure he takes it the right way. While your boo is all excited about his new found superpowers in the bedroom, you’re on the side reading drug warning labels and perusing WebMd (and pretending you’re only 100 percent excited too and not at all worried). So, to follow in that theme, here are things you should know before your partner takes Viagra.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Young men do take it

Don’t be too concerned if your partner feels he needs to take Viagra. Around 50 percent of men aged 40 to 70 (yup, even young forty-year-olds) struggle to get enough blood flow to their penis.

Image Source: Shutterstock

What exactly it does

Known as a PDE-5 inhibitor, Viagra blocks certain enzymes that cause muscle relaxation—something you certainly don’t want when you’re ready to have sex.

Image Source: Shutterstock

It takes time

It takes between 30 and 60 minutes for the pill to kick in. So if your partner isn’t the greatest planner, but you know where things are headed after date night, you may want to remind him to take his pill early enough to let it work at the right time.

Image Source: Shutterstock

He can take it very early

It is okay to take Viagra up to four hours before sexual activity. So if you really want to make sure it kicks in in time, give it to your partner at the beginning of date night.

Image Source: Shutterstock

It only works when it’s supposed to

Viagra only creates an erection when the person taking it is turned on. So don’t worry; your partner won’t walk around the grocery store with an erection (unless the produce turns him on).

Image Source: Shutterstock

Grapefruit should be avoided

Interestingly enough, grapefruit can increase blood flow, which seems like a good thing for men with erectile dysfunction. But paired with Viagra, it can lead to dizziness, nausea, and other side effects.

Shutterstock

Don’t party on Viagra

Taking Viagra with recreational drugs is very dangerous. The combination can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Credit: Shutterstock

It works best on an empty stomach

Viagra works best on an empty stomach. If you want a big night in the sack, give your partner a light meal or else the pill may take a very long time to kick in.

Image Source: Shutterstock

He should only take it once a day

Even though your romantic getaway has you in the mood more than usual, don’t let your partner take Viagra more than once a day.

Image Source: Shutterstock

There are a lot of fakes

If your partner comes home excited about a discount he got on “generic” Viagra, tell him to march that back to the store for a refund. There is no generic Viagra, but there are a lot of counterfits that can have side effects. Only go for the real thing.

Credit: Bigstock

There may be a generic soon

The prescription drug market does expect a generic version of Viagra to be available soon. If you need to hold out for budget purposes, help is on the way.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Dosages vary

Your partner’s doctor will tell him the proper dosage for his body and it’s important that he listen. He may be tempted to take more for some wild night of sex but don’t let him.

Image Source: Shutterstock

You shouldn’t take it

When he’s feeling particularly adventurous, your partner might suggest you take some, too. And while Samantha famously does so in that one episode of “Sex and the City,” it isn’t advised. We aren’t entirely certain how it affects the female body yet.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Don’t ignore a never-ending erection

It’s not normal for a man to have an erection for hours. If this happens to your partner while on Viagra, take him to Urgent Care right away. Leaving this untreated can lead to permanent damage.