How to Take Viagra With Milk or Water?

To fully benefit from the effects of Viagra, one should take it properly with milk or water. This article puts light on the right ways to take Viagra for effective results.

Viagra For Erectile Dysfunction! How Do Men Take It?

Viagra is more common among men than one can think. It is a wonder drug used for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (1). However, due to its high potency, men cannot chew or swallow Viagra directly. The right way to take the drug is with milk or water.

What Is Viagra?

As already mentioned, Viagra is a wonder drug used to treat Erectile Dysfunction. However, it is only available through prescription, and one should take it with milk or water. Viagra causes vasodilation and increases the blood flow to the penile tissues. Consequently, penile tissues get engorged, helping the penis achieve and maintain its erection (2). The effect of Viagra lasts for up to 4 hours after the initial administration (3).

How Should Men Take Viagra? Appropriate Dosage!

Men who take Viagra should adjust their dose and method of intake depending on the following factors:

• Age
• Nature of the condition to be treated
• The severity of the condition
• Any other associated or pre-existing medical conditions
• Reaction to the first dose of the drug

For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, men should take Viagra orally in the strengths of 25mg, 50mg, or 100mg. Adults can take a minimum dose of 50mg and a maximum dose of 100 mg, 1 hour before sexual activity. Men aged 65 years or older should take a low dose of Viagra to avoid toxicity (4).

Can We Take Viagra With Milk or Water?

Milk protects the mucous membrane of the food canal and neutralizes the unpleasant taste of some drugs. Therefore, doctors recommend taking some medications with fluids like milk or water. For an otherwise healthy individual, taking Viagra with milk or water is safe. However, for individuals with lactose intolerance, doctors might suggest avoiding milk.

Furthermore, none of the studies have reported any contraindication of taking Viagra with milk. However, men should not take Viagra with grapefruit because of the risk of delayed drug absorption and side effects.

Similarly, alcohol is a relaxant and counteracts the effect of Viagra, reducing its efficacy.

Additionally, one should take Viagra 2-3 hours before a meal, i.e., on an empty stomach (5). Food, especially fatty food, interferes with drug absorption.

How to Take Viagra With Milk or Water?

As already discussed, men taking Viagra should not chew or directly swallow the tablet. The best and most appropriate way to take Viagra is with milk or water. It is preferable not to take Viagra with fruit juices like grapefruit or alcohol because of the possible drug interactions. However, the accurate method of taking Viagra with milk or water is the real question.

Liquids like milk or water help smoothly wash Viagra down the food canal. One should take enough water or milk, half to one full glass, to properly swallow the pill without letting it stay in the food canal.

Some men wrongly assume that a higher dosage of Viagra needs higher content of water or milk. However, keeping the actual concept in mind, only the “right” quantity of the liquid matters! Therefore, irrespective of Viagra’s concentration in the pill, half to a full glass of water or milk is enough to swallow it properly.

Why Is It Important to Take Viagra With Milk or Water?

Like all other drugs, Viagra enters the bloodstream and causes chemical reactions carried out by its active components. Therefore, it is safe to take Viagra with a few selective drinks. Hence, because of its high potency, doctors recommend taking Viagra with fluids like milk or water for its efficient delivery to target organs.

Taking Viagra with milk is beneficial because:

• Milk protects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract
• Milk helps buffer the effects of the drug
• Milk has a neutralizing effect (6, 7)
• Milk helps cancel out the undesirable taste of the drug
• Milk energizes the body, preparing it for good sexual performance

Similarly, it is entirely safe to take Viagra with water also because of the following benefits:

• Water is a neutral liquid
• Despite being partially polar, water does not disturb the effect of Viagra (8)
• Water does not cause the pill to disintegrate

Conclusion

Do not take Viagra with the following fluids:

• Alcohol- Alcohol is a muscle relaxant. It slows down body responses. Therefore, taking Viagra with alcohol will alter the effects of the drug.
• Grapefruit- Grapefruit juice slows down the absorption of Viagra, increasing the concentration of rug in blood. The risk of toxicity increases (9).

Therefore, there is a logical consensus among all doctors about taking Viagra with milk or water.