What Happens When You Take Too Much of Your ED Meds?

Sildenafil, the generic name for Viagra, has helped millions of men improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED). Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in March 1998, sildenafil is available by prescription only and has been used successfully for many years by men whose ED symptoms failed to improve with natural interventions such as diet and exercise.

While sildenafil is generally safe for long-term use, is it possible to use too much at once, or to become physically dependent on this medication?

The effects of too much ED medication

A dose of sildenafil generally ranges between 25 and 100 milligrams, and its effects usually set in after about 30 minutes. Some men get impatient waiting for the effects and take extra doses with the hope they will achieve an erection even sooner—or maintain an erection for several hours.

Doctors advise against taking more than 100 mg during a 24-hour period due to the risk of priapism, a painful condition in which the penis stays erect for four hours or longer. When left untreated, priapism can deprive the penis of oxygen, which can lead to severe tissue damage in the penis. It can also exacerbate problems with ED. If you suspect you have priapism, go to the nearest ER for an evaluation.

Treatment of priapism usually takes two routes. The man receives a blood gas test to measure the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, and to see whether the penis is being deprived of oxygen. The doctor will immediately try to bring the erection down by draining blood from the penis with a small needle and syringe, and injecting phenylephrine, which constricts the blood vessels entering the penis and decreases the inflow of blood to the penis.

It is possible to overdose on sildenafil, though death from overdose is extremely rare and there have been only a few reported cases. Seek emergency medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking a lot of sildenafil at one time:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Upset stomach
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Vision and overheating problems
• Chest pain

For men who are taking blood pressure medication or prescription drugs containing nitrates, using sildenafil or other ED pills may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure; consult your doctor to discuss options.

Is it safe to use sildenafil without a prescription?

Using sildenafil without a prescription is not advised and increases the risk for side effects and potential overdose. Sildenafil is a prescription drug that should be monitored by a physician for potential side effects, and a physician needs to determine whether the patient is healthy enough to use it.

This medication interacts adversely with alcohol and several other medications, and is not recommended for use by men with certain medical conditions, including heart problems, stomach ulcers and sickle cell anemia, to name just a few.

If you want to start using sildenafil but don’t have a prescription, talk with your physician to learn more about treatment options. Doses of sildenafil for ED will vary for each person based on factors such as age, symptoms and existing medical conditions, which is why it’s not recommended to use sildenafil pills prescribed for someone else.

Can I become dependent?

Drug dependence is characterized by the onset of withdrawal symptoms when a person abruptly stops using a drug, or by using a drug to avoid the onset of withdrawal symptoms. It is not possible to become physically dependent on sildenafil, even for men who use this medication long term.

Sildenafil works by relaxing muscles in blood vessel walls to increase blood flow to the penis. Unlike habit-forming drugs, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, sildenafil does not bind to dopamine receptors that trigger euphoria, cravings and other responses associated with physical drug dependence and addiction.

What about long-term use?

Men who use sildenafil responsibly as prescribed can safely use this medication for as long as needed to treat ED. In a study published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, researchers examined the effects of sildenafil over four years in a group of 979 men with ED. Over that period, only 3.8 percent of the men experienced one or more adverse events that led to discontinuation of the drug or a change in dosing. The most common adverse effects were headache, indigestion and rhinitis (stuffy nose).

So, go ahead, use sildenafil to your heart’s—and penis’s—content, as long as it’s safe for you to use. Just make sure you get a prescription and use only as your doctor has recommended, and get the most out of your sex life.