Viagra's Dosage: What to Know

Viagra is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug sildenafil. It belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Viagra is available in a generic form.

This medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adults.

Viagra is available as follows.

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths:
  • 25 milligrams (mg)
  • 50 mg
  • 100 mg

In this article, you’ll find additional information about Viagra’s dosage and details on how to take the drug. For a comprehensive overview of Viagra, view this article.

For details about the drug’s dosage, see the “Viagra: Dosage” section below. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Viagra that’s right for your condition.

If you’re interested in taking Viagra, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Commonly recommended dosages for Viagra are shown below.

You should take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.They’ll recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Viagra comes as a tablet that you swallow. It comes in three strengths:

• 25 milligrams (mg)
• 50 mg
• 100 mg

Your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of Viagra that gives the desired effect.

Viagra doses are typically taken as needed about an hour before sexual activity. However, a dose may be taken anywhere between 30 minutes and 4 hours before sex. Keep in mind that the maximum dosage of Viagra in 24 hours is one dose. This is true regardless of the strength your doctor prescribes. You should not take more than one dose per day.

Below is an overview of Viagra’s recommended dosage for erectile dysfunction (ED). Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Viagra that’s right for your condition.

• Starting dosage: 25 mg to 50 mg as needed about an hour before sexual activity
• Maintenance dosage: 50 mg as needed about an hour before sexual activity
• Maximum dosage: 100 mg as needed about an hour before sexual activity

Note: For all of the above dosages, you should not take more than one dose per day.

Doctors typically prescribe Viagra as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely take it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.

Below are some common questions related to Viagra’s dosage.

There is no 150-milligram (mg) or 200-mg dose of Viagra. The maximum dosage of Viagra is 100 mg as needed about an hour before sexual activity. And you should not take more than one dose per day.

Viagra is available in 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg tablets. For more information about typical dosage for Viagra, see the “Viagra: Dosage” section above.

If you have questions about your Viagra dosage, talk with your doctor.

The standard or typical Viagra dosage is 50 milligrams (mg) taken as needed before sexual activity. However, you should only take one dose each day.

Your doctor may adjust your dosage depending on how your body responds to Viagra and how well it works for you. Viagra doses range from 25 mg to 100 mg.

To learn more about typical doses for Viagra, see the “Viagra: Dosage” section above.

No, you should not take a low dose of Viagra daily. Viagra is meant to be used as needed before sexual activity. You should only take Viagra according to how it’s prescribed by your doctor. For more information about recommended dosages of Viagra, see the “Viagra: Dosage” section above.

Cialis is another drug prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). This drug may be taken at a low dose every day to treat ED.

If you have questions about when to take your dose of Viagra, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Viagra isn’t prescribed for high blood pressure. The drug isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat this condition.

Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil. Another drug, Revatio, also has sildenafil as its active ingredient. Revatio is prescribed to treat high blood pressure in the lungs, also called pulmonary hypertension. However, Viagra isn’t prescribed for this use.

To learn more about Viagra’s approved use and its recommended dosages, see the “Viagra: Dosage” section above. You can also check out this article.

Your doctor will consider several factors when prescribing the dosage for Viagra. These factors include:

• your age
• the severity of your condition
• other medications you may take

Your prescribed dosage may also vary based on other medical conditions you have.

Your doctor may recommend a different starting Viagra dosage to certain people, including:

• adults ages 65 years and older
• people with severe kidney problems, such as severe chronic kidney disease
• people with severe liver problems, such as severe alcoholic liver disease

To learn more about possible adjustments to Viagra’s dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Viagra comes as a tablet. You’ll take it by mouth.

Viagra doses are typically taken as needed about an hour before sexual activity. However, a dose may be taken anywhere between 30 minutes and 4 hours before sex.

If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to take this form of medication. Also, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about taking your medication.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you find it challenging to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies provide medication labels with large print or braille. They may also offer labels containing a scannable code that your smartphone can convert from text to speech. If your pharmacy doesn’t provide these choices, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If it’s difficult for you to open medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can dispense Viagra in an easy-open container. They also may recommend ways to help make it easier to open the bottles.

If you take more than the recommended dosage of Viagra, serious effects can occur. Do not take more Viagra than your doctor prescribes. 

Symptoms that an overdose of Viagra could cause include:

• low blood pressure, which may be severe
• flushing
• headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• indigestion
• temporary vision changes, including blurry vision or blue-tinted vision

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Viagra’s dosage. Keep in mind that the dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Viagra that’s right for you and your condition. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any medications you’re taking, do not change your Viagra dosage without a recommendation from your doctor.

In addition to discussing Viagra with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more:

• Overview of Viagra. For comprehensive details on Viagra, see this article.
• Drug comparisons. To learn how Viagra compares with Cialis, read this article.
• Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about possible side effects of Viagra, view this article.
• Details about erectile dysfunction. To learn more about erectile dysfunction, which Viagra is used to treat, see this article.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.