Sildenafil, or generic Viagra, is specially used in the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED).
If a man has Erectile Dysfunction, he will have trouble getting and maintaining an erection during sexual activity.
Some medications, conditions, and foods can have harmful interactions with Sildenafil.
When combined, Sildenafil and alcohol can cause some severe side effects.
Therefore, physicians advise not to consume Viagra and alcohol simultaneously.
Also, excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of impotence in men, with smoking, not being active enough, and eating unhealthy adding to the list.
In this article, we will pen down why Viagra and alcohol should not be consumed simultaneously. But before that, let us have a deeper understanding of Viagra or the blue pills.
Table of Contents
Viagra
Sildenafil was the first oral medication for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) that the Food and Drug Administration approved in the United States (FDA).
It was initially released in 1998 by Pfizer under the brand name Viagra, and then in 2017, it entered the market as a generic version.
The generic and the name-brand versions of this medication contain Sildenafil as an active component.
Generic Viagra medications include Cenforce, Fildena, and Kamagra.
You should take this prescription-only medication 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. However, its effects might last for up to four hours.
How does generic Viagra or Sildenafil work?
Like Tadalafil, Sildenafil is an inhibitor of Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5).
Sildenafil inhibits the PDE5 enzyme, preventing the breakdown of cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP).
When cGMP levels increase, it relaxes the smooth muscles and dilates the blood vessels in the penile region. As a result of this relaxation and dilation, it improves blood flow inside the male genital organ.
Consequently, this blue pill works by attaining and maintaining an erection. However, the male has to be sexually aroused to get a firm erection.
The link between alcohol and erection
In order to get an erection, one must engage hormones, nerves, the brain, and blood vessels. But consuming alcohol to excess can seriously alter all of these.
Alcohol affects these functions by impairing the brain’s Central Nervous System’s (CNS) responsiveness.
The CNS carries information from the brain to the other parts of the body.
The sensitivity of the penis declines due to a lack of information being transferred between the brain and the penis.
Additionally, Alcohol has also been shown to reduce Testosterone levels in men. Reduced Testosterone levels will further inhibit the production of Nitric Oxide (NO).
The role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in an erection helps to relax the smooth muscle, which allows the blood to flow more easily. However, if NO production is restricted, it cannot relax the penile smooth muscle.
Consequently, the blood flow to the penis is reduced, resulting in impotence.
Viagra and alcohol interactions
Interactions between Sildenafil and alcohol are common.
Alcohol consumption worsen the adverse effects of Sildenafil (Viagra), such as nausea, headaches, chest discomfort, and nasal congestion.
Some serious adverse effects of mixing Viagra and alcohol include abrupt hearing loss, intraocular pressure (fluid pressure within the eye), changes in the heartbeat, and Priapism.
Also, as mentioned above, alcohol is recognized as one of the causes of Erectile Dysfunction. Therefore, mixing Viagra and alcohol might not help the medicine serve its purpose.
Other foods and drinks that may interact with Viagra include high-fat meals and grapefruit juice.
Meals high in fat can reduce the time it takes for Viagra to start working.
Do alcohol and generic Sildenafil medications interact?
Sildenafil is a similar active ingredient in both brand and generic versions of this medication.
Generic Sildenafil such as Cenforce, Kamagra, or Fildena interacts with alcohol similarly to the brand-name medicine Viagra.
Consuming excessive alcohol after or before consuming the generic medication might worsen the side effects of the medicine.
However, moderate alcohol consumption may not interact negatively with generic Sildenafil.
Ultimately
Viagra is safe to take with moderate amounts of alcohol.
The adverse effects of Viagra, such as headaches, facial flushing, dizziness, and visual problems, are amplified by alcohol. Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to a greater likelihood of experiencing these symptoms.
Drinking alcohol may not have any noticeable effect on Sildenafil or how it works. However, it may slow down several processes within the body, including the process of developing and maintaining an erection.
Therefore, it is best to avoid the consumption of Viagra and alcohol together.
