Sildenafil Dosage: What is the Right Dose for You?

Sildenafil is an effective erectile dysfunction treatment that contains the same active ingredient as branded Viagra. Sildenafil is available in the UK in 3 doses: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. The right dose for you will depend on several factors, including any underlying health conditions you have and how well your body responds to sildenafil.

Here, we discuss the different sildenafil doses available in more detail to help you, along with your doctor, decide which dose is right for you.

Sildenafil is available in 3 doses in the UK for treating erectile dysfunction: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. A doctor will usually decide which dose is most appropriate for you based on your age, overall health, and the severity of the condition.

Sildenafil 25mg

Sildenafil 25mg is the lowest available dose. You may be prescribed this dose if you:

• are aged 65 years or over
• are more likely to get side effects
• have liver or kidney problems
• take certain medications that may increase sildenafil levels in the body
• get side effects with higher doses
• would prefer to start a lower dose because you’re worried about side effects

Although it contains less sildenafil, it is still effective for erectile dysfunction. Studies show that 62% of people who take 25mg of sildenafil had an improved erection.

Sildenafil 50mg

The most common and standard sildenafil dose is 50mg. If you are taking sildenafil for the first time, 50mg is the dose you are most likely to be given. For many people, 50mg is effective enough to help them achieve an erection that is good enough for sex without causing intolerable side effects.

Sildenafil 50mg tablets improve erections in 74% of people compared to 25% given a placebo. This dose is also available over the counter as a generic sildenafil medication or under the brand name Viagra Connect.

Sildenafil 100mg

Sildenafil 100mg is the highest dose available. You may be prescribed 100mg of sildenafil if you are not getting the desired effects with the lower 50mg dose and have not experienced significant side effects. In clinical trials, the 100mg dose was 82% effective, compared with 74% for the 50mg dose.

The higher the dose of sildenafil, the more likely you are to experience side effects. Some people who take the highest dose report blue/green colour discrimination in their vision 1 hour after taking their dose, but this disappeared after 2 hours.

The standard starting dose of sildenafil for most people is 50mg. However, some people may prefer to begin with the lowest 25mg dose if they are concerned about getting side effects. You cannot start erectile dysfunction treatment on the highest 100mg dose. 50mg is also the standard starting dose of Viagra.

The maximum dose of sildenafil you can take is 100mg in 24 hours. However, this is not the starting dose for sildenafil, and a doctor may suggest increasing to 100mg if you are not getting the results you expected with the 50mg dose and you have tolerated it well.

Taking a higher dose than 100mg of sildenafil or taking it more than once in 24 hours is not recommended, as it will not make your erections stronger, but it can be dangerous.

What happens if you take more than 100mg?

If you take more than 100mg of sildenafil in a 24-hour period, it can have dangerous side effects. Sildenafil is not available in 150mg or 200mg doses. Taking more than you have been prescribed (a maximum of 100mg) will not increase the effectiveness, but may lead to:

• a dangerous drop in blood pressure that can cause dizziness, fainting, or extra strain on your cardiovascular system
• priapism, which is a prolonged and painful erection that lasts for 4 hours or more and requires medical attention
• neurological effects, such as intense headaches, feeling sick, and vision changes

If you take more sildenafil than you have been prescribed, you should contact a doctor straight away or in an emergency, go to your nearest A&E department, making sure that you take the medication and its packaging with you.

Can I take sildenafil more than once a day?

No, sildenafil is only recommended to be taken once per day. It is important that you leave 24 hours between doses to minimise the chance of side effects.

Choosing the right sildenafil dose is about finding the lowest dose that gives you reliable erections with the fewest side effects. For most people, this means starting with the recommended dose, seeing how well it works for you on several attempts, and only switching doses if your doctor recommends it.

Some of the factors you will need to consider when choosing the right sildenafil dose for you are discussed below:

1. Consider the factors that affect the right dose

The best sildenafil dose is different for everyone. Before deciding on a starting dose, think about the factors that can influence how well the medication works and how likely you are to get side effects, including:

• your age – if you are over 65, a doctor may prescribe a lower dose because sildenafil can stay in the body for longer
• your general health – if you have certain liver or kidney conditions, these could slow the breakdown of sildenafil, increasing the chance of side effects
• other medications – some medications, like some blood pressure treatments, HIV medications, antifungals, and antibiotics, can interact with sildenafil and affect the dose that’s suitable for you
• previous erectile dysfunction treatments – if you have tried sildenafil or another erectile dysfunction medication before, how your body responded may help influence which dose is right for you
• underlying medical conditions – heart disease, low blood pressure, or conditions affecting the penis, can influence whether sildenafil is suitable and which dose might be most effective for you

2. It’s your first time taking sildenafil

If you’ve never taken sildenafil before, 50mg is the recommended starting dose for most men.

Some tips for getting the most out of sildenafil include:

• take it 30 to 60 minutes before you intend to have sex
• avoid heavy meals before taking sildenafil, if you do need to eat, choose a light meal
• limit your alcohol intake because drinking too much can make it harder to get an erection
• you must be sexually stimulated for sildenafil to work, it will not be effective on its own

If you do not get the results you expected the first time you take sildenafil, you should try it a few more times. If you still do not get any improvements in your erections, contact your doctor to discuss an alternative dose or treatment.

Most people find that sildenafil works well at the 50mg dose and do not need any dose changes.

3. You didn’t get the results you expected

There are several reasons why you may not have got the results you expected when you started taking sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. Before discussing a sildenafil dose increase with your doctor, it is worth asking yourself these questions to find out if the medication was given the best chance to work:

• Did you take it on an empty stomach or with a light meal?
• Did you take the sildenafil pill at least 30 to 60 minutes before having sex?
• Were you sexually stimulated?
• Did you limit your alcohol intake?
• Have you tried sildenafil on several separate occasions?

If you answered yes to all of these questions and you’re still not seeing an improvement in your erections, a doctor may recommend trying the 100mg dose if you have tolerated the 50mg dose well.

4. You’re getting side effects

If sildenafil has improved your erections and sexual function but is causing side effects, like headaches, facial flushing, dizziness, or feeling sick, a lower 25mg dose may be a more suitable option for you.

Many people still achieve good results with the lowest sildenafil dose, with 62% reporting improved erections. However, lowering the dose can make side effects milder and less frequent, which may improve your overall experience.

If you think you may need a lower sildenafil dose, speak to your doctor.

5. When to consider an alternative treatment

Changing your sildenafil dose isn’t always the answer. Sometimes another erectile dysfunction treatment may be more suitable for you.

You might discuss switching to an alternative erectile dysfunction treatment if you:

• do not get any improvements in your erection or sexual function
• get sildenafil side effects even at a lower dose
• take medications that interact with sildenafil
• have a medication that makes sildenafil unsuitable for you
• would prefer a longer-lasting or faster-acting treatment

Alternative erectile dysfunction treatments, such as tadalafil, vardenafil, or avanafil, work in a similar way but differ in how quickly they start working, how long they last, and their side effect profiles. A doctor can help you decide which option is most appropriate based on your health, lifestyle, and treatment goals.

No. Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra, which means they are the same medication, work in the same way, and are available in exactly the same strengths. The main differences are the name and the cost because generic sildenafil tends to be cheaper than branded Viagra.

Some people choose Viagra over generic sildenafil because they know the brand name, while some people will choose sildenafil because it offers a more cost-effective option. Whether you choose Viagra or sildenafil, they are both available in 25mg, 50mg, or 100mg doses.