Can I Take 50 mg Viagra Twice a Day?

In the world of erectile dysfunction treatments, Viagra® is probably the most well-known option. It’s been around the longest and has an impressive track record. 

But as the saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing — and Viagra is no exception. Unless a health professional has explicitly told you otherwise, you should not take two Viagra or more within 24 hours.

There are a couple of reasons why you might be wondering if you can double your Viagra dosage. Perhaps your usual dose isn’t working, or maybe you’re having sex more than once a day (in which case, good for you!).

Unfortunately, though, taking Viagra twice a day can be dangerous, and in some cases, it can lead to some pretty serious side effects. For this reason, you should never, ever take more than your prescribed dosage of Viagra within 24 hours.

The good news? If Viagra isn’t working for you, or if you’d like to be able to get an erection more than once a day, there are some other options that can help.

In this guide, we’ll answer some of the most popular questions regarding Viagra dosing, including:

• How often can I take Viagra?

• Can I take Viagra twice in one day?

• What happens if I take 2 Viagra in 24 hours?

Read on for all the info.

No, you should only take two Viagra at the same time if your healthcare provider explicitly says you can. But before you start using Viagra, it’s important to understand what Viagra does, how it works, and whether it can help you.

Viagra — and its generic version, sildenafil — is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and is considered an effective and safe medication for most men with ED. Sildenafil is also the active ingredient in Revatio®, a drug used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, is a PDE5 inhibitor. Phosphodiesterase type 5 is an enzyme found in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and helps regulate blood flow.

When you take sildenafil, it stops PDE5 from working correctly. As a result, blood can flow more easily into the penile tissues, leading to an erection. PDE5 inhibitors can also be used to treat premature ejaculation (PE), although they aren’t specifically FDA-approved for that purpose.

To treat erectile dysfunction, you take Viagra shortly before sexual activity — usually, at least 30 minutes to one hour before sexual intercourse. Clinical trials show that Viagra can be very effective and safe when used in the correct dosage. That said, there’s no one “right” Viagra dosage for everyone, and yours may be 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg.

When deciding which dosage to prescribe, your healthcare provider will consider several factors, including:

• Your medical history and current medical conditions

• Any medications you’re currently taking

• The severity of your erectile dysfunction

• The severity of your side effects from the medication

The typical starting dose of Viagra is 50 mg. You should not take the medication more than once a day without your doctor’s approval.

A starting dose is what a healthcare provider will initially prescribe for you. But if you only have mild erectile dysfunction or if you experience uncomfortable side effects using the 50 mg tablets, they might prescribe a lower dose, like a 25 mg dose.

Can you take Viagra twice in one day if your 50 mg dose doesn’t work? No, you’ll need to consult your healthcare provider before you take another tablet or Viagra chew, even if you’re taking a low dosage.

But if you’re still experiencing ED with a 50 mg dose, your provider will typically prescribe the 100 mg Viagra pills instead. In rare cases (say, if the 100 mg pills are out of stock), they might suggest taking two 50 mg pills instead. They may also suggest taking two 25 mg Viagra twice a day if you were prescribed 50 mg Viagra, but the tablets were out of stock.

However, you should never increase your dosage without medical supervision, as it can increase your risk of side effects, especially if you have pre-existing medical issues, including heart problems like heart disease.

It’s essential that you do not take two 100 mg tablets. Doses higher than the maximum dose of 100 mg aren’t necessarily more effective at treating ED, unless you have a severe case.

Studies have found that high doses of sildenafil have been used as a “salvage therapy” for severe ED, which means they were effective for patients who did not respond to standard treatment. Though the high doses worked, they also significantly increased the risk of side effects like headache, dizziness, and visual disturbances and had higher rates of treatment discontinuation.

If you’ve taken two Viagra in one day — accidentally or on purpose — you might experience some intense adverse effects.

The side effects of Viagra are dose-dependent. This means that your risk of side effects increases as your dose increases. Tolerability changes from person to person, so while one person might be able to handle a 100 mg tablet without issues, another person might get side effects from using a 25 mg dose.

The most common side effects are mild and transient, meaning they fade as the medication wears off. But still — they can be pretty unpleasant, especially if you’re planning a steamy session with your partner.

The most common sildenafil side effects include:

• Headaches

• Back pain

• Muscle aches

• Nasal congestion

• Dizziness

• Facial flushing

• Indigestion/heartburn

• Nausea

You can usually cope with these side effects by resting and using over-the-counter drugs. They will eventually pass, so they’re not the end of the world — but they’re likely to kill the mood.

I took 200mg Viagra — Now What?

If you’ve taken a high dose of Viagra, seek immediate medical help if you start to experience one of these rare but serious side effects:

• Hearing issues

• Visual changes (like blurred vision and vision loss)

• Priapism (prolonged, painful erections that can cause permanent damage)

• Allergic reactions

• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

In most cases, taking more than your prescribed dosage of Viagra doesn’t require a trip to the emergency room. But pay attention to your body.

You might also experience adverse effects if you combine Viagra with certain medications — which is another reason why it’s important only to take Viagra if it's prescribed to you. Common drugs that can interact with sildenafil include nitrates, alpha-blockers, and high-blood-pressure medications.

While these side effects are uncommon, you’re more likely to experience them if you double your Viagra dose. Increasing your dose could also increase the severity of these side effects.

Taking two Viagra in one day is not a good idea, but if your regular dose isn’t doing the trick, what should you do to manage ED instead? Depending on your reasons for wanting to double your dose, some safer alternatives exist.

Taking Two Viagra To Boost Effectiveness

Is Viagra not working as well as you’d hoped? First, make sure you’re using your sildenafil correctly, and read our guide on how to take Viagra for the best results.

If you want to double your dose to improve its effectiveness, you must first clear it with a healthcare provider. But — and this is a big but — doubling your dosage isn’t necessarily going to make you doubly as hard.

Viagra can be pretty effective at treating ED, but it isn’t a silver bullet. Whether sildenafil works or not depends on the cause of your erectile dysfunction.

For example, psychological ED is a thing, which means anxiety, depression, stress, or sexual performance anxiety can all affect your sexual performance. In this case, Viagra won’t necessarily help your situation.  In-person or online therapy might make a big difference.

Another potential issue you may be experiencing is low sex drive. Even if you take Viagra, you still need sexual stimulation to get an erection. If you have a low libido and struggle to get aroused, it could be helpful to speak with a medical expert to explore the causes (which may also be psychological).

If neither of these is the cause of your ED, but Viagra still isn’t giving you the results you hoped for, consider asking your healthcare provider if you can try another ED medication. Other PDE5 inhibitors, like Stendra® (avanafil), may work better for you.

Taking Two Viagra So That You Can Have Sex Twice

Maybe you’re in a new relationship and can’t keep your hands off each other. Perhaps you’re planning a romantic weekend away. Or maybe you just have a very active sex life.

No matter why you’re having sex more than once in one day, we’re stoked for you! But there’s a much safer and more convenient alternative to taking two Viagra in a day.

Tadalafil (also known by the brand name Cialis®) may be prescribed for use as needed. But more importantly, for your purposes, it can also be taken as a once-a-day pill that improves your overall erectile function.

If you’re prescribed the once-a-day, everyday tadalafil dosage, there’s no need to take another pill before round two. For this reason, some people prefer this medication, as it allows for more sexual spontaneity.

Although you can take certain doses of tadalafil once every 24 hours, it’s been nicknamed the “weekend pill” because it can be effective for around 36 hours. That's pretty impressive!

Another option is our hard mints chewable ED meds, which combine ingredients from FDA-approved erectile dysfunction treatments in safe, effective doses. Depending on which hard mint you’re prescribed, you can use them once a day or as needed, as directed by your provider.

Please don't double your dose of sildenafil unless a doctor or another healthcare professional specifically advises you to do so. It’s just not worth the risk. Remember:

• You may experience worse side effects. More Viagra means more risk of adverse events, like headaches and dizziness. Serious side effects, like priapism and vision issues, are also more common with higher Viagra doses.

• Get medical advice before trying a higher dose. If your current dose of Viagra is not working as you expected, discuss it with your healthcare provider. If it’s safe to do so, they might increase your recommended dose.

• There are many treatment options. If Viagra doesn’t seem to be doing anything for you, there are other erectile dysfunction treatments. Depending on the root cause of your ED, lifestyle changes and therapy might also make a significant difference.

To learn more about potential ED treatments, read our blog post on natural tips for treating ED and check out these home remedies for ED.

While arming yourself with knowledge is great, it’s no replacement for personalized medical attention. If you need more support, get a recommendation today from a licensed healthcare professional.