Does Viagra Make You Last Longer in Bed?

Brand name Viagra^® (AKA sildenafil citrate) has earned a reputation as the go-to fix for sexual challenges — especially erectile dysfunction. So, people often think of it as the magic pill for boosting stamina in bed. 

But can Viagra make you last longer in bed? Viagra can absolutely help you maintain an erection if that’s where you’re struggling. And while it’s not FDA-approved specifically to treat premature ejaculation (PE), some research hints it might help you avoid early orgasm. 

Want to learn more? We’ve outlined the facts on sildenafil citrate and its potential for increasing sexual stamina. Plus, we’ll introduce you to other proven ways to improve your performance in the bedroom. 

Does Viagra delay ejaculation? Some reports suggest that Viagra might be an effective treatment for premature ejaculation.

Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is a type of erectile dysfunction medication called a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis^® (tadalafil), and Levitra^® (vardenafil) treat ED by increasing blood flow to the soft erectile tissues and blood vessels in your penis. 

Erectile dysfunction medications can help you get an erection or maintain a firmer erection to improve the sexual experience for you and your partner. 

On average, Viagra lasts for up to four hours after you take your dose. So, if you tend to lose your erection during sex, Viagra’s effects could help you have sex for longer.

Why Viagra Could Help with PE

Does sildenafil make you last longer? There are a few interesting studies about Viagra’s effects on sexual dysfunction. Let’s break them down:

• In a small 2007 study published in the International Journal of Urology: Official Journal of the Japanese Urological Association, researchers found a link between sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and an increase in ejaculation time in men experiencing PE.

• Another study from 2005 published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who used sildenafil experienced a small increase in time before ejaculation. The increase compared to placebo wasn’t statistically significant, but men did have an increased perception of ejaculatory control and overall sexual satisfaction.

• According to a clinical study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, sildenafil may reduce refractory time by several minutes. In this study, the average reduction in time was about nine minutes.

• A 2023 clinical trial involving 160 participants suggests that combining sildenafil citrate (50 mg) and the opioid painkiller tramadol HCl (100 mg) is a safe and effective treatment for PE.

So, how does Viagra help with PE? There are a few potential ways. First, it can influence the nervous system and reduce penile sensitivity, which might help you last longer. It also relaxes smooth muscles involved in ejaculation, potentially giving you more control.

Why Viagra Isn’t an FDA-Approved Treatment for Premature Ejaculation

Viagra isn’t FDA-approved to help you last longer in bed, and here’s why: Getting FDA approval requires costly, time-consuming clinical trials.

Viagra is already FDA-approved for ED treatment, and doctors can prescribe it off-label for PE. And some studies suggest it can help. 

Here’s what Viagra can’t do: 

• Boost your sex drive

• Prevent fatigue 

• Reduce performance anxiety

• Make your penis bigger 

The Risks of Using Viagra to Last Longer

Common side effects of Viagra include:

• Headaches

• Facial flushing

• Blurred vision

Usually, mild side effects subside within a few hours, but it’s important to pay attention to anything that just doesn’t feel right.

It’s important to tell your prescribing provider if you currently have any medical conditions or are taking medications for heart disease or hypertension. Some  medications like those for high blood pressure (.e.g, nitrates and alpha-blockers) can cause dangerously low blood pressure when mixed with Viagra.

There’s no evidence that Viagra can increase the size of your penis. 

But, because Viagra helps make erections firmer during sexual arousal, it can give the appearance of a larger penis. 

Does Viagra help with premature ejaculation? Maybe. But it’s best you discuss all of your options with a healthcare provider.

Other options that can help delay ejaculation and make you last longer in bed include:

• Premature ejaculation sprays, wipes, and creams

• SSRI antidepressants 

• Non-medicinal techniques for reducing sexual stimulation

Let’s go over these in more detail.

Premature Ejaculation Sprays, Wipes, and Creams

Studies show that lidocaine-containing sprays are extremely effective as treatments for premature ejaculation by reducing sensitivity.

In a 2003 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, men with PE were able to increase their ejaculation latency (the time it takes to reach orgasm) from one minute and 24 seconds to 11 minutes and 21 seconds after applying a lidocaine-prilocaine-based spray. 

We offer an OTC delay spray, delivered right to your door, if you want to give this PE treatment a shot.

Medicated wipes and creams that contain ingredients like lidocaine, prilocaine, and benzocaine are also available OTC and can be used to reduce the sensitivity of the penis.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) 

One of the main side effects of certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — like paroxetine and sertraline — is something called “anorgasmia,” or the inability to achieve orgasm. 

It’s one of the reasons healthcare professionals commonly prescribe SSRIs off-label to treat this common sexual dysfunction.

Sertraline (the active ingredient in Zoloft^®) is one of several SSRIs used to treat PE and improve sexual performance. According to a study published in the journal Medicine, sertraline is effective at prolonging ejaculation latency time and improving rates of sexual satisfaction between patients and their partners.  

Additionally, a 2007 study published in the journal Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management found that men with premature ejaculation who used paroxetine, fluoxetine, or escitalopram experienced an increase in ejaculation time.

Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments

Now that we’ve covered what pills make you last longer in bed let’s move on to drug-free interventions. After all, managing PE might not require any medications. Instead, you might simply have to make some lifestyle changes.

Beyond medications like sildenafil, lidocaine, and sertraline, there are several ways to increase your time before ejaculation and improve your sexual performance without using drugs, including:

• The stop-start technique

• The squeeze technique

• Distracting thoughts 

• Kegel, or pelvic floor, exercises

• Masturbating before sex 

• Therapy for sexual performance anxiety

Our guide to preventing premature ej​​​​aculation covers these in more detail, with scientific data to back up each treatment option.

If you’re struggling with lasting longer in bed or getting an erection altogether, there’s usually more than one thing going on. 

Here’s what could be at play:

• Physical and lifestyle factors, like poor cardiovascular health, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, lack of physical activity, and unmanaged health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension)

• Psychological factors, like stress, anxiety, depression, performance pressure, or past trauma, which can interfere with arousal and control over ejaculation

• Certain medications, like antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs) and blood pressure medications (e.g., beta-blockers), which may contribute to erectile dysfunction or affect stamina

Sex might seem straightforward, but there’s often more to sexual performance than just arousal. Viagra can help in certain situations, but sometimes, a mix of solutions is the key to a better sex life and healthy sexual function. 

Your options for addressing premature ejaculation range from lidocaine-based PE spray to techniques like the stop-start method and masturbating before sexual activity.

And then, there’s Viagra. Although the "little blue pill" is FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction (ED) (not PE), healthcare professionals can also prescribe a dose of Viagra off-label to help men last longer in bed.

Let’s recap what we know about Viagra for PE:

• Does Viagra make you last longer in bed? It might, but the question could use more research. 

• Does Viagra increase your libido? Unfortunately, no. It also won’t prevent performance anxiety or make your penis larger. 

• Can you take Viagra for PE? There’s limited research on Viagra for PE but healthcare professionals sometimes prescribe Viagra and other ED medications off-label. 

If you’re having trouble lasting for an extended period of time, talk to a healthcare professional about your premature ejaculation treatment options, including Viagra, SSRIs, and delay spray. 

Want to do more for your sex life? We can help connect you to a healthcare professional for sexual health medical advice, or to talk about sertraline for PE and paroxetine for PE.

You can also learn about the differences between Viagra and Cialis, your options for premature ejaculation pills, and the available premature ejaculation treatments.