Imagine the scene.
You’re at a party with your closest guy friends, having a great time. You’re laughing, enjoying each other’s company, and getting ready to say your goodbyes. One of your friends pulls you aside and opens up his palm, revealing a small, blue, diamond-shaped pill.
“Wanna take some Viagra before you head home?” he asks.
You balk, having never considered taking Viagra for fun. You thought Viagra was for men with erectile dysfunction, taken with a doctor’s permission—not something you acquire at a get-together with your buddies. Is taking recreational Viagra a thing?
“Uhhh . . .,” you respond, confused.
While the main function of Viagra is to help with penis disorders, many individuals try taking Viagra without erectile dysfunction. Still, you should never accept a pill without being informed about its potential risks.
Let’s explore everything you need to know to avoid awkward conversations in the future.
Table of contents
What Is Viagra and What Are Its Possible Side Effects?
Viagra is a popular, brand-name prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men ages 18 and up. It enables sexually aroused men to get and keep erections, resulting in a more satisfying sex life.
Sildenafil, short for sildenafil citrate, is the active ingredient in Viagra. Generic Viagra is commonly called sildenafil. Cialis is another common brand-name drug used to treat ED but has a different active ingredient called tadalafil.
As we mentioned, Viagra is a blue, diamond-shaped pill—commonly referred to as “the little blue pill.” Sildenafil looks like white, round pills. Cialis is a yellow, oval-shaped pill.
Viagra works in about 20 to 60 minutes. Most men take Viagra about an hour before they plan to have sex. It can work in your body for up to 5 hours, but your erection should only last as long as you’re aroused.
One of the risks of taking Viagra is priapism, where the erection is prolonged and painful even after engaging in sexual activity. This side effect is rare but can cause permanent damage.
Other side effects of Viagra include sudden hearing or vision loss, headache, upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, and heartburn. Most of the side effects are mild, but some are more serious.
Read more: Flomax vs. Viagra: Are Tamsulosin & Sildenafil the Same Thing?
Why Do Some Guys Like To Use Viagra for Fun?
With those risks in mind, you might be wondering what’s appealing about, say, taking half a Viagra for fun.
By definition, recreational use of Viagra means using Viagra without having a written prescription from your doctor. Some men claim to experience relaxation, but that’s likely psychological.
Most men take it for fun to increase the hardness of their penis.
Perhaps they’re doing it for self-esteem reasons and want to have a rock-solid, long-lasting erection without having to consult a doctor first. They might be able to maintain healthy erections as-is but think Viagra will only double down on this.
Or maybe they remember the iconic Sex and the City episode, “The Man, The Myth, The Viagra,” that saw Samantha dating a doctor who took it recreationally and claimed the drug sent him on a rocket trip.
In reality, this doesn’t work.
Healthy men who use Viagra see little to no benefits. Because of the risks of taking recreational Viagra, the harm outweighs any good Viagra might do. The only demonstrable benefit of healthy men taking Viagra is that the time between ejaculating might be shorter.
Read more: Does Viagra Make You Last Longer? What You Need to Know
What Are the Dangers of Using Viagra Recreationally?
So, is it okay to use Viagra without a prescription? Can you use it for fun if you don’t have any medical issues? Is taking even half of a little blue pill for fun acceptable?
All signs point to no.
The main takeaway here is that prescription Viagra use is generally safe and effective because it’s prescribed by a doctor after a consultation. The doctor prescribes the appropriate dosage and informs patients on when and how often to take the drug.
Without this conversation, men might take too high of a dose or too often, resulting in an increased risk of experiencing negative side effects. Doing so could result in anything from health problems to psychological dependence. When it comes to Cialis vs. Viagra recreational use, the situation is the same.
When using Viagra for fun, anyone who takes it is at risk. Those risks might be even higher if the drug is taken with other drugs or medications.
However, those with preexisting heart problems might be at even greater risk.
Men with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or atherosclerosis should beware of taking Viagra recreationally, as Viagra can cause blood pressure to temporarily decrease.
As far as legality goes, Viagra is obtained by prescription only in most countries. In those countries, one cannot legally purchase Viagra without having a doctor’s permission. You can obtain a prescription in person or online.
In 2018, though, Viagra was made an over-the-counter (OTC) drug in the UK, marketed as Viagra Connect. After approval from the pharmacist, men can be sold a 50mg tablet of sildenafil alongside usage instructions. The decision by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency was to prevent men from buying unregulated medicines from illegal websites.
In Canada, Viagra can only be purchased with a prescription for good reasons. Always talk to your doctor before use.
When Should People Use Viagra?
We hope it’s clear by now that people should use Viagra on an as-needed, doctor-approved basis.
A consultation with a doctor can provide answers to any questions one might have, from Viagra side effects and dosages to benefits of Viagra and more. A doctor can also explain when the best time to use Viagra is, which for most people is an hour before engaging in sexual activity.
So, the next time you consider taking recreational Viagra, think again—the risks clearly outweigh the rewards. If you feel you need Viagra to perform sexually, make an appointment with your practitioner.
And if you have healthy erections, enjoy them drug-free!
Taking Viagra for Fun Isn’t as Fun as It Seems
When it comes to your health, information is wealth.
If you’re ever uncertain about something, don’t hesitate to seek answers from us, from Google, or from your doctor. Remember to only follow medical advice from a general practitioner—but it never hurts to read what others have to say.
The more you know, right?
Speaking of which, check out this article on the top vitamins to make you last longer in bed—no prescription required!
References:
- Priapism (painful erections), NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/priapism-painful-erections/
- Viagra for women: over before it started, Medium, https://medium.com/@laurafrost/viagra-for-women-over-before-it-started-680d02da8b8b
- What Are the Risks of Taking Viagra? Talk To Mira, https://www.talktomira.com/post/what-are-the-risks-of-taking-viagra-1
- Can you take Viagra with high blood pressure? Drugs.com, https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/you-viagra-high-blood-pressure-3561288/
- Viagra can be sold over the counter, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/health-42155489
- Side effects of sildenafil, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/side-effects-of-sildenafil/
