Sildenafil On-Demand versus Every Night
Is Nightly Viagra a Viable Treatment Option for ED?
Disclaimer: Your healthcare provider is the best source of health and medical information. Articles written by UPGUYS are informed by peer-reviewed studies and research, as well as governmental health authorities and agencies — but they cannot replace advice from a healthcare professional. Talk to your healthcare provider about any physical or mental health concerns you might have.
Some parts of men’s bodies are more active than you think while fast asleep. When healthy, the average man has between three and five erections every night, lasting between 25–35 minutes. Researchers are not 100 percent sure why this happens, but it is a good sign that everything’s in working order. In fact, men who experience psychological erectile dysfunction can often still become erect while they’re getting some shut eye.
This natural function of the penis led some researchers to conduct an experiment in which a set of men with ED were given Viagra every night before bedtime and compared their results to men who were told to take Viagra “the normal way” — before sexual intercourse — and a third group who were given no ED meds at all.
The study showed promising results. After taking Viagra every night for 12 months, the group of men were told to stop taking the drug for an entire month. Almost 60 percent of the men who took nightly Viagra returned to normal erectile function, whereas only 10 percent of men who were told to take Viagra as needed experience the same result.
This is, of course, only one study, and the study’s authors say that further research is needed to determine whether or not nightly Viagra is a suitable treatment option for erectile dysfunction. It’s also important to note that Viagra should be taken no more than once per 24 hour period. Your doctor may prescribe Viagra to be taken every day, but most forms of Viagra, Levitra and Cialis (two other popular prescription ED medications) are prescribed on an as-needed basis. (Cialis however does come in a lower daily-dose option).
While the results of the study are intriguing, it’s up to your doctor and yourself to determine the best path forward in overcoming erectile dysfunction. Achieving and maintaining an erection is a complex process. It requires the right combination of physical stimulation and healthy mindset to have the brain send signals to the penis and allow for proper blood flow.
The class of drugs to which Viagra, Levitra and Cialis all belong are known as PDE5 inhibitors. They serve to relax muscles and blood vessels in the penis encouraging blood flow to the area. Whether this happens during the night or on-demand, the result is (hopefully) the same. But there are also ways for men to improve erectile function without taking prescription medicines.
Thankfully, for coffee lovers out there, caffeine has been shown to increase blood flow to the penis and improve erectile function. A healthy diet full of whole fruits and vegetables can also go a long way in improving overall cardiovascular health, which is key in making sure the heart is pumping sufficient amounts of blood to the penis. With all that extra energy you’ll have from the caffeine and a healthy diet, consider getting active for some additional benefits to your cardiovascular health.
To quote a phrase used often by politicians not wanting to tip their hand: all options are on the table. There isn’t just one way to tackle ED — and you should be aware of all the tools at your disposal. Depending on your particular type of ED, age, health and other factors, prescription medication can play a big part in treatment. Taking Viagra every day or every night is an uncommon way to address erectile dysfunction, but your doctor might consider it depending on your needs.
If you’re experiencing difficulties achieving and maintaining an erection more than half the time over the period of a few months, talk to a doctor about available treatment options. If an in-person visit to the doctor’s office isn’t a possibility, schedule a virtual appointment. They will assess your current needs, health and other considerations and determine if prescription medications like Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), or Levitra (vardenafil) may be right for you.
