Sildenafil is a short acting drug with an average half-life of 4–5 hours, which means that half the medicine is gone from the body after 4–5 hours in healthy people. But just because the drug stays in your body for hours doesn’t mean your erection should last that long. Sildenafil (and other ED treatments) will not give you an erection for the entire period that they are in your system and your erection will still go down as normal after ejaculation.

Sildenafil is one of the medications offered on our platform. To determine which medication might be right for you, it’s best to complete the online visit and connect with a US-licensed healthcare provider to further discuss your options. If prescribed, your medication will be mailed directly to your door in discreet packaging.

Generic forms of Viagra® are safe when taken as prescribed. The generic of Viagra® has the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) as branded Viagra®. While the appearance of the pills may differ, the active ingredient acts the same way and produces the same results in the body. Before you get a prescription for the generic of Viagra®, your healthcare provider will check if you have any underlying health conditions and if you’re taking certain other medications that could make the generic of Viagra® less safe for you.

Sildenafil should be taken 30–60 minutes before sex. It’s important to take it without a meal because fat in a meal can decrease and delay its absorption, which can lower sildenafil’s effectiveness. Even though the instructions are to take it 30–60 minutes before sex, sildenafil lasts in the body for up to 6–8 hours.