Let’s face it: getting our questions answered about Viagra isn’t easy. On top of the emasculation often associated with taking the pill, talking with others about the goings on in the bedroom can be just plain difficult.

Luckily, you don’t have to look farther than the words right here to find the answers you need to real questions like:

1. Should I take Viagra with food?
2. Are there any Viagra interactions with alcohol?
3. How will Viagra interact with other medications I am taking?
4. What about taking Viagra with other ED medications?

Viagra And…

Viagra works by relaxing the muscles in blood vessels, so it is very important to make sure you are not ingesting anything else that can affect your circulatory system.

Food

Taking Viagra with food doesn’t affect blood vessels, but a full belly can mean the drug takes longer to take effect. And that is because your intestines are busy digesting food, so it takes a little longer to absorb the drug into your system. Now, this doesn’t mean Viagra on an empty stomach is the only way to go, but you should be prepared for a slight delay if you eat before taking it.

However, there are a few food concerns – or more appropriately fruit concerns – you need to know before starting the drug. First and foremost is grapefruit juice. Yes, it is very odd, but for reasons that still remain unclear, chemicals found in grapefruit can prevent your body from absorbing Viagra, and that forces the medication straight into your bloodstream, which causes your blood pressure to skyrocket, sometimes to fatal results.

And speaking of fruit, you might want to stay away from watermelon too. It turns out the melon is chock full of an amino acid called citrulline, which has the exact same effect on blood vessels that Viagra does. Therefore, taking Viagra with watermelon is like taking a double dose of the medication, which could cause a host of problems including strokes, ruptured blood vessels, and a bottomed-out blood pressure.

Diabetes

While we’re on the topic of food, there is some hopeful news for diabetics and pre-diabetics taking Viagra 25 mg. New research is showing the drug may lower insulin sensitivity, or the body’s ability to produce enough insulin to clean out the sugars in the bloodstream. Diabetics know all too well they are insulin resistant, so a drug that can help improve their insulin production and efficacy? And assist with bedroom activities too?

Sounds almost too good to be true.

Alcohol

Now, when it comes to mixing Viagra and alcohol, that is a big no-no. Both alcohol and Viagra lower blood pressure, so when the two are mixed together, they can cause severe drops that may be dangerous or life-threatening. Word to the wise: save the drinking for another time.

Reactions with Organism

Allergic reactions to Viagra are rare, but they can sometimes occur. If you experience a severe reaction such as swelling of your face, mouth, and throat, a breakout of hives, difficulty breathing, sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain, seek medical attention right away.

A common problem to keep in mind – and to avoid – is mixing Viagra with other ED medications, like Vardenafil (Staxyn), Tadalafil (Cialis), Avanafil (Stendra), generics like Nizagara, and alternative therapies like the Kamagra soft-chew tabs, natural treatments, or herbal remedies. Because the drugs all contain a citrate as the primary ingredient (sildenafil citrate is the one in Viagra and its generics), mixing Viagra 100 mg with another medication like Cialis is similar to taking a double dose of the original blue tablet. That combination can cause your blood pressure to crash and blood vessels to rupture.

Therefore, it’s not a case of Viagra versus Tadalafil, Viagra versus Stendra, or even Viagra versus Sildenafil. It should be an either/or approach.

However, what about some of these alternative treatments? What is the argument for Viagra versus Kamagra? Or even Viagra versus natural remedies, like herbal treatments? Sadly, the research on these alternatives is not as extensive as the research on Viagra 50 mg. The efficacy of methods like eating watermelon (in place of Viagra instead of in combination with it) or taking red ginseng simply don’t have the track record compared to Viagra interactions, so at this point, it is difficult to say with any certainty.

What is known? Don’t combine Viagra with any alternatives.

Viagra and Other Drug Interactions

While it is impossible to list every drug and how it interacts with Viagra, there are certain types of drugs that can mean very dangerous results if they are mixed together. See the table below:

Class of Drugs	Common Examples	Results
Nitrates	Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide dinitrate	Nitrates decrease blood pressure so mixing with Viagra can cause severe drops
Antifungals and antivirals	Diflucan, Sporanox	These drugs increase the concentration of Viagra in the bloodstream, which can lead to toxicity
Wakefulness agents	Provigil, Nuvigil	Drugs for extreme fatigue decrease the concentration of Viagra to the point the drug becomes ineffective
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors	Dapoxetine, Paxil	SSRIs** treat a variety of problems, and because they lower blood pressure, they are not a good mix with Viagra

**Other types of better anti-depressants, like Xanax or Ativan, which are both Benzodiazepines, appear to be perfectly safe when taken a drug test with generic Viagra.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and men considering Viagra should consult a physician if they are taking any other medications to ensure they are not creating dangerous combinations. Want to get more info about Viagra interactions? Get our free Viagra trial pack and visit your doctor.