Does Viagra make you last longer in bed? One potential benefit of these drugs that may make your PE easier to deal with is the extremely short, refractory period (loss of erection after ejaculation).
In fact, some men may experience no ‘down time’ when taking Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra after ejaculation. But is there any research that shows it can really help with premature ejacuation.
That's what this article will uncover, along with suggesting other solutions that might be helpful.
Quick FAQs
Viagra acts on nerve endings in blood vessels so they release nitric oxide. This causes the walls of the blood vessels to expand, so they fill with blood to make the penis hard.
There has not been sufficient enough evidence showing a meaningful effect and studies are far and few between. E.D. medications should be avoided if you are looking to treat symptoms of early ejaculation.
On average, men in the study lasted 36 seconds after vaginal insertion until ejaculation without any treatment.
Volunteers who received Viagra instead of a placebo pill lasted on average 1 minute and 40 seconds.
On one occasion a volunteer was able to control ejaculation for 7 minutes and 40 seconds after taking Viagra.
The researchers measured “vibrotactile stimulation ejaculatory latency time” in the man’s penis as their measurement of time to ejaculate.
They actually measured vibration, not ejaculation, so their times were much higher than the couples would have reported if they had been operating a stopwatch.
That extra 1 minute and 40 seconds was not enough to achieve “statistical significance” that showed Viagra relieves early ejaculation, but there were some other effects of Viagra in this study that were statistically and personally significant for men.
Results
Men who took Viagra reported they felt more in control of their ejaculations.
Men who took Viagra reported greater satisfaction from sex.
Men who took Viagra reported they were able to get it up and go again on average in 3 minutes and 12 seconds after ejaculation when they were on Viagra.
As would be expected, about 15 percent of men in the study reported side effects.
These studies have found that Cialis is actually slightly better than Viagra as a muscle relaxant.
Most men that consider using Cialis for premature ejaculation do so because they had visual side effects associated with Viagra.
With that said Cialis does have it's own list of potential side effect:
Headache
Upset stomach
Back pain
Stuffy nose
Flushing
Dizziness
Another reason for taking Cialis instead of Viagra is that Cialis is a drug you can take once a day on a regular schedule, and Viagra is a medication you take when you think your partner is going to be in the mood.
If “be prepared” is your motto, Cialis could be your choice.
Levitra
Levitra has to be taken right before sex and it can also be helpful in helping you maintain an erection after ejaculation.
Levitra is a medication that works best if it is taken about 60 minutes before sex.
One of the same researchers who studied Cialis as a muscle relaxant also did stopwatch tests of couples having sex after the man took Levitra.
In this German clinical trial of Levitra for PE involving 34 couples, Dr. Frank Sommer reported that the average time to climax with no treatment was less than 90 seconds.
During the first 4-weeks of the study, each man was taught at home exercises and techniques to help better control ejaculation, such as:
About half of the men found this sufficient enough to not proceed with the remainder of the study.
Those men that did complete the study saw an increase in ejaculatory control with Levitra.
It’s hard to determine the efficacy of Levitra on PE considering that other ejaculatory control methods were introduced into the study.
However, men in the study reported that with Levitra they usually lasted long enough that both partners enjoyed sex more.
A follow-up to this study found that men get good results with Levitra for premature ejaculation if they take it once a day, but it also works if they just take it an hour or less before they have sex and skip the pill on days they known they won't be having sex.
Like with the other medication in this list Levitra has certain side effects to be aware of, like:
Headache
Stuffy/runny nose
Dizziness
increased sensitivity to light
blurred vision
Inability to distinguish between blue and green
How Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra can ‘help’ with premature ejaculation
Viagra actually makes a man harder and softer at the same time.
Viagra causes blood vessels in the penis to fill with blood, making the penis harder.
It also relaxes smooth muscles around the prostate gland, which releases semen, and along the urethra, the delivery tube for semen.
This can sometimes slow down ejaculation.
Viagra acts on nerve endings in blood vessels so they release nitric oxide.
This causes the walls of the blood vessels to expand, so they fill with blood to make the penis hard.
But it also can reduce high penis sensitivity. They don’t send as many messages back to the penile nerves that control ejaculation and tell your body that ‘It’s time.’
With Viagra, men are a lot less likely to lose their erections after ejaculation and continue as if climax never occurred.
This can give you the confidence that you will be able to thrust and stimulate your partner without needing a break after your initial ejaculation.
Confidence and comfortability play a big role in reducing performance anxiety which can lead to premature ejaculation.
Should you take Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis to last longer?
Erectile dysfunction medications should be avoided if you are looking to treat just premature ejaculation.
There has not been sufficient enough evidence showing a meaningful effect and studies are far and few between.
However, if you experience both erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation your doctor may recommend 1 medication for both symptoms.
Anytime a prescription-only medication is introduced into your regimen, it typically means there is a serious issue that needs to be treated.
Rx medications have a higher likelihood of producing negative or adverse side effects compared to over-the-counter medications.
And there’s good news too.
There are many non-prescription medications designed to treat early ejaculation.
They range from delay sprays and wipes (like Promescent),to creams and all-natural products that solely focus on getting results that will help you last longer in bed.
What do doctors prescribe?
Not every doctor will prescribe Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra for PE.
The only prescription medication for PE is an antidepressant called Priligy (dapoxetine), however, it is not approved in the USA and is only available in a few select countries worldwide:
France
Italy
Spain
Germany
Mexico
South Korea
Malaysia
New Zealand
Canada
Uruguay
Argentina
Portugal
Philippines
Australia
Sweden
Austria
It is in the same class of drugs as Prozac and Paxil. It usually helps men last longer, but it does not improve erections the way Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra do.
Some doctors will give you an off-label prescription as an erectile dysfunction medication for your PE, only if you voice concerns about ED as well.
Your doctor more likely will suggest a numbing agent, or more commonly known as delay sprays.
They slow down the transmission of nerve messages from the penis to the pudendal nerve that tells your body to release semen from the prostate.
While not a perfect solution, delay sprays do significantly slow down the time to ejaculation.
There is a much lower chance of adverse side effects and they act as an on-demand solution, rather than trying to guess when your partner will be ready.
Conclusion on Viagra and Lasting Longer in Bed
When looking for a treatment option for premature ejaculation it would be advisable to steer clear of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra unless you have been told otherwise by a physician.
Typically these prescriptions only medications are prescribed for erectile dysfunction, not premature ejaculation.
Taking a medication like Viagra will not slow down the onset of the male climax.
Rather, stick to something that has been formulated or tested specifically to help you last in bed.
There is a wide variety of treatments, so you’ll have to do your research and see which one is best suited for your needs.
At-home exercises can be a good place to start and there is significant evidence that using a topical treatment like Promescent can further increase your results.
Dr. Jed Kaminetsky M.D. is an American Board Certified Urologist and earned his Medical Degree at New York University. In his tenure he became a member of the American Urological Association and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Kaminetsky pioneered the minimally invasive Rezum BPH treatment and is an expert in male and female dysfunction.
Sources:
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Mayo Clinic Staff. 2021 December 03. Erectile dysfunction. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776. Accessed 29 Jan 2022.
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Pramod Krishnappa, Esau Fernandez-Pascual, Joaquin Carballido & Juan Ignacio Martinez-Salamanca, 2019 March 05. Sildenafil/Viagra in the treatment of premature ejaculation. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-018-0099-2#citeas. Accessed 29 Jan 2022.
Robert Finn. 2005 August 15. Vardenafil Better Choice for Premature Ejaculation. MDedge. https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/25893/mens-health/vardenafil-better-choice-premature-ejaculation. Accessed 29 Jan 2022.
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The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
