Can We Mix Viagra, Levitra and Cialis with Alcohol?
Experts believe that maximal dosage of alcohol, which poses minimal risk of side effects and optimal effectiveness, is 100 g of whiskey. In other words, in terms of pure alcohol, it is around 40 g. This is equivalent to 400 – 450 ml of table wine, 700 ml of beer, 600 ml of gin and tonic.
Men are often interested in whether it is possible to combine drugs that are used to treat impotence with alcohol.
You need to make a choice, either sex or alcohol if you want to drink then go and get drunk, but when you in such a state take an ED drug, its effect will not appear. If you want to have sex, then you go to the pharmacy and buy Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, then invite your partner for coffee (or anywhere else), order a glass of wine (not more), drink it and perform sexual intercourse.
Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are selective competitive PDE-5 inhibitors. These drugs molecules are similar in structure to cGMP molecule, but their action is that they block PDE-5 enzyme action. From a pharmaceutical point of view, even minor differences in molecular structure can lead to marked differences in their action. A striking example of similarities in structure and differences in properties are molecules of testosterone and estradiol.
Viagra and Alcohol
To date, there are no convincing conclusions that joint use of Viagra and alcoholic drinks (in moderate quantities) can cause any fatal consequences.
A man weighing 80 kg can drink about 100 g of whiskey and take Viagra without any consequences.
From a chemical point of view, sildenafil does not react with alcohol, this is scientifically proved. But life proved that after excessive amounts of alcohol in the blood (it is, of course, individual), you may experience problems with erection in general. In some cases, the entire musculoskeletal system and consciousness, guiding it, stop functioning properly, but these people, in fact, do not buy this drug.
Viagra can be taken with alcohol, but you risk turning your holiday into a nightmare. Why? Alcohol increases the load on the heart, increases heart muscle contractions number, cardiac work also increases. The medication also has an effect on the heart, increases contractions number. By adding one to another, the heart begins to experience a double load. There appear increased blood pressure, headaches, heaviness in the head, facial redness. These are the very phenomena which are observed in hangover state. However, if problems with blood pressure do not appear, and vice versa, if blood pressure is reduced, then such side effects may not bother you, and taken after alcohol the drug is absorbed without unnecessary inconveniences and will give a satisfactory result.
Still, alcohol can increase Viagra side effects:
- dizziness;
- headaches;
- indigestion;
- facial flushing;
- muscle pains;
- diarrhea, which can also be a side effect of alcohol.
That is why this drug increases chances of unpleasant side effects from these drugs, reducing chances of normal sex.
Getting drunk while taking sildenafil is stupid, not only because there won’t be any effect, but because even if effect will appear, when you wake up in the morning you are unlikely to remember anything and your headache (hangover) will not let you feel cheerful, so Viagra and alcohol are not only physically incompatible, but also morally.
But it is silly to blame the ED remedy for a hangover: «everything would have been fine if I had not taken this drug». Everything would be fine if you had not drunk «extra» half a bottle of whiskey. And with erection, and general health, and memories of the time spent.
Cialis and Alcohol
Cialis is recommended to take orally before planned sexual activity, regardless of concomitant food or alcohol intake. According to information in instruction to the drug, tadalafil does not interact with alcohol, and at their joint use, neither concentration of ethanol nor the drug therapeutic dosage are affected. This is understandable: pharmacodynamic studies have shown that tadalafil practically does not interact with drugs, metabolism of which requires cytochrome P450 enzyme system participation. A small amount of alcohol will not cause any problems, but large doses may interact with Cialis.
Small doses of alcohol (200 g of wine or 0,5 l of beer or 100 g of whiskey) with Cialis will not cause any problems for most men.
Studies have shown that tadalafil effect does not depend on alcohol and fatty foods, of course, for men it will be another argument in favor of the drug. However, it should be noted that alcohol in large doses by itself adversely affects erection and furthermore, alcohol abuse can cause erectile dysfunction.
However, we must not forget that this ED drug and alcohol have a systemic effect: they expand blood vessels, which can lead to a sharp decrease in arterial blood pressure, especially in presence of precipitating factors. This is stated in instruction, but not too «noticeable». Definitely, those who experienced dizziness and orthostatic reaction after drinking alcohol will have the same reaction after using this remedy (as a consequence of vascular response), and a combination of tadalafil and alcohol with intensifying these adverse reactions.
Currently, Canadian Cialis is the only phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, the effect which persists for more than a day – 36 hours.
Levitra and Alcohol
Drinking alcohol does not have a significant effect on Levitra pharmacokinetic parameters.
Theoretically, there is a risk that this drug can interact with alcohol, however, clinical trials revealed no such interaction. In general, alcohol can produce similar to vardenafil effect – vasodilation and as a result of this combination dizziness, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and low arterial blood pressure may occur.
However, studies have not shown interaction, in case of the combination of Levitra and alcohol in an amount of 200 g of whiskey.
Although studies do not show any interaction, it is recommended to avoid consuming large doses of alcohol.
In accordance with manufacturers instruction, Levitra, Cialis and Viagra should not be combined with anticoagulants. Anticoagulants are responsible for blood clotting, in terms that make it clot.
Due to the fact, that alcohol in itself has the same effect on blood as anticoagulants, Levitra, Cialis and Viagra and alcohol combination is a direct violation of contraindications to these ED pills.
