Alcohol is often seen as a “good medicine” for adults to relax. After a busy day, having a glass of beer seems to dispel all fatigue, and alcohol is indispensable when gathering with friends.
As night falls, young men and women use alcohol to release hormones, enhance mutual attraction, and have a wonderful night. However, when alcohol meets certain drugs, especially the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil that men are familiar with, the situation becomes complicated.
Many male patients often ask me this question when consulting with me: Can you drink alcohol while taking sildenafil?
Today, we will delve into this topic in detail.
1. Can you drink alcohol when taking sildenafil?
The interaction between alcohol and medication is a common issue. In fact, over 90% of medications used simultaneously with alcohol can lead to adverse reactions or interactions, potentially enhancing the drug’s effects, causing serious discomfort, or rendering the drug ineffective. Sildenafil is no exception.
1. Alcohol reduces the efficacy of sildenafil
When alcohol and sildenafil are present in the body at the same time, alcohol directly interferes with sildenafil’s mechanism of action, greatly reducing its efficacy. This means that whether you drink alcohol before or after taking sildenafil, it will affect the drug’s effectiveness. If alcohol consumption is excessive, the situation may be more serious.
2. Risk of taking sildenafil after excessive alcohol consumption
If sildenafil is taken in a state of severe drunkenness, it may lead to serious side effects. Excessive alcohol consumption may result in the drug’s effects being too strong, and may even cause other dangerous health issues. Therefore, taking sildenafil after excessive alcohol consumption is definitely not a wise choice.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you cannot drink alcohol at all. For those who really want to drink, it is important to wait a period of time after taking sildenafil, typically recommended to wait 4 hours after taking the medication. However, it is crucial to drink alcohol in moderation.
2. A real case of taking sildenafil after drinking
There was a case in my hospital where serious consequences resulted from taking sildenafil after drinking alcohol. A 40-year-old man who had long been troubled by sexual dysfunction, in order to have a good intimate life with his wife, drank three bottles of wine at a gathering and took sildenafil at the same time. Although he achieved the desired effect, he paid a heavy price – his penis remained erect for a whopping 30 hours.
Initially, the man did not seek medical help immediately, as shyness and embarrassment prevented him from taking action. It was only after 30 hours of continuous erection that he rushed to the Provincial Medical University Affiliated Hospital for help. After a 70-minute emergency surgery, doctors extracted blood from his corpora cavernosa to restore normal function. However, due to prolonged ischemia, his penis had fibrosis and he might face permanent erectile dysfunction in the future.
Therefore, it is necessary to remind everyone that if an erection lasts more than 12 hours, it may cause irreversible damage to the penis structure, or even necrosis may occur.
In conclusion, regardless of the medication, using alcohol in combination usually leads to adverse consequences, which are inevitable. The interaction between alcohol and drugs can exacerbate the severity of adverse reactions, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed and the dosage of the medication. Therefore, we strongly recommend not taking sildenafil or other medications after drinking alcohol to avoid unnecessary risks to health.
Above is all the content about the interaction between sildenafil and alcohol. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below the article. Remember, health and safety always come first, do not risk your own body.
