The Mystery of Viagra and Grapefruit Incompatibility Unveiled by Canadian Health&Care Mall

Erectile dysfunction is not an easy health issue to deal with because of how uncomfortable numerous men are to discuss the problem with their partners and medical specialists. For this reason, many men suffering from erectile dysfunction make a decision to start taking drugs on their own and are often unaware of the contraindications that should be remembered when consuming them. When it comes to Viagra for men, there are a number of factors that should be taken into account before taking the drug, such as health issues other than erectile dysfunction, drug interactions, and also food and beverages incompatibilities, which are overlooked most often.

Why should you avoid grapefruits?

Viagra has become incredibly popular in the world thanks to its effectiveness and the fact that the majority of men don’t experience any issues when they take the drug and follow the safety recommendations. Not a lot of men that take Viagra know that one of the fruits that are great for your overall health and has numerous vitamins should actually be avoided when undergoing the treatment using the famous ED drug. The fruit that we talk about is grapefruit. What is it about this fruit that makes it incompatible with the ingredients of Viagra? Let’s find out.

According to the research, grapefruit and grapefruit juice interact with the absorption of the active ingredient present in Viagra – Sildenafil Citrate. This interaction occurs because of the way the fruit affects the levels of enzymes that break down the active component before it can enter the bloodstream. When combined with grapefruit or grapefruit juice, the levels of Sildenafil Citrate in the body increase, which can cause the adverse reactions like the ones you may get when taking the dosage higher than recommended. Also, while the levels of the ingredient eventually increase when interacting with grapefruit, the initial ability to achieve an erection can be delayed.

It should be mentioned that grapefruit juice or grapefruits can influence the drug over 24 hours after you consume them. For this reason, you should not eat this fruit not only on the day that you take the pill, but also the day before and the day after.

Who are at the highest risk?

If you suffer from certain health problems, such as cardiovascular conditions, and you have been prescribed the minimum Viagra dosage of 25 mg, it’s important that you don’t drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruits while using the drug, as you are at a higher risk of developing severe adverse reactions. Compared to healthy people, those that suffer from chronic illnesses and ignore this safety precaution are likely to develop more severe side effects.

Also, male patients over the age 60 are generally prescribed the dosage of 25 mg, at least at the beginning of the treatment, so they should be especially careful and mindful when it comes to the interactions of Viagra with food, beverages, and medications.

Which side effects can occur?

As it was mentioned previously, the side effects from consuming Viagra and grapefruit or grapefruit juice take place because the concentration of Sildenafil Citrate becomes too high, which makes you experience an overdose.

Potential Viagra side effects that can develop include:

• Priapism

The term refers to an uncomfortable and even painful erection that lasts for more than 4 hours. Besides the unpleasant sensations, such prolonged erection can lead to the damage of penile tissue.

• Irregular heartbeat
• Blurry vision
• Hearing problems and ringing in the ears
• Dizziness
• Sudden drops in blood pressure
• Headache
• Stomach ache

Read also: Generic Viagra and Priapism

If you notice any of the mentioned or other adverse reactions after consuming a pill of Viagra and they are severe, you should not hesitate and get emergency medical help as soon as possible. In case the symptoms are quite mild, you should still inform your medical advisor to get further instructions on how to deal with your reaction to the drug.

The best way to consume Viagra

If you want to get the best results when consuming Viagra, besides avoiding certain drugs and grapefruits, you should take the drug on an empty stomach. You should not consume a large fatty meal before and after taking the pill as it can delay your response to the medication or cancel it out completely. What you should also avoid is drinking excessive amounts of alcohol as it can cause you to experience adverse reactions.

The pill has to be consumed about 45 minutes to an hour before intercourse so that it has enough time to get absorbed and you are ready to get an erection. You should swallow the pill with plenty of water without crushing or chewing it. It’s important that you don’t exceed the maximum dosage of one Viagra pill a day.