# Viagra question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481 "2002-03-22T03:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/1 "2002-03-22T03:18:52Z")
I am about to use my first dose of Viagra. What should I really expect to happen and how suddenly does it occur? Is it true that the effects last for about four hours and you may possibly see a blue haze in your visual field? Anyone out there with experience with this medication? ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/2 "2002-03-22T05:13:04Z")
I’ve heard that it takes about an hour to kick in. That’s all I know. ---
**Author:** ![Krab\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Krab\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krab_King)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/3 "2002-03-22T10:13:44Z")
It all may vary from individual to individual but it doesn’t always take an hour to kick in…at least for me. It could be as little as 5 to 10 mins. (Chalk it up to anticipation!) The effects may even last longer than 4 hours depending on the circumstances. I’ve never experienced any ‘blue haze’ but I do have a tendency to develop a slight headache and a bit of a stuffy nose. The directions also say don’t take more than 100mgs. in a 24 hr. period. I’ve never done that, but at times I’m sorely tempted! All things considered…IT WORKS!!! Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/4 "2002-03-22T15:05:17Z")
You might want to check some of the information available about [Viagra](http://www.viagra.com/). For example: > [@](#): > > How To Take VIAGRA > > Take VIAGRA about one hour before you plan to have sex. Beginning in about 30 minutes and for up to 4 hours, VIAGRA can help you get an erection if you are sexually excited. If you take VIAGRA after a high-fat meal (such as a cheeseburger and french fries), the medicine may take a little longer to start working. VIAGRA can help you get an erection when you are sexually excited. You will not get an erection just by taking the pill. ---
**Author:** ![jsleek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@jsleek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsleek)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/5 "2002-03-22T15:43:47Z")
A friend told me this 🙂 Viagra has a goofy price structure. The 100mg costs the same as the 25mg. So get the 100s and cut them in quarters with wire cutters (diagonal cutters). Other tools don’t work so well. Try smaller doses, too. My friend’s experience 🙂 is the effect is best after a couple of hours and can last up to 12 hours. 🙂 Whoever came up with this stuff should get a Nobel prize. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/6 "2002-03-22T16:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Whoever came up with this stuff should get a Nobel prize. No, but they _are_ getting big, fat paychecks… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/7 "2002-03-22T18:36:22Z")
You always want to check with your pharmacist before you cut (or bite) any pill in half. When you break a pill, the time release coating on the outside is broken, and the chemical(s) enters the bloodstream in a different concentration. Taking a 25 mg Viagra is not the same as taking 1/4 of a 100 mg. If your doctor prescribed you 25, it could be dangerous for you to take 1/4 of a 100. Hope I helped! ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/8 "2002-03-22T18:56:42Z")
Interesting theory, **Mercury**. Any cites and examples of common pills that fall into, or are excluded from, this category (i.e. where taking one 25mg differs from taking 1/4th of a 100mg ) ? ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/9 "2002-03-22T19:09:18Z")
[Oxy-Contin](http://www.purduepharma.com/PI/Prescription/Oxycontin.pdf) is an example of a drug where breaking the tablet will defeat its time-release function. It is how this drug is abused. From the black box on its warning label: > [@](#): > > OxyContin TABLETS ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE AND ARE NOT TO BE BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED. TAKING BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED OxyContin TABLETS LEADS TO RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF OXYCODONE. (All caps in original). A black box warning is the strongest warning the FDA has included on product information for prescription drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/10 "2002-03-22T20:29:43Z")
Any drug that is time-released should never be broken or bitten. Pain killers are a big one, especially controlled or narcotic pain killers, though OTC painkillers should also should not be broken. Many people, myself included, break Tylenol. Now I take children’s chewable ones. Birth control, antibiotics, seizure medication and many others should never have their time-release coatings broken, except on the orders of a physician. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, you may be able to get drugs in liquid or chewable form. ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/11 "2002-03-22T22:12:45Z")
Viagra is not time-released. Cutting is OK as long as you are still getting the right dose your doctor prescribes. miatachris, R.Ph. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/12 "2002-03-23T03:42:27Z")
I have tried it 3 times. It started working for me about 30 minutes after taking it. My only problem was a headache after a couple of hours. And waking up at 3 in the morning with Winky at a painfully full attention. Last time I took a couple of Advil about an hour before the Viagra and the headache was not as bad. ---
**Author:** ![jsleek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@jsleek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsleek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/13 "2002-03-23T04:09:17Z")
racer, that’s why you might reduce the dosage. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viagra-question/99481/14 "2002-03-23T15:32:40Z")
Also, I would assume that the 3:00 a.m. woody, while enhanced or made painful by the effects of the drug, could be attributed to normal nocturnal erection.