Q: What does Pfizer say about taking Viagra with food?
A: Pfizer, which developed the popular ED drug Viagra, says that the little blue pill can be taken with or without food. However, it does offer one caveat, suggesting that men planning to take Viagra avoid fatty foods, which can delay the drug’s onset of action.
Q: Why would fatty foods delay Viagra’s onset of action?
A: Of the three macronutrients — carbohydrates, fats, and proteins — that make up the human diet, fats take the longest to digest. Why? Well, as you’ve probably heard, oil and water do not mix, at least not easily. Carbs and protein are water-based and thus much easier to digest. To break down fatty foods into more readily absorbable form, the liver secretes bile acids, molecules of which bond with fats at one end and water at the other end.
This slow emulsification process for fats slows down the digestive process. Because Viagra and the other PDE5 inhibitors are taken orally, they must be broken down in the digestive tract so that they can be absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually take effect. The less competition they have, the faster the drugs can take effect.
Q: Wouldn’t Viagra take effect faster on an empty stomach?
A: The human body is a very complex mechanism, capable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously. While taking Viagra on an empty stomach might hasten its onset of action by a minute or so, you should feel free to use it soon after eating. Just be aware that a meal high in fat content will slow down its onset of action more than a low-fat meal would do.
Longtime online facilitator eDrugstore.com offers a full range of ED drugs, including Viagra, its generic equivalent sildenafil citrate, Levitra, Cialis, Staxyn, and Stendra. For men who don’t have a doctor’s prescription, eDrugstore can schedule a complimentary online consultation with a licensed U.S. physician who will authorize a prescription if appropriate. To learn more, visit the website’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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