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Highlights
- A minor but significant percentage of patients experience heartburn from Viagra.
- Sildenafil inhibits PDE5 in the stomach and gut, causing indigestion and heartburn.
- PDE5 inhibition may relax the lower esophageal sphincter.
- Viagra heartburn should not last long unless you already have digestive problems.
- Taking Cialis, Levitra, or Stendra instead of Viagra may solve the heartburn problem for some patients.
If you take Viagra for ED and experience indigestion or heartburn, you’re not alone. Around 11% of Viagra patients experience heartburn as a side effect of the popular ED drug. Is heartburn from Viagra dangerous, or is it a mild side effect you can ignore? Read on to find out.
Why Do You Get Heartburn From Viagra?
Sildenafil, the active compound in Viagra, is a PDE5 inhibitor. By limiting the effects of this enzyme, sildenafil causes the blood vessels in the penis to relax and dilate. In their relaxed state, they allow more blood to flow through, giving you a strong erection.
Viagra’s effects aren’t local, however. In addition to the PDE5 in your penis, it inhibits PDE5 throughout your body. And there’s PDE5 in your digestive system as well, controlling the blood flow to your esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Viagra and Indigestion
We know that PDE5 inhibitors have profound effects on gastrointestinal disorders. A study shows that sildenafil citrate can inhibit about 50% of the PDE5 in the digestive tract. By doing so, it can cause fluid accumulation and diarrhea.
Sildenafil may also lower blood pressure. When blood vessels relax and dilate, they allow blood to flow freely, reducing its pressure on the walls of the vessels. Blood pressure drops can cause indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux, among other, potentially more severe side effects.
Viagra and GERD
In addition to the PDE5 in the walls of the stomach and gut, sildenafil also suppresses PDE5 in the smooth muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter. The LES is a sort of valve that keeps the digestive acid in the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus.
When the smooth muscles relax, the LES relaxes as well, allowing the acidic digestive juices to flow upward and give you gastroesophageal reflux, or heartburn.
When is Indigestion and Heartburn from Viagra Serious?
GERD and indigestion are two relatively common side effects of sildenafil citrate. They don’t necessarily occur in all Viagra users, however. Most people who take Viagra don’t experience these side effects.
Whether you’ll get indigestion or heartburn from Viagra depends on your sensitivity to sildenafil, other health conditions you may have, and various lifestyle factors.
The same factors determine the severity of your Viagra heartburn or indigestion. Heartburn is a relatively mild condition that doesn’t require immediate medical attention.
In some cases, it may become serious, however. Call your doctor if:
- You experience heartburn more than three times a week
- Your heartburn is exceptionally strong or won’t go away
- You experience difficulty swallowing as a result of your heartburn
- Your heartburn becomes chronic, causing you to lose weight
- Your heartburn causes you to throw up and you notice blood in your vomit
- Your heartburn causes other problems like respiratory issues or pneumonia
Like heartburn, indigestion is a relatively mild side effect of Viagra. In some patients, it may cause severe symptoms, however.
Seek medical help if:
- Your indigestion becomes chronic, or its symptoms are debilitating
- Long-lasting indigestion causes you to lose significant weight
- You experience difficulty swallowing
- You vomit persistently
- You notice blood in your vomit or stool
- Your symptoms go from bad to worse instead of improving
- You have a known gastrointestinal condition or are over 55
How Can You Prevent Indigestion and Heartburn from Viagra?
If you experience these side effects from Viagra and find them bothersome, you can take a few simple measures to prevent them.
Take your Viagra or generic sildenafil with food. If you are sensitive to PDE5 changes in your stomach, food can “shield” it from direct exposure to the drug. It may take longer for the Viagra to kick in, but its side effects may also be milder.
Some foods, like spicy foods and alcoholic beverages, can make you more likely to experience heartburn. Avoid these foods when you know you want to use Viagra.
Don’t lie down after taking your Viagra. Staying upright for about 30 minutes will make stomach acid less likely to make its way up your esophagus.
If you are predisposed to heartburn, you may want to adopt some lifestyle changes to avoid triggering the condition.
Lifestyle changes that might help include:
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting or eliminating alcohol
- Managing stress
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
- Losing weight if you’re overweight
- Drinking plenty of water
Take your Viagra exactly as your doctor prescribes. Don’t take more of the drug to increase its erection-boosting effects; it won’t, and you’ll increase your risk of side effects.
Can I Take Something for Viagra Heartburn?
Over-the-counter antacids like Maalox and Mylanta can neutralize stomach acid and relieve heartburn. Take these drugs for Viagra heartburn only if your doctor okays it.
Always talk to your doctor before taking any medications with Viagra. Sildenafil can interact with other drugs, producing potentially dangerous side effects.
If you take an over-the-counter antacid, monitor its effects. If it fails to relieve your Viagra heartburn, don’t take more. Talk to your doctor instead. They may prescribe other medications that can relieve your symptoms.
How Long Does Heartburn From Viagra Last?
Theoretically, heartburn from Viagra should last as long as the PDE5-inhibiting effects of the drug do. Viagra typically lasts from 4 to 6 hours in the body.
In practice, the duration of this uncomfortable side effect can depend on numerous factors, such as:
- Your sensitivity to sildenafil
- Your predisposition to heartburn
- How much food you’ve eaten
- Your metabolism
- Your underlying health conditions
- Your level of hydration
- The Viagra dose strength
Viagra heartburn may trigger chronic heartburn that lasts longer than the effects of the drug. If you find that to be the case, contact your doctor.
Are There Any Alternatives to Viagra?
Cialis, with its active substance tadalafil, is less likely to cause heartburn than Viagra. Clinical trials found that only 1-3% of patients taking tadalafil experienced heartburn, even at 5 milligram doses. Higher doses can cause more severe side effects in a higher percentage of patients.
All ED drugs can cause heartburn, but your sensitivity may differ from one drug to another. Vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Stendra) are other alternatives to consider.
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James West is a seasoned health and wellness writer with a focus on topics related to physiology, sleep, and men’s health. He has contributed articles on a range of subjects, from erectile dysfunction treatments and sleep aids to hair loss, providing well-researched insights to help readers make informed health decisions.