March 6, 2023 Dr. Bruce Blackwell

Does Viagra expire?

Just like other medicines, the ingredients in Viagra also break down with time. This means that the effects of Viagra become less effective every day once it expires.

In this article, you will know how long one expects Viagra to work, and how Viagra links to other medicines that treat erectile dysfunction. You will also know how to attain the full benefits of Viagra.

Does Viagra really expire?

Several men around the world ask this age-old question. To answer this question, it is necessary to understand how to uncover the shelf life of Viagra.

Just like other medicines, the manufacturer also set the expiration date for Viagra. The date of expiration is mainly determined by the stability of the active ingredient present in the medication.

It is important to know that Viagra contains an active ingredient that remains chemically effective for a particular amount of time. This medicine contains sildenafil citrate as its active ingredient.

After they are first made, Viagra pills might still work for years. But when there is a reduction in chemical activity, it means they don’t work well. When the medicines are expired, they grow infectious mold or bacteria.

In case, you are using Viagra or other ED medicines, it is vital to know they come with a shelf life of almost 2 years. The expiration date of Viagra is comparable to other common ED medicines like:

• Sildenafil
• Tadalfil
• Levitra (Vardenafil)

What is Viagra pill?

Viagra is a prescription medicine that helps to treat erectile dysfunction. in this medicine works by increasing blood flow to the male sexual organ. It also relaxes the smooth muscle tissue present in the blood vessels that supply the male reproductive organ.

The best thing about Viagra is, it was the very first oral medication approved to treat the condition of erectile dysfunction. Remember intake of Viagra will not cure your ED condition but help you to attain and maintain hard erections. This further makes it easy for men to involve in uninterrupted sexual activities.

How long does Viagra last in the body?

Viagra starts to work within 30 minutes after intake and the effects last for almost 4 hours.

Doctors recommend strictly for men above the age of 18 years. This tablet can be consumed with or without food. Keep one thing in mind, Viagra will never offer you protection against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.

What happens if you take expired Viagra?

You will automatically start experiencing a weak erection or no erection at all if you take Viagra that is expired. Although this will depend upon how long the medicine is expired.

Some men even prefer taking several pills at once in order to experience the cumulative effect. Remember this is not a good idea as the degraded chemicals impact your body in an unplanned way and cause side effects like:

• Muscle aches and pain
• Nausea
• Visual disturbances
• Seizures
• Itchiness or a feeling of being tingled with needles
• Heart attack
• Diarrhea
• Reduced blood circulation

If you have taken expired Viagra and experience any of the above symptoms then stop taking the pill immediately. Get emergency medical help and dispose of the expired Viagra properly.

What is the shelf life of Viagra and where you can find the expiry date?

Be it Viagra, generic sildenafil, or other erectile dysfunction medicines like Cialis or Stendra, all these medicines stay potent chemically only for two years. This is possible only when they are stored in the right way.

You need to keep the medication in a closed bottle. It is always better to keep the medicine in its original packaging, dry cool place, and right away from exposure to direct sunlight.

You can find the expiry date of Viagra or generic sildenafil printed on the bottom of the plastic bottle or the side of the carton. It is printed clearly and very hard to miss.     

When in doubt, you can also call the manufacturer and inquire about the production date as well as the likely expiry of the batch. Remember using an expired sildenafil tablet and never a brilliant idea just to save some money.   

Safe medication disposal

In case, your medication has expired then contact the doctor to get a new prescription quickly.

Never try to flush your expired medicines down the toilet. It is better to follow the FDA guidelines and mix the expired Viagra pills with unpalatable substances such as kitty litter, dirt, or coffee grounds.

Now place the sealed plastic bag and throw it away in the household trash.

Therefore, the fact that the Viagra pill can expire is the perfect reason to only purchase the medicine from a licensed pharmacy. In this way, you are protected against the purchase of counterfeit medicines. You also stay away from expired or re-packaged pills. 

Related Blog - How Oral Medicines Work in Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Reference -

                https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines