CBD and Viagra—it’s a combination that has piqued the curiosity of many. You may already take CBD daily for its potential benefits, but now you’re considering adding Viagra (sildenafil) into the mix and wondering, can you take CBD and Viagra together?
While it's possible to use both, caution is essential. CBD viagra interactions may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness or low blood pressure. However, CBD might also have some potential benefits for maintaining an erection.
Before starting any combination of cannabis and Viagra, it’s important to inform your doctor or pharmacist to ensure it’s safe for you.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how these two substances work together and what you should know before using them in tandem.
Table of Contents
What is CBD and What is Viagra?
Potential Interactions of CBD and Viagra
How to Take CBD and Viagra Together
Alternate Options: Using CBD for Sex Drive
Other Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction
Conclusion
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its more famous cousin, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD doesn't have psychoactive effects. Instead, it's known for its potential health benefits, including reducing anxiety, pain relief, and supporting sleep.
CBD is available without a prescription and is best used daily for compounding, consistent effects.
The effects of CBD can last between 4-8 hours depending on the dosage and dosing method used. For this reason, it’s often used to enhance sexual performance, though research on its benefits for ED is limited. Some users suggests that CBD's ability to calm anxiety may play a role in improving sexual performance.
Sildenafil, known as Viagra, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing blood flow to the penis. It’s an FDA-approved phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor and works for up to four hours. Viagra should be taken 30-60 minutes before sexual activity, and it’s available by prescription for men 18 and older.
While Viagra helps achieve and maintain an erection, it does not affect libido. Common side effects include:
Always consult a doctor before combining Viagra with other substances, like CBD, to avoid interactions and ensure safety.
In general, you may be able to take CBD and Viagra together under your doctor's guidance. However, there is very little information available to help us understand the potential interactions between the two, so the combination should be approached with caution.
Let's dig deeper into the details behind CBD and Viagra's potential synergy and risks when combined:
Combining CBD and Viagra could offer several potential benefits:
While these benefits are promising, individual results may vary. It's essential to consult a healthcare provider before combining CBD and Viagra to ensure safety.
There is currently limited research to help us understand if CBD and Viagra have synergistic benefits or adverse interactions.
A notable case from 2002 reported a patient who experienced a myocardial infarction after using both cannabis and Viagra. However, this case involved THC, so it's difficult to draw conclusions specifically about CBD products.
While THC was involved in this instance, it serves as an important reminder to be cautious about the potential health risks of combining substances like CBD and Viagra.
We also know that CBD and Viagra both affect the cardiovascular system, albeit in different ways. CBD is believed to have potential vasodilator effects, which means it may enhance the effects of Viagra.
However, this also adds to the possibility that the two have adverse interactions, such as negatively affecting blood pressure or counteracting each other’s effects. Limited evidence has found some interaction between CBD and sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra.
More specifically, the combination of CBD and Viagra can create a risk of three specific adverse reactions:
CBD and Viagra both work by widening the blood vessels, which can lead to extensive relaxation. If this helps to increase the intensity and duration of an erection, this can be a good thing, especially for those who don’t experience complete effects from Viagra alone.
However, increasing the vasodilatory effects can also increase the potential of side effects related to vasodilation, like lower blood pressure. Taking Viagra and CBD together, especially at high doses, can cause the blood pressure to drop too low. This can lead to dizziness, faintness, headaches, and more.
CBD is inhibits the liver enzymes, CYP450 enzymes, needed to metabolize Viagra and other drugs. If you take CBD first, it may slow down the metabolic process used to break down Viagra. In this case, Viagra stays in your system longer and at higher levels. This can increase the risk of side effects when taking Viagra at higher doses.
At low doses, however, it may simply extend the effects of Viagra by a couple of hours.
If your doctor is on board and you plan to take CBD and Viagra together, you should stay caution of potential side effects. Luckily, you may be able to combine sildenefil and CBD without any issues, assuming you use the correct dosages and dosing intervals.
Before mixing CBD oil and Viagra, there are several factors that should be taken into consideration:
When combining Viagra and CBD, it’s essential to consider the dosage carefully. Viagra, as a prescribed medication, comes with specific dosage guidelines. You want to follow those guidelines carefully–never take more than is recommended. However, you may consider asking your doctor to prescribe you the lowest dosage available when pairing it with CBD.
Here are some dosage guidelines to abide by when mixing Viagra with CBD:
If you’re concerned about combining the two, consider an alternate approach–try CBD oil for enhancing sexual function.
Currently, there is not much evidence to help us understand CBD’s potential effects on erectile dysfunction, but there are many anecdotal reports that suggest positive results. One study shows that CBD activates the portion of the brain involved with sexual arousal and libido, which is a promising start to understanding how CBD may affect overall sexual performance.
On the plus side, the potential side effects linked to CBD are mild and rare, meaning you can give CBD for erectile dysfunction a shot with little to no risk involved.
Here are some reasons that CBD may be useful for enhancing sexual function:
One common cause of erectile dysfunction is anxiety. Furthermore, high-stress levels often result in poor sexual performance. Both stress and anxiety can lead to depression, which can further lower libido and negatively affect sexual function.
According to preliminary research, CBD may have anxiolytic effect that help combat anxiety. CBD may also help to lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that impacts testosterone levels. High cortisol may lead to low testosterone, which can negatively impact sexual function and libido.
Along with CBD’s potential ability to help manage stress and anxiety, it may help to reduce performance anxiety.
Performance anxiety is a form of anxiety directly linked to fears about your ability to perform sexual. If CBD helps to manage overall anxiety levels, it may also help to manage performance anxiety. Plus, many people report feeling more relaxed after taking CBD, which may promote physical intimacy and reduce stress surrounding relationship anxiety and sex.
According to some studies, CBD can help to lower blood pressure. This may naturally help to stimulate blood flow to the penis to correct erectile dysfunction. However, more research is needed to fully understand this therapeutic avenue.
Some experts point to CBD as a potential weight loss aid. It plays a role in managing the way the body balances cholesterol and breaks down fat. Because obesity can lead to low testosterone and poor sexual performance, this may be one way that CBD can help improve sexual performance in the long term for some people.
When it comes to using CBD for sexual enhancement, especially when taking it alongside Viagra, there are two primary dosing methods that work best.
These are the best option because they allow you to take precisely measured doses (vs vapes or flower where the exact amount of CBD you ingest is impossible to measure). These two methods are:
Because erectile dysfunction is often caused by poor blood flow, anxiety, stress, or other lifestyle factors, there are many natural remedies you can try to help ease the problem.
As a bonus, most of these can be safely combined with CBD to increase your therapeutic approach. (As always, talk to your doctor before pairing any supplements with Viagra or other medications.)
Some things you may try include:
Exploring these remedies may offer an alternate path for those looking for non-pharmaceutical choices prior to considering the combination of CBD oil and Viagra. It's crucial to understand that each person's experience can differ. Seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is recommended to ascertain the best treatment approach.
In the realm of supplements and medications, curiosity often drives individuals to explore new combinations. CBD and Viagra (sildenafil) are no exception. While there’s interest in their potential benefits when used together, it’s crucial to approach this combination with caution. CBD and sildenafil can interact in ways that might increase the risk of side effects, such as dizziness or low blood pressure.
Before combining CBD with Viagra, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice to ensure safety. Your health and well-being should always be the top priority when making decisions about substances that can affect your body.
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CBD and Viagra can generally be taken together, but it's important to consult with a healthcare provider before combining them. CBD may interact with medications, potentially affecting how Viagra works or increasing the risk of side effects.
To enhance the effects of Viagra, ensure you take it as directed on an empty stomach or after a light meal, avoid alcohol, and maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise. Consulting with a healthcare provider for personalized advice is also recommended.
When taking Viagra, it's best to avoid high-fat meals as they can delay the absorption of the medication, potentially reducing its effectiveness. Excessive alcohol should also be avoided, as it can impair the ability to achieve an erection.
Viagra should not be taken with nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) or other medications used to treat chest pain, as this combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. It's important to inform your healthcare provider of all medications you are taking.
The average age of men taking Viagra is typically around 60 years old, though it is used by men of various ages experiencing erectile dysfunction. The medication is commonly prescribed to older men but can be used by younger men as well if needed.
Taking Cialis and CBD together is generally considered safe, but as with any combination of substances, caution is important. CBD can affect the metabolism of medications like Cialis, potentially leading to an increased risk of side effects.
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before combining CBD with Cialis to ensure it’s safe for you.
"Myocardial infarction following the combined recreational use of viagra® and cannabis" https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6654297/
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