What is the right age to take Viagra? Eighteen or over, and only for erectile dysfunction. The Australian product information says Viagra is "indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult males" and "is not indicated for use in children" (Viagra PI). There is no upper age limit: what decides whether it suits you is your heart, your other health conditions and your other medicines, which a doctor checks before prescribing it at any age.
Is there a minimum age for Viagra?
Yes — adulthood. The European label puts it in years: Viagra "is not indicated for individuals below 18 years of age" (EMA — Viagra product information). Cialis is the same: it "is not intended for use by children under the age of 18 years" (Cialis CMI), and "Tadalafil has not been studied in subjects under 18 years of age" (Cialis PI). Viagra is also "not indicated for use by women" (Viagra PI). In Australia every ED medicine needs a prescription, and a doctor assesses you first (healthdirect). If a child or teenager has taken it, see what happens if a child or teenager takes Viagra? — the first call is the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
Is there an upper age limit?
No. Viagra was given to more than 3,700 men aged 19 to 87 in its clinical trials (Viagra PI), and Cialis's main trials took in men aged 25 to 80 (Cialis PI). Age changes the starting point, not the answer. Men aged 65 and over clear sildenafil more slowly — free levels in the blood were about 40% higher than in men aged 18 to 45 — so the Australian label says "a first dose of 25 mg should be considered" in older men, though "age had no effect on the incidence of adverse events" in its safety data (Viagra PI); the European label needs no change for age (EMA). For tadalafil no dose change is needed either, but the prescriber is asked to weigh other illnesses, kidney function and other medicines in older men (Cialis PI), and men aged 75 and over are asked to tell their doctor, as side effects such as dizziness and diarrhoea are more likely (Cialis CMI). More in our guide to ED medicines and age.
Does Viagra work as well at 70 as at 30?
It works for most older men too: in the sildenafil trials, 67% of elderly men reported better erections (EMA). What changes with age is how common the problem is. Up to 10% of men under 40 have erectile dysfunction and more than half of Australian men over 50 have some form of it, and the higher rates in older men are usually due to other health conditions or medicines rather than ageing itself (Healthy Male). The figures: what is the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men? Viagra needs sexual stimulation to work at any age: it "will not increase your sex drive and will work only if you are sexually excited" (Viagra CMI).
What if you are young and have no erection problems?
Then it has nothing to treat. Viagra is prescribed for erectile dysfunction, it does not raise sex drive, and its side effects — headache, flushing, a blocked nose, indigestion, and more rarely dizziness, vision changes or an erection that will not go down — come with it whatever your age (healthdirect). The leaflet also says "Do not give VIAGRA to anyone else" (Viagra CMI), and healthdirect warns that pills bought online without a prescription may be counterfeit (healthdirect — Sildenafil). Taking it without erectile dysfunction is its own question: can Viagra be used recreationally? When erections do let a young man down, the cause can be physical or psychological, such as anxiety, depression or relationship problems (Healthy Male) — see causes and treatment of erectile dysfunction in young men, in men in their 20s and in teenagers.
What does a doctor check before prescribing, at any age?
Mainly your heart and your other medicines. The Australian leaflet says: "Because sexual activity may place a strain on your heart, your doctor will need to check whether you are fit enough to take VIAGRA" (Viagra CMI), and men with heart disease who have not had sex for some years should have their heart assessed first (Viagra PI). ED medicines are never taken with nitrates for angina, and are avoided if sexual exertion could put you at risk (healthdirect). Erection problems are often the first sign of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which is why the check matters at 25 as much as at 65 (healthdirect — Erectile dysfunction).
The short answer
Viagra is for men aged 18 and over with erectile dysfunction, on prescription. There is no upper age limit; older men may start on a lower dose, and at any age a doctor checks the heart and other medicines first. More on erection problems at every age in our guide to erectile dysfunction and age.
