You Googled It: “Best Pill for an Instant Erection”

In this new series, we’re answering your most Googled questions about sex and sexual health. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably not surprised to hear that this year, 2024 you searched for the “Best Pill for an Instant Erection”

I mean who wouldn't? When it comes to treating erectile dysfunction, speed matters. If your ED meds take an hour or more to kick in, you either have to schedule your sex life or risk the moment passing you by.

While we love the optimism, we’ll cut right to the chase: there is no known pill – or any other treatment – that can produce a truly “instant” erection. 

Instead, we’ll take you through the most popular treatments for ED and how quickly you can expect to see results. 

Erectile Dysfunction 101

Before we get into treatments, let’s cover our bases. (If you’re already an ED expert, feel free to keep scrolling.)

To start, Erectile Dysfunction, or (ED) is a pretty common sexual health condition affecting about 52% of men at some point in their life. 

ED can involve difficulty achieving an erection, maintaining an erection, or a combination of the two. There are also different degrees of ED, most commonly categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. 

For a ballpark idea of their erectile function, some men estimate how many times out of ten attempts they could get and maintain an erection:

• 0-3: Severe ED
• 4-6: Moderate ED
• 7-8: Mild ED
• 9-10: No ED

For a more formal measurement, The International Index of Erectile Function (yup, that’s a thing) developed a questionnaire, with scores corresponding to severity:

• 22–25: No ED 
• 17–21: Mild ED 
• 12–16: Mild–moderate ED 
• 8–11: Moderate ED 
• 1–7: Severe ED 

Causes of ED

If you’ve ever gotten an erection accidentally or at an inappropriate time (and who hasn’t?) it can be easy to take for granted how complex the process is and how easily it can be thrown out of whack. 

Physically, health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes have two things in common: they are all known to impair blood flow to the penis, and they are all fairly common in the U.S. Additionally, risk factors like smoking and obesity can contribute to ED by damaging the blood vessels and reducing circulation. 

Less commonly, physical conditions like Peyronie’s disease – the development of scar tissue inside the penis – or kidney disease can cause or contribute to ED. And last but not least, we can’t forget aging. While erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable part of getting older, the correlation between age and ED is well-documented. 

In addition to numerous physical causes, psychological factors also play a role in ED. Stress, anxiety, and depression can easily interfere with arousal, while on the flip side, antidepressants and SSRIs can reduce sex drive and erectile function. (Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.)

While the cause of your ED can impact your treatment plan - such as meriting talk therapy or excluding certain medications - the three most common ED treatments are oral medications, injections, and devices. 

ED Treatment Options

By far the most common treatments for ED are PDE5 inhibitors taken as oral medications. Less commonly, and in more severe ED cases, injections or devices may be used.

Fastest-Acting Oral ED Meds 

Oral medications are the go-to ED treatment since they’re relatively affordable, non-invasive, and safe for most men. 

Viagra (Sildenafil) is a household name, while Tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis) and Vardenafil (the active ingredient in Levitra) are also well known.

All three of these belong to the same class of medications, called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by enhancing blood flow to the penis. They are available in different forms including traditional pills, chewables, and dissolvables. 

While none of the ingredients or forms can promise an instant erection, some work faster than others. 

Sublingual medications that dissolve under the tongue are designed to hit the bloodstream the fastest. Chewables are the second fastest-acting formulation, while pills take the longest to kick in.  

In a dissolvable format, Sildenafil or Vardenafil are equally fastest-acting, working in as little as 15 minutes, though both medications only last for about 4 hours. Tadalafil, while it lasts up to 36 hours, may take at least 30 minutes to start working even in dissolvable form. 

Penile Injections

First let’s address the elephant in the room. Even if injections can promise a (nearly) instant erection…is it worth the pain???

Actually, ED injections are not nearly as painful as you’d think – but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. Let’s break it down.  

The basics: 

• ED injections are usually made up of papaverine, alprostadil, or phentolamine. They work similarly to oral meds by relaxing the smooth muscles and widening blood vessels in the penis. 
  
  
• Patients administer ED injections themselves along either lateral side of the penis, using a fine, insulin-type syringe or a spring-loaded auto-injector. 

The good:

• Injections work slightly faster than dissolvable medications, with a window of about 5-20 minutes

• Injections may be more effective for severe cases of ED that did not respond well to oral treatment. About 80% of men will get an erection when using them. 

The bad:

• 10 percent of men develop pain or discomfort in the head of their penis shortly after injection

• Some injectable medications require refrigeration
  

• There is a small risk that injections or medications used can cause or reveal scarring in the penis

• Often patients are advised to compress the area for at least five minutes to prevent bleeding or scar tissue, which may be inconvenient 

Vacuum Devices, aka ‘Penis Pumps’ 

Vacuum devices, commonly known as penis pumps , had their five minutes of fame thanks to Austin Powers, but we haven’t quite left them in 1997. 

TL;DR, penis pumps are manual or battery-powered devices that use suction to literally pull blood into your penis, after which most men use a ring to remain erect.

The primary benefits of pumps are: 

They’re a non-pharmaceutical option for people who don’t want to, or cannot, take ED medications

• They don’t require frequent purchases or trips to the doctor or pharmacy 
• Any effects will be apparent within a few minutes. 

But there are some key downsides:

• Penis pumps can be dangerous when used aggressively, leading to bruising or discoloration, ​discomfort, difficulty ejaculating, or even tissue damage. 

• Manual pumps can be time-consuming to use

• Pumps are not particularly discreet, and it may feel awkward to use one prior to sex

Edible ED Treatments (Diet and Supplements)

While far from instant, we’d be remiss if we didn’t suggest reevaluating your diet, exercise, and sleep schedule. Healthy lifestyle changes can be beneficial on their own, or in combination with any ED medication you choose.

While an overall healthy diet is key, there are some specific blood flow-boosting foods that may be more likely to support erectile function:

• Foods Rich in Flavonoids: Such as berries, citrus fruits, and dark chocolate, can increase circulation.
  
  
  
• Nuts and Whole Grains: These are good sources of fiber and essential vitamins.
  
  
  
• Fish: Especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids, support cardiovascular health.

As for natural supplements, some men report a subtle boost from:

• L-Arginine: An amino acid that the body uses to make nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and facilitates erections

• Ginseng: Shown in some studies to improve erectile function
  

• Vitamin E and DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): Sometimes promoted as beneficial for erectile health

As always, be sure to consult a healthcare provider before taking any supplements, particularly if you have underlying health conditions.  

How to Choose an ED Med

If you’re reading this article, you clearly want your ED medication to work quickly. But that’s not the only thing you need to consider. 

Drug Interactions to Avoid

Be sure to tell your prescribing doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs that may make it unsafe to take PDE5 inhibitors:

• Blood Flow and Nitric Oxide: Medications that affect blood flow or utilize nitric oxide can have adverse interactions with ED pills, leading to dangerously low blood pressure.

• Alcohol and Alpha-Blockers: Combining ED drugs with alcohol or alpha-blockers can also result in a significant drop in blood pressure.

• Other Medications: Anyone with cardiovascular disease or taking medicines for other conditions should always consult with a healthcare provider to avoid harmful interactions.

• Illegal Drugs: ED meds and illegal drugs don’t mix. In particular, stimulants like cocaine or MDMA, when taken in conjunction with ED meds, can have serious cardiovascular effects like heart attack or stroke.  

Generic Vs Brand-Name  

• Generic ED meds are typically the cheapest option, and may be covered by insurance. However, generics may be slower-acting than other meds because they are more commonly formulated as pills compared to faster-acting dissolvables or chews. 
  
  
• Brand Name Pharma Companies: Brand name drugs like Viagra and Cialis are as expensive as they are well-known, with price tags that can reach more than $50 per pill.
  
  
  
• Direct-to-Consumer Brands: After Viagra’s patent on Sildenafil expired, it paved the way for direct-to-consumer brands like Hello Cake to improve upon formulations and pricing. Our dissolvable ED meds combine fast-acting sildenafil with long-lasting tadalafil into a 2-in-1 tablet. They dissolve in less than 5 minutes, start working in as little as 15 minutes, and 6 doses may cost as much as 1 Viagra pill
  
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, one will find quick answers to common inquiries regarding rapid solutions for erectile dysfunction (ED).

What's the fastest medication for a boost in the bedroom?

ED injections or penile pumps can work in as little as 5 minutes, but many find injections too invasive or pumps not effective enough. 

More commonly, patients who care about speed, ease and efficacy, opt for a fast-acting oral medication; a dissolvable medication that includes Sildenafil can begin working in as little as 15 minutes.

Is there an over-the-counter remedy for a quick lift in my love life?

There are no over-the-counter products that can legally claim to treat ED instantly. While some supplements show promise enhancing erectile function, most require continuous use to reach maximum efficacy.

Are there any other fast-acting alternatives to prescription ED meds?

Men who cannot or do not want to take prescription ED meds may opt for vacuum erection devices or penile injections.