Usually, drug tests detect the presence and/or amount of drugs, opiates, and other substances that are commonly abused. These substances and their metabolites may be present in the hair or body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva or sweat.
Does Viagra come up in a drug test? This question can be very relevant for men with erectile dysfunction who want to serve in the military, play professional sports, or seek a new job.
We should say right away that Sildenafil (the main substance in Viagra tablets) is a legal substance. Doctors prescribe the drug to help men with erectile dysfunction.
If the test detects Sildenafil, it will not cause negative consequences. But maybe you would like other people not to know that you are taking ED pills.
Most drug tests do not include the detection of Sildenafil in hair or body fluids. Typically, they use these tests to detect:
- Opiates;
- Amphetamine;
- Cocaine;
- Benzodiazepines;
- Methamphetamine;
- Cannabis.
Only specific tests can detect Viagra in urine or other bodily fluids. As a rule, you should not pass these tests when applying for a job. They do them if Sildenafil toxicity is suspected. Forensic examinations may be carried out in case of a possible overdose in affected men.
How long will Viagra show up on a drug test
This question can get very relevant, especially for men and women professionally involved in sports. Currently, the list of prohibited drugs in professional sports doesn’t include Sildenafil-based medicines, although this may change over time.
According to studies (in 2004 and 2006), Sildenafil improves some physical performance indicators. There are growing reports on the web of anti-doping authorities’ concerns about using ED pills to enhance performance in certain sports.
If anti-doping authorities ban PDE5 inhibitors, they will look for these substances and their metabolites in urine or blood.
Usually, most Viagra excretes from the body in 30–40 hours. The detection period with standard tests is 1-4 days after the last dose. With special tests (which may not yet be developed), it will be possible to detect PDE5 inhibitors even after a longer time.
Viagra detection time varies depending on the sensitivity of the testing method and factors such as:
- Duration and frequency of using ED pills.
- Amount of medication taken.
- Metabolism rate.
Conclusion
Remember that taking erectile dysfunction medications is legal. They use testing for some substances to look for traces of prohibited substances in hair, sweat, urine, saliva or blood.
Viagra is a PDE5 inhibitor doctors officially prescribe to men. It should not give a false positive result when tested for substance abuse. The result may be positive if the examination aims to look for a PDE5 inhibitor or similar substances.
