I took too much Viagra to boost sex life and side effects are ruining my life

DEAR DEIDRE: I THOUGHT Viagra was the answer to my erection problems but the last time I used the little blue pills was disastrous.

I got an embarrassing erection that would not go down.

To begin with, I was pleased with the results. Viagra helped me reclaim my vigour in the bedroom with a stunning woman I’ve fancied for ages.

But it all went wrong recently because I hadn’t been sleeping well and took extra as a precaution. The result was a raging headache and an erection that wouldn’t go down for hours.

I’d taken three times as much as the doctor prescribed.

I’m 52 and my lover is 47. My wife, who’s 50, and I have been going through a bad patch for two years and separated but still live together.

We have a teenage son and daughter.

We agreed we could both sleep with other partners as long as we were discreet about it.

My lover knows the score and has been coming around for no-strings sex during the day when my wife is at work.

I had been having erection issues with my wife, so was worried I wouldn’t be able to perform with my new partner.

Initially I took Viagra as an insurance policy.

It did not disappoint and although it’s a little contrived having to take a pill 40 minutes or so before we have sex, it has made me feel like the young and energetic man I was.

The last time my lover and I enjoyed a really steamy session, I felt like I could last for ever and we both had incredible orgasms.

But after she left, I was left with a painful erection that didn’t go down for hours.

It was awful, as I couldn’t collect my kids from school. I stayed home in bed pretending to have a stomach ache.

Now I’m worried I may have done long-term damage to myself and if I can’t take Viagra, I won’t be able to perform.

There is no way my lover will want to stay with me.

DEIDRE SAYS: It is vital to stick to the dosage your doctor prescribed.

Taking too much Viagra can cause severe headaches and low blood pressure. Higher doses can also cause priapism, a painful and long-lasting erection.

This can cause penis tissue damage. So please go back to your GP and explain what happened. It might be worth exploring other treatment options.

If, say, you are stressed or have had depression this can affect erections.

Sometimes taking sex off the menu for a few weeks is enough to encourage normal sexual responses to return.

I am sending you my support pack Solving Erection Problems, which will help.

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