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By Howard Seidman, Contributing Writer
More men than ever are seeking help for erectile dysfunction (ED). The increase may be due to new drugs on the market for treating this problem.
Emotional or psychological factors can influence whether a man achieves or maintains erections. But physical problems are often a root cause.
Erectile dysfunction is the total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to maintain one or a pattern of sustaining only brief erections. This can stem from problems with the nerves or blood flow to the penis caused by injuries, chronic illnesses or the side effects of some medications. Poor lifestyle choices - such as smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity or lack of exercise - can also be to blame.
Oral drugs for ED help improve erections in about 80 percent of men who use them. These safe and effective drugs include sildenafil citrate (Viagra), vardenafil HCI (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
How these drugs work
Drugs for ED relax the muscles in the erection chambers of the penis, which enhances blood flow. This helps men form a rigid erection.
When a man is sexually excited, the nerves in his penis receive messages from his brain. A substance is then released that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis for more blood flow. Drugs that treat ED temporarily prevent the breakdown of that substance, so that more of it is available. This allows an erection to occur more easily.
ED drugs take some time to work. They are usually taken 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. Viagra and Levitra may work for up to four hours. Cialis may help achieve an erection 24 to 36 hours later.
Each drug works in the same way to help men have erections. They differ slightly in:
- How much you take
- Length of effect
- Side effects
- Food or drug interactions
Side effects
Headache, stuffy nose, flushing and muscle aches are the most common side effects of ED drugs. In rare cases, they may cause blue-green shading of vision or even more serious vision changes. Seek immediate medical help if you have trouble with your vision.
These drugs come in various strengths. Dosage may be adjusted if the drug does not seem effective or causes side effects. Men over age 65 usually start with a lower dose. So do men who take other drugs for certain medical problems. Your doctor will tell you the dose that is right for you.
Talk to your doctor
Be sure you tell your doctor about all the medicines that you are taking. Men with heart problems or diabetes can usually take ED drugs safely. But these ED drugs can interact with certain medications. If you take nitrates for heart problems, do not take any of these ED drugs. Talk to your doctor about other options.
Also, make sure to let your doctor know if you have any of these health problems before taking an ED medication:
- Stomach ulcers
- Reflux disease
- Infections
- Fungal infection
- HIV
- High blood pressure
- Circulation problems
- Heart disease
- Enlarged prostate
- Liver or kidney disease
Not a cure-all
You may need to get used to ED drugs before feeling comfortable with them. It's possible you won't respond well the first few times. Heavy meals or alcohol may also delay or prevent the effects of some of these medications.
Follow instructions closely for using these drugs. About four in 10 men who do not respond to Viagra at first find the drug works once they use it correctly. If you're not happy with one drug's results, talk to your doctor. You may get advice to try another one or a different treatment option.
You will need a doctor's prescription for an ED drug. Then, buy it through a reputable pharmacy, not from the Internet. Otherwise, you may end up with dangerous, substandard, ineffective or counterfeit products that can interact poorly with other drugs.
Remember, though, that these drugs are not magic pills. They are not designed to treat sexual desire or restore relationships. That may require couples counseling.
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This article was reviewed and updated
08-01-2009.
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