Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
- Key takeaways:
- What exactly are ED pills?
- What Injections and Suppositories Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
- Getting hard 101: your penis needs a healthy blood flow to achieve an erection. This can be more difficult after prostate cancer, but erectile dysfunction (ED) pills can help. By relaxing smooth muscle, ED pills make it easier for blood to flow into the penis. You may already be familiar with the names of some better known erection pills like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra. But what should you know before giving them a try? And if you do use ED pills after prostate cancer treatment, how can you make sure you get the most out of them? We’ve got everything you need to know.
- Be wary of 'herbal viagra'
This medicine works best when you take it on an empty stomach an hour before sex. The body takes longer to absorb it after a high-fat meal or alcohol. Its effects often last for 4 to 5 hours. It might work longer if you have mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. This medicine also works best when you take it an hour before sex on an empty stomach. As with sildenafil, a high-fat meal or alcohol keep the body from absorbing it as quickly. Vardenafil usually works for 4 to 5 hours. Its effects might last longer if you have mild to moderate ED. A newer form of the medicine that dissolves on the tongue might work faster than the pill that you swallow. This medication is taken with or without food an hour before sex. It works for up to 36 hours.
Key takeaways:
Some prescription drugs also can cause or play a role in ED. These include certain medicines for depression and high blood pressure. Don't stop or change any prescription medicines you take unless your provider tells you to. If you have erectile dysfunction, you're not alone — and you have many treatment choices. Work with your health care team to find out which ED treatment might work best for you.
Be physically active
Erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs are more readily available than ever before, and in general, men have gotten past any stigma about needing them. Yet many men still approach ED drugs the wrong way. Men feel their sex life is not good and see an ED drug as an easy, quick-fix solution. But more times than not, there are underlying issues at play that a pill can't help. While men might have other sexual issues, such as low libido, premature ejaculation, and the inability to achieve orgasm, ED pertains explicitly to not being able to get or maintain an erection.
ED drugs are not safe for all men.
ED drugs address only that issue, by improving blood flow into the penis and keeping the blood in place to maintain an erection. There are four ED drugs currently available: sildenafil (Viagra), avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). At least one ED drug works in about 70% of men, but results vary among individuals. Men who have nerves or arteries damaged by prostate surgery, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease often do not respond as super p force 200mg strongly to ED drugs. Finding out is often a trial-and-error approach. You can take it in a small dose daily or in a larger dose as needed. You can take this medicine with or without food 30 minutes before sex, depending on the dose. It lasts 4 to 5 hours, or longer if you have mild to moderate ED. These medicines all work well for ED. When choosing one, tell your doctor or other health care professional what your preferences are, such as cost, ease of use, how long the drug's effects last and side effects.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cialis Soft Tabs | 20mg | 180 + 8 Pills | 353.17€ 336.35€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 326.61€ 311.06€ | |
| Viagra Professional | 100mg | 120 + 4 Pills | 262.83€ 250.31€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 32 Pills | 120.11€ 114.39€ | |
| Cialis Black | 80mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 207.88€ 197.98€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100 mg | 12 Pills | 60.21€ 57.34€ | |
| Viagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 10 Pills | 36.93€ 35.17€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100 mg | 12 Pills | 57.55€ 54.81€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 10mg | 30 + 4 Pills | 63.32€ 60.30€ | |
| Kamagra Gold | 100 mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 330.74€ 314.99€ |
Generic versions of sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil are available. Check with your health care team before you take any medicine for erectile dysfunction. Oral ED medicines might not work or might be dangerous if you also take any of the following: Often, these are prescribed for chest pain called angina. Some examples of nitrates are nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat, others), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) and isosorbide dinitrate (Bidil). These are commonly prescribed for an enlarged prostate or male pattern baldness. They include dutasteride (Avodart, Jalyn) and finasteride (Propecia, Proscar). Medicines that block an enzyme called CYP3A4.
What exactly are ED pills?
The four main medicines taken by mouth for erectile dysfunction are: They enhance the effects of a chemical the body makes that relaxes muscles in the penis, called nitric oxide. This boosts blood flow and helps you get an erection from sexual activity. Each oral medicine for ED has a slightly different chemical makeup. These small differences affect the way each medication works, such as how quickly it takes effect and wears off, and the possible side effects. Your doctor or other health care professional can recommend one for you based on these factors, other health conditions you have and any other medicines erectile dysfunction treatment you take. Oral medicine for ED also might not be safe or work well if you have: Very low blood pressure, called hypotension, or uncontrolled high blood pressure, called hypertension. Kidney disease that needs to be treated with dialysis. These include a heart attack, stroke or a serious heart rhythm disorder in the past six months.
What Injections and Suppositories Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
They keep the penis firm but bendable. Often, penile implants aren't recommended until other methods have been tried first. Implants have a high degree of satisfaction among people who have tried other treatments that haven't worked. As with any surgery, there's a risk of complications, such as infection. And if a part of the device stops working, you'll likely need more surgery to replace it.
Conditions We Treat
Rarely, erectile dysfunction is treated by bypassing arteries that have trouble bringing enough blood to the penis. This surgery is recommended for only a small percentage of people with ED. In general, you need to be younger than 55, a nonsmoker and in otherwise good health. Sometimes, erectile dysfunction is caused by stress, anxiety or depression. ED also can create stress and relationship tension.
Side effects
If any of these issues affects you, seeing a psychologist or counselor might be a good next step. You also could think about asking your partner to join you for sessions with a certified sexual therapy counselor. It's key to get treatment for any medical issue that causes erectile dysfunction. This can help prevent related health problems and improve erections. Conditions that can cause ED or make it worse include: Depression, ongoing stress and other mental health conditions. An inherited eye disease that affects the retina. Side effects of oral ED medicines vardenafil cost are often mild.
- Duration Comparison: Sildenafil/Vardenafil/Avanafil (4-6 hrs), Tadalafil (up to 36 hrs), Injections (1-2 hrs).
- Side Effect Management: Headache, flushing, nasal congestion common; usually mild and temporary.
- Food Interactions: High-fat meals delay sildenafil and vardenafil absorption; less impact on tadalafil.
- Alcohol Limitation: Heavy drinking worsens ED; moderate consumption may be okay with some pills.
- Vision Changes (rare): Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) reported with PDE5 inhibitors.
Visual changes, such as blue tinge to vision, sensitivity to light or blurred sight. Rarely, more-serious side effects can happen, including: Some people have suddenly lost some of their hearing or vision after taking one of these medicines. But it isn't clear whether these side effects were caused by the medicine or by health conditions that the people already had. Get medical care right away if you take oral ED medicine and have sudden loss of hearing or vision. An erection that doesn't go away on its own.
- Cost & Insurance: Generic versions are cost-effective; brand names may not be covered by insurance.
- Online Telehealth Prescriptions: Legitimate services require consultation with a licensed healthcare provider.
- Counterfeit Pills Risk: Illegal online sales pose dangers of incorrect dosage or harmful contaminants.
- Trial and Error: Finding the best pill often requires trying different types/doses under medical guidance.
- Onset Time Comparison: Avanafil (~15 min), Sildenafil/Vardenafil (~30-60 min), Tadalafil (~30 min-2 hrs).
Called priapism, this rare condition can be painful. You need to get treatment for it as soon as possible to help prevent damage to your penis.
Getting hard 101: your penis needs a healthy blood flow to achieve an erection. This can be more difficult after prostate cancer, but erectile dysfunction (ED) pills can help. By relaxing smooth muscle, ED pills make it easier for blood to flow into the penis. You may already be familiar with the names of some better known erection pills like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra. But what should you know before giving them a try? And if you do use ED pills after prostate cancer treatment, how can you make sure you get the most out of them? We’ve got everything you need to know.
Before trying an ED drug, it's best to step back and analyze your sex life and when your ED occurs. Does it happen all the time or just in certain situations? Is it with only one partner or different ones? Does it ever happen when you masturbate? Are the problems associated with stress or alcohol?
How quickly do ED pills work?
Asking yourself these types of questions can help identify if your ED may be more psychological than physical. You might benefit from sex therapy with your partner, or you may need treatment for a specific condition that affects your desire and sexual arousal, like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety. Medicines that you take by mouth are called oral medicines. They're often the first line of treatment for trouble getting or keeping an erection, called erectile dysfunction (ED). Oral medicines for ED usually work well and cause few side effects. If you have an erection that lasts more than four hours, call your care team right away. Treatments for erectile dysfunction are big business, and online scams abound. If you do buy medicines over the internet: Check to see if an online pharmacy is legitimate. Never order medicines from an online pharmacy that doesn't list its phone number and physical address, has prices that seem too good to be true, or tells you that no prescription is needed. Also stay away from ones that don't have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer your questions.
- PDE5 inhibitors are the primary class of drugs used for ED.
- Viagra was the first approved ED medication, revolutionized treatment options.
- Cialis can be taken in lower doses daily for ongoing support.
- Levitra may be preferred for those who experience side effects from Viagra.
- Different medications last varying lengths of time; choose based on needs.
- Some medications require sexual stimulation to work effectively.
- Medication timing is critical; plan for 30-60 minutes before sex.
- Older adults may need lower doses due to increased sensitivity.
- Combining ED pills with certain drugs for other health issues requires caution.
- Pharmacist consultation can help find the right medication and dose.
- For persistent problems, counseling or therapy may complement medication.
- Lifestyle changes can improve ED symptoms alongside medications.
Some illegal businesses sell fake versions of real medicines, which can be dangerous or might not work. In the United States, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy can tell you whether an online pharmacy is licensed and in good standing. If you live in another country, check to see if pharmacy association or regulation agencies offer services like these. Make sure you get the right prescription and dose.
- Nitrate Contraindication: Absolute prohibition with any nitrate medication (e.g., nitroglycerin) due to blood pressure danger.
- Alpha-Blocker Caution: Blood pressure drugs like doxazosin require careful dosing separation from ED pills.
- Liver/Kidney Impairment: Dosage adjustments often needed for tadalafil, sildenafil, or vardenafil.
- Peyronie's Disease: ED pills may help if curvature is mild; other treatments exist for severe cases.
- Combination Therapy: Example: Oral pill + vacuum device or injection for difficult-to-treat ED.
When you order medicines and when you receive them in the mail, make sure they're the exact dose and type prescribed by your doctor or other health care professional.
Be wary of 'herbal viagra'
Many doctors first prescribe Viagra because it has been around the longest and has a high success rate. If one drug doesn't work after a predetermined period, your doctor may increase the dosage or prescribe one of the others. Sometimes, you have to try all of them before knowing whether ED drugs work for you. An ED drug kicks in within 15 minutes to an hour after you take it and can last anywhere from four to five hours up to 24 hours or longer depending on the drug. (See "ED drugs: How soon and how long?") It's best not to take the pill with food or soon after a meal, which can block absorption.
PDE5 Inhibitors
The most common side effects are headaches, upset stomach, nasal congestion, muscle pain, and facial flushing. But most of these are relatively mild and go away after a few hours. ED drugs can make blood pressure temporarily drop, so never use them if you also take medications that contain nitrates. (Nitrates found in food don't pose a problem.) You also need to be careful if you take any other drugs that lower blood pressure. For example, alpha blockers - such as tamsulosin (Flomax) and alfuzosin (Uroxatral), which are used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, lower blood pressure in some men.
PDE5 inhibitors can treat all men with ED: FALSE.
Make sure to take them at least four hours apart from an ED drug. It's important to realize that ED drugs don't increase sexual desire, and you have to be ready and sexually stimulated for them to work. The drugs won't work well if you are mentally or emotionally not ready for sex. You can't just take a pill, pay some bills or wash the dishes, and then go to the bedroom and think you'll be ready to go. When your mind is not there, you are not going to want sex, and no ED drug can fix that problem.