An introduction to erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the inability to get a firm erection and to maintain it for a longer time during sexual activity.
The Erectile is one of the commonly found sexual disorders in men. Most men get erectile dysfunction at some point in their life. Around 10 million cases are reported every year and this is the statistic of India only. In America, 30 million men are suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Generally, in most cases, erectile dysfunction can be self-diagnosed and doesn't require any detailed diagnosis. Some of its commonly seen symptoms are:
- Unable to have a firm erection
[/*]- Trouble maintaining an erection for a long time during sexual intercourse
[/*]- Soft erections
[/*]- Reduced sexual desire
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Erectile dysfunction can be caused either due to physical factors like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, Sleeping disorders, etc., or psychological factors like anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship problems.
Sometimes lifestyle factors like alcohol, smoking, poor diet, drug abuse, etc. also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Medications and erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, as such, is not chronic and can be reversed with proper medications and treatment. But if you don't take care of it for a long time, it may give rise to various health-related issues.
The first line of treatment of ED is evaluating the underlying symptoms and causes and after evaluation doctors go for medications.
Oral pills
Firstly, most doctors prescribed oral pills to treat erectile dysfunction.
Sildenafil, avanafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil are some of the most commonly used ED pills.
Sildenafil
Sildenafil is sold under the brand name viagra and besides treating ED it is also used to cure pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Sildenafil should be taken on a doctor's prescription. It should be taken orally at least before 30 minutes to 1 hour of sexual activity or up to 4 hours of sexual activity. Do not take more than one tablet of sildenafil in a day.
Side effects of sildenafil
Common side effects of sildenafil include:
- Flushing
[/*]- Headache
[/*]- Dizziness
[/*]- Heartburn
[/*]- Nausea
[/*]- Insomnia
[/*]- Muscles pain
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Among a large variety of sildenafil tablets,
fildena 100 mg is very effective in treating erectile dysfunction.
On sensual arousal,
Fildena 100 mg fills the penis with blood and helps to get an erection.
fildena 100 mg is also known as Fildena double 200. Fildena 100 mg is manufactured by Fortune Healthcare.
fildena 100 mg is a high-power dose pill. You can have sexual pleasure up to 4 hours after taking fildena 100 mg.
Patients having cardiovascular disease or kidney and liver problems are advised to take fildena 100 mg on the doctor's guidance only as it may cause serious side effects.
fildena 100 mg should be taken by a man with erectile dysfunction and women or children below 18 years of age should not have fildena 100 mg.
Avanafil
Avanafil is another PDE5 inhibitor drug used to treat ED and is sold under the brand name stendra and spedra. It is highly selective against PDE5 as compared to vardenafil and sildenafil.
Avanafil should be taken orally for at least 30 minutes before the sexual activity and there should be a minimum gap of 24 hours between the two doses of avanafil
Side effects of avanafil
The common side effects of avanafil are:
- Facial reddening
[/*]- Headaches
[/*]- Back pain
[/*]- Nasal congestion
[/*]- Dizziness
[/*]- Diarrhea
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Vardenafil
Vardenafil is a prescribed ED pill that is sold under the brand name Levitra.
Vardenafil is taken orally,30 to 60 minutes before the sexual activity. You can take it with or without food but a high-fat diet decreases its working ability.
Side effects of vardenafil
Its common side effects are:
- Dizziness
[/*]- Stuffy nose
[/*]- Upset stomach
[/*]- Flushing
[/*]- Headache
[/*]- Blurred vision
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Tadalafil
Tadalafil is sold under the brand name Cialis and is used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Tadalafil can be taken orally just before sexual activity but not more than one tablet a day. Tadalafil can be taken with or without food and without being chewed or crushed. Its effect may last up to 36 hours after intake.
Side effects of tadalafil
Some of the common side effects of tadalafil are:
- Headache
[/*]- Flushing
[/*]- Nausea
[/*]- Upset stomach
[/*]- Muscles pain
[/*]- Back pain
[/*]- Stuffy nose
[/*]
Mode of action of these pills
All these ED pills are phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and prevent the degradation of cGMP(cyclic guanosine monophosphate) in the corpus cavernosum situated around the penis. This cGMP is responsible for the expansion or relaxation of penile smooth muscles which aids in the blood supply to the penis.
On sexual arousal, nitric oxide gets released from the endothelial cells and nerve terminals trigger a series of reactions. It stimulates the enzyme guanylate cyclase to produce cGMP.This increased production of cGMP results in the contraction and dilation of the blood vessels and regulates the blood to the penis this helps to get an erection.
Common drug interactions
Other drugs may interact with these pills which can change the working mechanism of these pills thus increasing the risk of side effects. Some common side effects are:
- When taken while having alcohol or drugs like marijuana results in dizziness.
[/*]- When you take these pills along with nitrates causes a serious drop in blood pressure which results in dizziness or fatigue.
[/*]- If you take these ED pills along with alpha-blockers used to treat an enlarged prostate or hypertension, you may experience a sudden lowering of blood pressure leading to dizziness or fatigue.
[/*]- Some drugs like azole antifungal, macrolide antibiotics, HIV protease inhibitor, or hepatitis c inhibitor may flush out these pills from your body thus reducing their effects.
[/*]- Drugs used to treat chest pain or angina also show some adverse interactions when taken with these pills.
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Precautions to be taken while consuming these medicines
- Do not take these medicines if you are allergic to them.
[/*]- Do not take these pills along with other drugs used to treat ED.
[/*]- Before starting to take these medicines, tell your doctor if you have any medical history of cardiovascular disease or high or low blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney or lung disease.
[/*]- Tell him if you encountered Parkinson's or Peyronies disease.
[/*]- Let him know if you have undergone prostate or bladder surgery in the past 6 months.
[/*]- Also, do tell him if you have any bleeding problems or blood-related disorders.
[/*]- Tell him if you have active stomach ulcers.
[/*]- Do not drive or indulge in concentration-related work after having these pills.
[/*]- Before starting or stopping taking these pills or changing their doses do consult your doctor.
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Conclusion
Medications are the doctor's first choice for treating erectile dysfunction as these are convenient, effective, affordable, and easily accessible. But besides medications, other treatments are also available to cure ED like injections, suppository, vacuum pumps, penile implants, testosterone therapy, and surgery. And apart from treatment methods, a healthy lifestyle is also necessary to overcome the situation.
Meta Description
Erectile dysfunction is not a serious problem and can be cured with proper medication and treatment.
