If these revolutionary erection drugs ultimately change the health habits of men by making them aware that they have an underlying health problem and spurring them to make changes in their lifestyle, they will be considered the most important medications of our generation. However, if the drugs are simply used to improve the hardness of an erection-a Band-Aid to mask symptoms of serious medical problems-only a portion of their potential will be realized. Men need to understand that a hard erection in the absence of improved physical and mental health is not likely to alter their quality of life or result in more sex.
SEXUAL MEDICINE IS MEDICINE There are some common misconceptions about these hardness drugs. They are not libido enhancers, nor do they cause instant erections after taking them. These drugs will not kill you-unless you happen to take a nitrate-based medication (such as a heart medication containing nitroglycerine) with them. It should also be noted, however, that if your cardiac health status is precatious, the physical activity of sex itself-and not the medication-may contribute to a cardiac event. That said, these highly effective drugs can play a very important role in the restoration of erections for men with chronic mild to severe hardness issues. There is already data that increasingly indicates these drugs are actually good for your heart and blood vessels and will commonly be used in the near future as heart remedies.
Still, some men may find that, try as they might, these erection drugs do not produce a satisfying erection. Granted, some men do have advanced disease that thwarts, the effects of the drug, but in many cases, it turns out that the men just don't know how to use the drugs. viagra-the beginning
Researchers have found that many of the men who tried Viagra and said that it didn't work (so-called "Viagra failures") were actually using the drug improperly. Some had taken Viagra after eating a heavy meal, which interferes with the absorption of the medication. Others took a sub-optimal dose (many were taking 50 mg instead of 100 mg, the highest dose), or they expected results too soon after taking the pill. Viagra can take 30 minutes or longer to kick in. Still others completely overlooked the role of sexual stimulation (having the partner more involved in the lovemaking process is important) in providing an erection. Then, too, some men gave up on the drug after trying it just once. Some of the men who had not been having sexual relations for some time were not able to interest their partner in resuming a sex life after the drug restored their erections. Men need to understand that these drugs are not going to improve a flawed relationship, and that introducing one of these erection medications into a formerly sexless partnership could actually prove to be a powerful destabilizing force. In addition, when your partner's physical and sexual health is impaired, it is going to affect the quality of sex. Therefore, unless your partner's medical issues are addressed, the potential of the drugs will not be realized. Mistakes such as these may explain in part why many men who have tried Viagra have not renewed their prescriptions. Viagra should be taken on an empty stomach, allowing an hour for it to reach maximum strength in the bloodstream. Sexual stimulation will then typically trigger an erection. Many men will find that the drug may work within a half hour or less, but I have found it to be most effective at the one-hour mark.
Try Viagra at least five times and see how you react before deeming it a failure. Actually, before you ever use it for sex with your partner, take it for a "test drive" on your own. Through self-stimulation with the drug on board, you will get comfortable with it and better understand how it works for you and what the possible side effects might be. Once you have built this comfort level, you will be confident in your abilities and ready to involve your partner-but hey, no rush. As Woody Allen remarked in Annie Hall, "Hey, don't knock masturbation. It's sex with someone I love."
Guys Need to Know:
* Viagra is an extremely effective agent. The drug that revolutionized the field of sexual medicine is backed by a tremendous amount of clinical research from studies conducted around the world with thousands of men. It's effective when used according to doctor's orders: Take on an empty stomach; sexual stimulation is needed.
* Maximum power of the drug is reached in one hour or less. Viagra comes in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg formulations, making it convenient to break the 100 mg pill into two 50 mg pills. I find that 50 mg is extremely effective for the majority of my patients.
* Men with more severe disease will probably need to take 100 mg.
* Viagra may not work if your testosterone levels are too low.
* The drug may cause a stuffy nose and impart a bluish tint to vision when 100 mg dosages are taken.
* Use with caution if also taking alpha-blocking drugs for BPH or hypertension. Alert your physician. Start with the lowest possible dose of ED medication.
* DO NOT USE if taking a nitrate-based medication.
LEVITRA (2003) Levitra works as a very potent agent and has been shown in laboratory and clinical trials to be a powerful medication that effectively blocks the erection-deflating action of the enzyme PDE5. This explains why it often works the first time for most men when they try the drug and why 80 percent of the men who have used it have had successful intercourse.
Levitra works within 10 minutes of taking the pill and lasts up to 12 hours. In addition to having a quick onset of action, potency is not adversely affected by being taken with food. The drug is available in 10 mg and 20 mg formulations.
In addition, once the man started worrying about his erections, it snowballed, leading to less-than-satisfactory erections in his next encounters. All it takes for a man is one failure with a partner, one mind-body disconnect, and anxiety will set in. If allowed to continue without any intervention, relationships can quickly become strained.
WHAT IS YOUR HARDNESS RISK? Understanding that there is a very strong link between hardness and heart health, I want you to figure out your current risk for developing heart disease and hardness problems over the next decade. You will first need to know your full lipid profile and systolic blood pressure (the first number). Yes, you will need to pick up the phone-call your doctor and make an appointment. A simple blood test and blood pressure exam given by your doctor will supply you with these numbers. The blood test will measure the following:
Total cholesterol, the combination of LDL-C and HDL-C
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol High-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol
The National Cholesterol Education Program has developed a point and percentage system that I have adapted to help you determine your risk of hardness problems and potential heart attack. There are five categories to assess-so let's get started.
Guys Need to Know: * Levitra is an extremely effective agent. The drug is backed by a tremendous amount of clinical research from studies conducted around the world with thousands of men. Research reported significant improvement in erection hardness and quality.
* It's effective when used according to doctor's orders: Sexual stimulation is needed.
* Rapid onset of the medication is noted in most men in less than 1 5 minutes. This is especially a plus for men with psychological problems related to their weak erections-they now have an agent that will work quickly, giving them the confidence to proceed.
* Levitra can be taken with food without significant impact on onset of action.
* Levitra comes in 10 mg and 20 mg formulations. I find that 10 mg is extremely effective for the majority of my patients.
* Men with more severe disease will probably need to take 20 mg.
* Levitra may not work if your testosterone levels are too low.
* Use with caution if also taking alpha-blocking drugs for BPH or hypertension. Alert your physician. Start with the lowest possible dose of ED medication.
* DO NOT USE if taking a nitrate-based medication.
CIALIS (2003) Cialis (pronounced See-Alice) is less affected by food consumption and stays in the system for up to 36 hours. The longer duration certainly offers more opportunity for spontaneous lovemaking with no time pressures, which is certainly viewed as a plus by many couples. Take the pill on a Friday night, for example, and you are "good to go" for the weekend-hence the nickame: "Le weekend." Cialis comes in 10 mg and 20 mg dosages, but most men will need the 20 mg dose.
Guys Need to Know: * Cialis is an extremely effective agent. The drug is backed by a tremendous amount of clinical research from studies conducted around the world with thousands of men.
* It's effective for up to 36 hours when used according to doctor's orders: Sexual stimulation is needed.
* Onset of the medication is noted in many men in less than 30 minutes, but it is best when taken one to two hours before a sexual encounter.
* Cialis can be taken with food without significant impact on onset of action.
* Many men take advantage of Cialis's multiple-day duration of action so they don't have to plan, rush, or worry about time.
* Cialis comes in 5, 10, and 20 mg formulations. I prefer the 20 mg formulation for most of my patients.
* Men with severe liver or kidney disease will probably need to take a lower 5 to 10 mg dose due to differences in drug metabolism.
* Cialis may not work if your testosterone levels are too low. Use with caution if also taking alpha-blocking drugs for F3PH or hypertension. Alert your physician. Start with the lowest possible dose of ED medication.
* DO NOT USE if taking a nitrate-based medication.
ERECTION DRUG SIDE EFFECTS Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra are well tolerated by most men. Headache, flushing, mild stomach problems, backache (Cialis), and mild visual changes (Viagra) are more of a nuisance than a serious problem for some men and the side effects dissipate the more the drug is used. Note: Each of these erection drugs can be lethal if taken at the same time with any nitrate-based medication and in those men with significant underlying heart disease that prevents them from undertaking physical exertion.
WHICH ERECTION DRUG TO CHOOSE What has become very clear to me is that each of the erection drugs is very effective. When it comes to choosing an erection drug, I tell my patients to try all three and then see which works best for them and suits their particular needs. While men come to develop favorites, a recent international study of the three drugs found that one-third of the men preferred Viagra, one-third liked Levitra, and one-third found Cialis to be their favorite. Every man has a distinct perception of what sex is and what feels the most natural with his penis and his partner.
Each drug works very well for mild to moderate ED. More severe dysfunction will require a higher dose of a particular drug. Great erections should not be confused with great sexual relationships. Ultimately, the real success of these drugs depends on sexual intimacy and a strong relationship with your partner.
BUYING ERECTION DRUGS ON THE INTERNET In the marketplace, it is always caveat emptor-buyer beware-and it's no different when buying anything on the Internet, where there are more than 1,400 pharmacy sites. Studies have reported that a significant number of prescription drugs sold online are counterfeit and do not contain the proper dosages, or any of the actual ingredients of the purported medication being sold. Many of these unscrupulous websites work out of third-world countries and ate far from the reach of the FDA and most law enforcement agencies from other countries.
OTHER ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION TREATMENT OPTIONS When advanced erectile dysfunction causes even the three oral medications to fail, it is time to contact a urologist. Urologists ate medical experts who specialize in the prevention and treatment of male urological problems, which include sexual health medication issues. And just as women seek the help of gynecological specialists for their sexual health medication problems, men need to avail themselves of expert urological advice when it comes to advanced hardness problems. When the erection drugs no longer work, there are several hardness options to consider with your urologist. Let's review each of them:
Penile Injection. A very effective therapy, even for men with ED caused by prostate surgery. Special erection-inducing drugs are injected into the side of the penis 5 to 20 minutes before sexual intercourse.
Vacuum Erection Device. Very effective therapy for all types of ED. Simply place the penis in the plastic tube and pump the device to create an erection.
Penile Implant Surgery. The most effective therapy for men with advanced ED. Produces hard erections instantly for everyone.
