Erectile Dysfunction Pills: What You Need to Know
Erectile dysfunction is an ailment that has plagued men for centuries. Scientists therefore have constantly been trying to find treatments for the problem and in this century, we have some of the best pills that can be used to help a man get an erection. Erectile dysfunction pills are often used as the first line of treatment for ED and in over 90% of the cases, the treatment is effective.
Although there are other natural methods to treat erectile dysfunction such as exercising, eating the right foods, and herbal supplements, these may not always work on their own and that is when the pills come in.
There are four main erectile dysfunction pills that you need to know about. They all belong to the same class of medications but they have certain differences in how long they remain active and the time it takes for them to start working. These pills are:
- Sildenafil
- Tadalafil
- Avanafil
- Vardenafil
Sildenafil
This is the most popular drug used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is a PDE-5 inhibitor that creates the right condition for blood to flow into the penis and cause it to erect when a man is aroused.
Sildenafil is commonly sold under brand names like Viagra, Cenforce, and Fildena. The most popular among them is Viagra which was the first erectile dysfunction pill introduced into the market by Pfizer.
Sildenafil pills have been approved by the FDA for use in men with ED. However, it is only to be used after diagnosis is done and the right dose is prescribed.
Although the medication does not cure ED, it enables a man to get an erection within an hour of taking the medicine and it will enable him to have normal penetrative sex for as long as 4 hours after taking the pill.
Tadalafil
This is also a PDE-5 inhibitor and works the same way as Sildenafil. The most popular brand of Tadalafil is Cialis which was approved by the FDA in 2003. Other brands of Tadalafil include Vidalista, which is the most common generic Tadalafil pill, and Tadaflo.
Tadalafil is fondly referred to as the weekend pill because its effect can last 36 hours. This means a man with erectile dysfunction can take the pill on Friday night and enjoy a romantic weekend without having to remember to take a pill whenever he intends to make love.
This drug can also be taken in smaller doses daily for men with active sex lives or who prefer to have spontaneous sex.
Avanafil
This pill is preferred by men with ED who want a quick-acting erectile dysfunction pill. Avanafil is able to start acting within 15 minutes from the time it is ingested. It is called a second-generation ED medication because of this ability. It is also not easily affected by the consumption of food so it fits into lifestyles of men who may like to wine and dine before they engage in sex. Common brands of this ED drug are Avana and Avaforce.
After taking Avanafil, a man can attain an erection at different intervals for as long as 6 hours.
Vardenafil
Like all the other ED pills, Vardenafil is effective in causing an erection in impotent men within 30 minutes. It comes in different brands although the most common one is Levitra and there are generic brands such as Snovitra. The FDA approves the use of this pill to treat ED. Studies show that it is effective in over 80 percent of the cases it is prescribed for.
Erectile dysfunction pills: Dosage
When treating erectile dysfunction, consultation with a doctor is paramount. The doctor will determine the best dose for an individual. Although the milligrams recommended for the different types of pills may vary, most times a patient only has to take the pill once in 24 hours as directed by the health provider. You can get the exact dose you need to take from the prescription provided by the doctor.
Erectile dysfunction pills: How they work
All four erectile dysfunction pills work in the same way. Surprising to many people is that they do not work directly on the penis, but instead work on the enzymes in blood vessels. They inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase in order to let a different hormone, cGMP work. cGMP causes the relaxing of muscles within blood vessels and this makes the vessels capable of transporting larger volumes of blood throughout the body. When a man is aroused after taking any of the ED pills, blood will flow freely into his penis and it will enlarge and harden.
The time it takes for this to happen can be between 15 minutes and 1 hour depending on the drug taken along with other factors such as the diet of the patient.
Side effects
As these pills for ED work, they can cause side effects. These are usually minor feelings of discomfort. Side effects however can also become serious if a patient has taken an overdose or if the patient is allergic to the medication.
Not everyone experiences side effects and at times the side effects depend on the drug you take and the dose you are taking.
The following list is not an exhaustive one. You may find other side effects on the leaflet that comes with the medication.
- Headache
- Stomach ache
- Dizziness
- Rushes
- Flushing in the face
- Indigestion
- Stuffy nose
- Blurred vision
- Back pain
- Muscle ache
- Nausea
In rare conditions, patients have had priapism after taking Viagra. This is a condition where the erection becomes permanent and only medical help can get it to subside. This is dangerous if an erection continues for over 4 hours.
Priapism can occur when a patient takes too much of the medication or mixes the medication with other drugs or foods that can cause interactions.
Erectile dysfunction pills: which is best for you
Although all these pills are in the same category, sometimes one might be better than the other. A doctor can help you choose which one is best. Some of the considerations when choosing the best pill include:
- How fast it will give you an erection
- Are you taking any medication or foods that may cause interactions
- What are the side effects of the pill and can you stand them
- How much does the drug cost
- How long do the effects of the drug last
Conclusion
You may opt for other solutions to erectile dysfunction but you will discover that the most trusted is the use of ED pills. Now you know the basics about these pills. If you wish to buy them online, Powerup Meds is the right place to make the order.