Men's health
Erectile dysfunction and the ways to treat it. Comparison of available on the market drugs.
There is a wide variety of drugs on the market that may treat erectile dysfunction. Among them are very famous like Viagra, Cialis and less famous like Impaza or even different preparations that have yet to prove their efficacy. So a person suffering from the disorder is put in a complicated position and even with the help of a health care professional it is sometimes hard to decide which of the drugs is best suited for the patients needs.
In this article we would like to underline certain effects and properties of the above named and other drugs used for treatment of erectile dysfunction as well as answer different questions that a patient may ask himself while choosing a drug for the treatment. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Impaza - which of the drugs is better? In which cases you may need to change treatment? What are the differences in these drugs? Why are some of them more popular then others? And many many more.
So let's start with a small investigation of what is erectile dysfunction and what approaches in treatment of it has mankind developed.
Erectile dysfunction is a pathological condition that may be caused by various internal, external, physical and psychological problems. Sometimes we can easily determine what has caused the pathology like endocrine changes or hypertension then the pathology may be treated. In other cases however doctors need to prescribe treatment for the symptoms and not for the cause. At the current moment worldwide renown preparations for the treatment of erectile dysfunction are:
The first 3 of these drugs belong to a group of selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and all have the same mode of action. PDE-5 works by breaking down the substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate high levels of which are needed for normal smooth muscle relaxation in vessels that supply the corpus cavernosum of the penis with blood. After the use of the above mentioned preparations, excluding Impaza, PDE-5 is inhibited meaning that the blood flow remains stable and if a person becomes aroused erection will occur. The interactions for these drugs due to the similarities in effect are also nearly the same and the most important one is that Viagra, Levitra and Cialis must not be used with nitrate medications as nitroglycerine or any others due to possible severe decrease in blood pressure. Certain particular qualities of course distinguish one drug from the other.
Starting from Viagra or as it is chemically called Sildenafil citrate. Firstly we must mention that Viagra is the oldest drug, among the comparable, that was released on to the market. In 1998 Viagra was established as nearly the ultimate treatment for erectile dysfunction. Viagra is administered as 15-30 minutes before the sexual intercourse and the effect of it lasts for 4 hours after taking. The drug has proven its efficacy and has participated in many clinical trials since then and specific side-effects have been defined including: headache, nausea in rare cases: severe hypotension, increased intraocular pressure, or sudden hearing loss.
The next drug on our list is Levitra or chemically called Vardenafil. Levitra has been developed right after Viagra and as other PDE-5 inhibitors is chemically similar to Sildenafil. In 2004 Levtira has been released on the market in 2003. It is proven that the drug possesses less side-effects then Viagra due to lower dosing of the medication, but the side-effects and action time remains the same as for Viagra. Levitra should be taken 15 minutes before sexual intercourse and works for 4 hours after the intake. If taken in high dosages 20mg than the drug may also cause such side-effects as: heart problems, hearing loss and penile tissue damage.
Cialis on the other hand is the latest developed PDE-5 inhibitor it was released on the market in december 2003 or a few months later then Levitra. Cialis unlike both above mentioned drugs works for a longer period and can be used once every 24 hours. The drug should be taken 30 minutes prior to sexual intercourse and the effects may last for 36 hours after administration. Regarding the side-effects they are the same as for Viagra and Levitra but the possibility of occurrence is slightly higher.
And lastly a drug that differs in structure and in effect from the PDE-5 inhibitors is Impaza. The drug is widely known on the European market but has not been certified by FDA for use in USA. Impaza is a homeopathic preparation that has passed extensive clinical trials in Europe and has proven its efficacy to a certain degree in treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is used firstly 2 hours prior to intercourse and secondly 1 hour before intercourse and the effects of it lasts as long as the person is aroused. The drug possesses no side-effects due to it being a homeopathic preparation. And can be used once a day as the other preparations mentioned in the article.
In conclusion we want to say that erectile dysfunction is a serious disorder and its treatment should not be taken lightly. The drugs mentioned above have all proven their efficacy in the treatment of the disease but you as a patient must choose after a thorough consultation with your doctor the correct drug and dosage that will satisfy your needs.
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