Impotence Drug (Viagra)
By admin at 28 July, 2009, 3:39 pm
How Effective is Sildenafil (Viagra)?
Sildenafil is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, whether it is caused due to physical or psychological circumstances. Studies have also shown its effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction in men who have the following pre-existing conditions: coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, depression, coronary artery bypass surgery, and men who are taking antidepressants and/or several classes of anti-hypertensives.
In randomized controlled trials, an estimated 60% of men with diabetes, and 80% of men without diabetes experienced improved erections using Sildenafil. For the full results of these tests please consult with your doctor.
How Should Sildenafil (Viagra) Be Administered?
Sildenafil is available as oral tablets in doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg. It should be taken approximately one hour before any type of sexual activity. In some men, the pill can begin to work in as little as 11-20 minutes. Sildenafil should be taken on an empty stomach for the best results.
What is the Normal Dose of Sildenafil (Viagra)?
The normal starting dosage is 50mg. The maximum recommended dose in a 24 hour period is 100mg. In some cases, 100mg will be prescribed immediately to allow the patient to receive maximum effectiveness from the first dose. Age, overall health, and pre-existing conditions will all play a role in deciding the initial dosage.
The metabolic breakdown of Sildenafil is often slowed by aging, liver or kidney dysfunction, and the simultaneous use of other medications (ex: erythromycin (antibiotic), or protease inhibitors used for HIV patients. This slowdown causes Sildenafil to accumulate in the body and could eventually cause health problems. Men over the age of 65 with kidney or liver disease, or men taking protease inhibitors, are often given the smallest dosage of 25mg in an attempt to avoid a build-up of the drug in the body. A protease inhibitor Ritonavir (Norvir) has been proven to be especially potent in increasing the accumulation of Sildenafil. Therefore, men who are taking Norvir should not take Sildenafil in doses higher than 25 mg per 48 hours.
What are the Side Effects of Sildenafil (Viagra)?
The reported side effects are often mild and include: headaches, flushing, nasal congestion, nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhea, and abnormal vision (seeing a bluish hue or brightness). In all studies, these reported side effects were very often rare and not high in severity.
Sildenafil can cause hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure that can lead to fainting and even shock) when given to patients who are taking nitrates. Because of this, it is recommended that all patients taking nitrates on a daily basis should not take Sildenafil.
Sildenafil should be used with caution by all men currently on alpha blockers such as Doxazosin (Cardura), Terazosin (Hytrin), and Tamsulosin (Flomax). Occasional reports of low blood pressure have been reported in men who simultaneously have taken two classes of drugs, and therefore it is recommended that there be a span of at least 4-6 hours between the time Sildenafil is consumed and the alpha blockers.
There have been reports of priapism (prolonged and painful erections lasting more than 4 hours) with the use of PDE5 inhibitors such as Sildenafil, Vardenafil, and Tadalafil, especially when Sildenafil is used in combination with injections of medications into the Corpora cavernosa or intra-urethral suppositories. Patients with the pre-existing conditions including: blood cell diseases such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and multiple myeloma have above average risks of developing priapism. Please go immediately to a hospital should your erection last longer than 4 hours as a prolonged erection can cause permanent ED.
Sildenafil should not be used in combination with intra-urethral suppositories and Corpora cavernosa injections. Any mixing of two or more treatments could cause unwanted side effects. Do not, under any circumstances, take more than a prescribed dose, or mix two different treatments in an effort to maximize results. The effects of this could cause many problems including preventing these medications from successfully treating mild ED. The mixture of these drugs could, in some cases cause permanent ED.
Is it Safe for Men with Heart Disease to Use Sildenafil (Viagra)?
Sildenafil has been found to be effective and is considered a safe treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with stable heart disease due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, provided that they are not currently taking nitrates. Most commonly, the bigger problem is if the heart can take the increased work that is involved during sex.
The risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms or heart attacks during sexual activities while taking Sildenagil is low in men with well-controlled hypertension, mild disease of the heart’s valves, well-controlled heart failure, mild and stable angina (with a favorable treadmill stress test), successful coronary stenting or bypass surgery, as well as someone with a remote history of heart attacks (longer than 8 weeks prior to taking medications for ED).
The risk of an abnormal heart rhythm or heart attack during sexual activity is higher in men with unstable angina (angina that can occur while resting or with minimal exertion), poorly controlled hypertension, moderate to severe heart failure, moderate to severe disease of the heart valves, recent heart attack (less than 2 weeks prior to taking medication), potentially life threatening disorders of heart rhythm such as recurrent ventricular tachycardia, and moderate to severe disease of the heart’s muscle. In these men, doctors usually stabilize or treat the heart conditions before prescribing Sildenafil as the risk can be too great to treat both problems simultaneously.
Before starting Sildenafil, a doctor will often check the heart if it can handle the increased workload necessary to have sex.
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