What is the Common Side effects of Erectile Dysfunction Medicines ?

What is erectile dysfunction?

The malady formerly known as impotence, erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfying sex. That might include erections that don’t last as long as you want or aren’t as firm as you’d like. ED is very prevalent among American men: Experts estimate that more than 30 million American men have experienced these kinds of erection issues (Nunes, 2012).

What Is the Erectile dysfunction Medications ?

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called impotence, can affect your quality of life by decreasing your satisfaction from sex. ED can have many causes, both psychological and physical. ED from physical causes is fairly common in men as they age. Medications are available that can help treat ED for many men.

The most well-known ED medications include:

tadalafil (Cialis)
sildenafil (Viagra)
vardenafil (Levitra)
avanafil (Stendra)

These prescription drugs increase the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, meaning it makes your blood vessels widen to help increase the blood flow. These drugs are especially effective at widening the blood vessels in your penis. More blood in your penis makes it much easier for you to get and maintain an erection when you are sexually aroused.

However, these drugs can also cause side some effects. Here are seven of the most common side effects from ED medications.

Headaches

Headaches are the most common side effect associated with ED medications. The sudden change in blood flow from the increased levels of nitric oxide causes the headaches.

This side effect is common with all forms of ED medications, so switching brands won’t necessarily alleviate your symptoms. If you have headaches from your ED drug, talk to your doctor about how to prevent them.

Body aches and pains

Some people have muscle aches and pains throughout their bodies while taking ED medications. Others have reported specific pain in their lower back. If you have these types of pain while taking ED medication, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may help.

However, you should talk to your doctor about other possible causes of your pain. Your doctor can help you choose an OTC medication that is safe to take with your ED medications and with any other medications you take.

Digestive system problems

Your ED medication may cause uncomfortable digestive system side effects. The most common are indigestion and diarrhea.

To help relieve minor problems, consider making dietary changes to reduce upset stomach. Drinking water instead of caffeinated beverages, alcohol, or juice may help. If changing your diet doesn’t work, talk to your doctor about OTC remedies that may help.

Dizziness

An increase in nitric oxide can cause some men to become dizzy. The dizziness caused by ED medications is generally mild. However, any dizziness can cause discomfort during everyday activities.

In rare cases, dizziness from ED medications has led to fainting, which can become a serious health issue. You should tell your doctor if you experience dizziness while taking ED medications. If you faint while taking these medications, see your doctor right away.

Vision changes

ED medications can change the way you see things — literally. They can temporarily alter your eyesight and even cause blurry vision. ED medications aren’t recommended if you have had vision loss, or a retinal disorder called retinitis pigmentosa.

A complete loss of vision or changes that don’t go away can signify a more serious issue with your ED medication. Seek emergency medical care if you experience these symptoms.

Flushes

Flushes are temporary periods of redness of the skin. Flushes usually develop on your face and may also spread to parts of your body. Flushes can be mild, like blotchy skin, or severe, like rashes. Although the appearance may make you uncomfortable, flushes typically aren’t harmful.

Flushes from ED medications may get worse when you:

eat hot or spicy foods
drink alcohol
are outside in warm temperatures

Congestion and runny nose

Congestion or a runny or stuffy nose can be a common symptom of ED medications. In most cases, these side effects go away without treatment. Talk to your doctor if they persist.

Recognizing uncommon, severe side effects

Minor side effects are common when taking ED medication. Still, there are a few side effects that aren’t as common, and some can even be dangerous. Severe side effects of ED medications can include:

- - priapism (erections that last longer than 4 hours)
  - sudden changes in hearing
  - vision loss

Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these severe side effects.

Certain men are more at risk of these side effects than others. This may be because of other conditions they have or other medications they take.

Serious side effects of ED medication

Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms or side effects:

- - Chest pain
  - Shortness of breath
  - Severe headaches
  - Fainting
  - Erections that last longer than four hours
  - Visual changes (like loss of sight)
  - Or anything out of the ordinary—even lightheadedness

If you notice any severe or prolonged symptoms at all, contact a healthcare provider immediately. It doesn’t matter how rare a side effect is if you’re the one experiencing it.

When discussing ED treatment with your doctor, it’s important to tell them about all drugs that you take and other health conditions you have. If ED drugs aren’t right for you, your doctor may suggest other treatment options, such as surgery or vacuum pumps.

What drugs interact with Cialis and Viagra?

Cialis

The breakdown and elimination of tadalafil from the body may be decreased by erythromycin, ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir). Therefore, these drugs may increase the levels of tadalafil in the blood. If these drugs are being used at the same time as tadalafil, the dose of tadalafil should be reduced to 10 mg every 72 hours when used as needed or 2.5 mg when used daily in order to avoid side effects from high levels of tadalafil.

Rifampin, carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equerto, Carbatrol), phenytoin (Dilantin, Dilantin-125), and phenobarbital may decrease blood levels of tadalafil, possibly reducing the effect of tadalafil.

Tadalafil exaggerates the increases in heart rate and lowering of blood pressure caused by nitrates, for example, nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket), nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro) that are used primarily for treating heart pain (angina). In patients who take nitrates for angina, tadalafil could cause heart pain or possibly even a heart attack by exaggerating the increase in heart rate and the lowering of blood pressure. Therefore, tadalafil should not be used with nitrates.

Tadalafil also exaggerates the blood pressure lowering effects of some alpha-blocking drugs for example, terazosin (Hytrin) that primarily are used for treating high blood pressure or enlargement of the prostate (BPH). Individuals who take these alpha-blockers should be on a stable dose of the alpha-blocker before tadalafil is started. In such situations, tadalafil should be started at the lowest dose. If the patient is already taking tadalafil, the alpha-blocker should be started at the lowest dose. Combining tadalafil with alpha-blockers for treatment of BPH is not recommended.

Tadalafil and alcohol both lower blood pressure. Therefore, combining tadalafil with alcohol may cause excessive drops in blood pressure and cause dizziness, headaches, and increased heart rate.

PDE5 inhibitors may affect platelet function and therefore prolong bleeding. Tadalafil should be used cautiously in patients with bleeding disorders or active ulcers. Tadalafil should not be combined with Adcirca (another form of tadalafil) or other PDE5 inhibitors, for example, vardenafil (Levitra) or sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio).

Viagra

Viagra increases the effects of the blood pressure lowering medications. It also increases the blood pressure lowering effects of nitrates, for example, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket), nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro) that are used primarily for treating angina. Patients taking nitrates should not receive Viagra.

Patients should not combine Viagra with other PDE5 inhibitors (for example, vardenafil [Levitra], tadalafil [Cialis]).

Cimetidine (Tagamet), erythromycin, ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), atazanavir (Reyataz), and mibefradil (Posicor) can cause marked increases in the amount of Viagra in the body. Patients taking these medications should be observed carefully if sildenafil is used.

It is expected that rifampin will decrease blood levels of Viagra and probably reduce its effectiveness.

Can Viagra Cause any Negative Long-lasting Effects?

Viagra is for adult men seeking to treat impotence, or erectile dysfunction. ED is the lack of blood flow to the penis, making it impossible to achieve or maintain an erection for long enough to have satisfactory intercourse. ED can happen due to age, a medical condition or it can be psychological.

Erectile dysfunction is often an embarrassing issue for those who suffer from it and can have many negative effects. Erectile problems can lead to stress in relationships, low self-esteem, and a decreased sex drive. Viagra (Sildenafil) can be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction if taken correctly, as instructed by a doctor.

Often, men suffering from ED have already tried non-medical remedies to treat it, such as changing their diet, increasing exercise and reducing stress before deciding to seek medical treatment such as Viagra. If you have decided that Viagra is the right option for you we advise you to request a prescription through a doctor to ensure you take the right dosage.

Viagra works alongside sexual stimulation to achieve an erection. When a man becomes aroused something called cyclic GMP is released. This causes the blood vessels to relax and expand and more blood to enter the penis. The result of this is an erection. Cyclic GMP is broken down by an enzyme known as PDE5. Viagra (Sildenafil) works to stop this break down occurring and therefore helps maintain the erection.

Maintaining a healthy sex life is important for psychological and physical well-being. Viagra is an aid for men who have insufficient blood flow to the penis and therefore problems having sex.

When using ED pills, you should be aware of potential risks. Keep in mind that the uncontrolled use of sildenafil medication (for example, when using the drug in excessive doses, or more frequently than recommended, or when the drug is combined with other ED medications from Canadian Pharmacy or narcotic substances) can lead to a condition known as priapism.

It’s a long-lasting painful erection that needs medical help. Priapism is a disease named after the mythical ancient Greek god of fertility Priapus, who had a permanent erection. If a man has priapism, his erection has nothing to do with sexual arousal and the penis does not relax even after ejaculation and after a while it becomes painful. This condition can seriously damage the penis as it can cause blood stasis.

If your erection lasts for more than 4 hours and you feel pain, you should contact your doctor immediately.

In rare cases, Viagra can cause negative effects but they are unlikely to be long-lasting. The common side effects associated with the use of this medication include headache, redness of the face, hot flashes, dizziness, vision problems, sensitivity to light, nasal congestion, and stomach upset.

To avoid side effects of any kind, you should consult a doctor prior to taking these pills. You should be informed that sildenafil medication should not be used in combination with nitrates (medicines used to treat angina pectoris), as this can lead to a severe drop in blood pressure levels, which can lead to shock and sometimes even death.

In 2020, Viagra is considered safe when prescribed correctly.

Important: Prolonged use of ED pills can worsen the fertilizing potential of ejaculate and cause dependence (if you abuse stimulant drugs, one day an erection may simply not come). This is a crime against yourself. There is no need to risk health (and sometimes life). If you take ED medication in the recommended doses and do not abuse it, it won’t harm your health in any way!

The Effects of Viagra on the Body

Viagra is a powerful drug that increases blood flow to the penis so you can get and maintain an erection. It’s effective, but it can also cause some side effects.

Viagra is a brand-name version of the generic drug sildenafil. It’s a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. PDE5 is an enzyme that regulates certain chemicals in your blood, but as a result can make it harder for you to get and keep an erection.

Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). While it helps you temporarily maintain an erection so you can have sex, it doesn’t cure ED. It doesn’t affect sexual desire either. You still need mental or physical stimulation to get an erection.

This medication is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

Circulatory system

It takes a finely choreographed series of events to produce an erection. It begins with arousal signals from your brain, and it all hinges on good blood flow to the penis.

Within the penis are two chambers called the corpora cavernosa. Nitric oxide (NO) is released in the chambers during sexual stimulation. NO activates an enzyme called guanylate cyclase. That increases levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which causes muscles to relax.

The chambers also contain a network of blood vessels. When those blood vessels relax and widen, blood rushes in. The resulting pressure is what causes an erection.

PDE5 can dampen the effect of cGMP. Viagra works by inhibiting PDE5.

Viagra is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Maximum concentrations are reached within about an hour.

One of the more common side effects is flushing, or redness.

This medication can also cause a decrease in blood pressure, particularly one to two hours after taking it. If you already have low blood pressure, discuss the pros and cons of Viagra with your doctor.

For most people, sexual activity is good for cardiovascular health. However, if you have cardiovascular disease, you should ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to take Viagra. You should also avoid Viagra if your doctor advised you not to have sex.

You shouldn’t take Viagra if you’ve had a stroke or heart attack or if you have unstable angina.

Certain drug interactions can harm your heart. Avoid taking PDE5 inhibitors if you also use long-lasting alpha-blockers or take medications that contain nitrates.

Reproductive system

Viagra can be quite effective, but it’s no magic pill. It does nothing for the libido. You still need some kind of stimulation to get an erection.

The effects of Viagra usually last about 4 hours, though they may last longer for some men. A rare, but serious side effect, is priapism. That’s when you get an erection that lasts for a long period of time. It can become quite painful.

If you have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical attention.

You should also be wary of PDE5 inhibitors if you have an anatomical abnormality of the penis. If you have Peyronie’s disease, your doctor may advise against taking Viagra.

Viagra is a temporary fix and doesn’t cure ED. It offers no protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Central nervous system

Viagra helps to improve blood flow to the penis, but your brain is still your most valuable sex organ. Viagra won’t work if you’re not in the mood.

Some potential side effects of Viagra are headache and a runny or blocked nose, or a nosebleed. Some men feel lightheaded or dizzy. In rare cases, Viagra can cause fainting. Some men taking PDE5 inhibitors report back or muscle pain.

It’s not common, but some men experience ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or vision loss after taking PDE5 inhibitors.

Avoid PDE5 inhibitors if you have a history of an eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION is characterized by the interruption of blood flow to the optic nerve.

If you have hearing or vision loss while taking Viagra, seek immediate medical help.

Excretory and digestive system

Viagra is dispensed in a film-coated tablet. You can take Viagra with or without food, and it’s best to take it about an hour before you plan to have sex.

Don’t take Viagra more than once per day.

About 80 percent of Viagra leaves your body in your feces. The rest is washed out with your urine.

One fairly common side effect of Viagra is indigestion or stomach upset. PDE5 inhibitors can sometimes cause nausea or vomiting.