Examples
|
| sildenafil | Viagra |
| tadalafil | Cialis |
| vardenafil | Levitra |
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors) are
taken before you plan to be sexually active. PDE-5 inhibitors
will result in an erection only if you are sexually stimulated.
How It Works
During an erection, blood fills tissue
in the penis, causing it to enlarge and become stiff. The PDE-5 inhibitors
relax smooth muscle, allowing the penis to fill with blood.
Why It Is Used
PDE-5 inhibitors can be used when an
erection problem (erectile dysfunction) is caused
by:
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Spinal cord injury or other problems affecting
nerve function.
- Prostate surgery.
- Side effects of
medicines.
- Emotional or psychological causes.
How Well It Works
All PDE-5 inhibitors are very
effective in treating erection problems, no matter what is causing the erection
problem.
How well the PDE-5 inhibitors work depends on the
person taking it and how much he takes. But these medicines seem to work in
about 8 out of 10 men who use them for erection problems.1
The medicine needs to be taken before you plan to have sex:
- Sildenafil (Viagra) starts to work as soon as 30 minutes and up to 4 hours after you take a pill.
- Vardenafil (Levitra) starts to work as soon as 30 minutes and up to 4 hours after you take a pill.
- Tadalafil (Cialis) starts to work as soon as 20 minutes and up to 36 hours after you take a pill.
Side Effects
Do not take PDE-5
inhibitors if you are taking any medicines that contains
nitrates, such as nitroglycerin. This combination can
lower blood pressure dangerously, possibly leading to a
stroke, a
heart attack, or death. If you are taking a medicines
called an alpha-blocker—used to treat high blood pressure or an enlarged
prostate—check with your doctor before you take a PDE-5
medicines.
Side effects may include:
- Headache.
- Skin
flushing.
- Indigestion.
- Nasal congestion.
Some men taking a PDE-5 inhibitor find that the medicine
affects their vision for a few hours after they take it, usually by causing a
slight bluish tinge to their vision. A few men become more sensitive to light.
These effects go away in a few hours.
Some men taking PDE-5
inhibitors have had sudden hearing loss, usually only in one ear. This loss of
hearing may be related to the medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) advises any man taking a PDE-5 inhibitor who has sudden hearing loss to
stop taking the medicine and call a doctor immediately. The hearing loss may be
reversible.
Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and
vardenafil (Levitra) may be linked to a rare type of vision loss. If you
experience sudden vision loss or vision-related problems while taking these
drugs, the FDA advises you to talk to your doctor and seek medical care
immediately. If you already have eye disease or vision problems (such as
cataracts,
glaucoma, or
retinopathy), be sure to speak with
your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) before you start taking any PDE-5
inhibitors.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects.
(Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Talk with your doctor about whether medicines for erection problems are safe for you if you:
Sexual activity is exercise. If you have a heart condition
and have not been sexually active for a while, talk with your doctor to make sure you can safely engage in sexual activity.
PDE-5 inhibitors are not prescribed for anyone who may take nitroglycerin
in an emergency.
Tell your doctor if you are using
PDE-5 inhibitors and are going to have a test for heart disease (such as a
stress treadmill test, cardiac catheterization, stress thallium, or stress
echocardiography). Do not take sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) for
24 hours before the test. Do not take tadalafil (Cialis) for at least 48 hours
before the test. Then if you have a problem during the test, it will be safe
for you to use nitrate-containing medicines such as nitroglycerin.
If you eat a high-fat meal
around the time you take sildenafil
(Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra), the medicine does not work as well as it otherwise would. So many doctors recommend you take this medicine on an empty
stomach. Tadalafil (Cialis) works without regard to what you eat.
When considering PDE-5 inhibitors for erection problems, it is important
to include your partner in your discussions.
If you take any
medicines, discuss PDE-5 inhibitors with your doctor before using
them.
PDE-5 inhibitors can be prescribed by any doctor. You do
not have to see a doctor who specializes in sexual health. PDE-5 inhibitors are
also available on the Internet. If you obtain the medicine through this route,
you should discuss its use with your doctor.
PDE-5 inhibitors may
affect fertility. If you are trying to have a child, you may want to ask your
doctor about how this medicine can affect your chances of conceiving.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- Lue TF, Broderick GA (2007). Evaluation and
nonsurgical management of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. In AJ
Wein, ed., Campbell-Walsh Urology, 9th ed., vol. 1, pp.
750–787. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology |
|---|
| Last Revised | May 12, 2010 |
|---|
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the Magnet designation, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Association.