Talking about male impotence or erection deficiencies can be embarrassing or even taboo. Many men suffer from this condition but are unable or unwilling to talk about. There are several remedies, however, that can be of use to males that have this condition. For that reason, it becomes important to understand what the condition is, what causes it, and what drugs are available to combat it. Further, knowing that drugs exist to help with the condition is only half of the story. Individuals also need to know the answer to this question - how do erectile dysfunction drugs work?. The following explains this information, too.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to garner and maintain an erection. His penis is not able to become functioning and hard enough in order to complete normal and appropriate sexual acts like other men. Often, this condition is traumatic and can cause many problems. Of course, there are the intimacy issues that arise. Men are unable to perform sexually as they wish or have done in the past. They can lose partners or become overwhelmed by the idea that they are not able to perform sexually when and how they want.

Having erectile dysfunction or (ED) is also psychologically damaging. Men with the condition can show symptoms of withdrawal, frustration, and even depression. Though it may feel like ED is a singular disease, as it is suffered as such, it truly is not. It is said that half of men, to some degree, experience ED problems in some variance of degree. This does not have to be full blown ED but simply a problem with erectile functioning. Only a fraction of these men, though, seek help for their condition.

Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction

There are several disorders, unassociated with sexual health, that can lead to ED. Among the most common of these diseases are those involving the cardiovascular system. This is because the body and the blood flow need to be working properly in order to create an erection. An erection in men is caused by blood flow, due to sexual stimulation, to the penis. For that reason, when there are blood flow problems, it becomes easier to have issues with the penis and it’s functioning.

This can be especially seen in the linkages between high blood pressure and vascular disease, which tightens the vessels. Heart disease is another cardiovascular disease that plays a role and can impact erectile health. Other diseases, too, can cause erectile dysfunction. These include diabetes and depression as well. Further, nervous system disorders can cause or lead to ED, too. For this reason, ED should not be taken and understood as simply a sexual health problem. It is much more than that and could be your body’s way of telling you that.

Medications

There are several brand name medications as well as generic ones that are on the market for treating erectile dysfunction. How these drugs work depends on the type and nature of the choice or prescription. However, there are commonalities for each. The drugs are meant to essentially stimulate blood flow to the penis. They are not meant to cure the disorder. That is, taking any medication will not stop ED but will simply alleviate the symptoms. Increased blood flow the penis is meant to help and encourage healthy erections when introduced to a sexual stimulus, such as arousal. This allows individual men to display and keep an erection that lasts longer than it had previously.

Viagra is one of the most popular drugs on the market. Introduced in 1998, it has quickly become a top seller among these types of drugs. It has been clinically proven to improve erections in those who need the help. It is not for use in healthily functioning men. In order for the pill to work, stimulation must occur. It will not randomly cause an erection. In Viagra, the pill works by blocking the enzyme in the penis that is used for arousal. It allows instead the chemicals that cause an erection to last longer and with more vigor.

These chemicals are those that are involved with arousal. For that reason, this is why arousal needs to occur in order for the drug to work best. This pill should be taken about an hour to a half hour prior to sexual activity of any kind in which an erection is desired. No more than one pill, however, should be taken within a twenty-four hour period of time. Further, this pill needs to be taken on an empty stomach in order to ensure that it works more quickly.

Remember, upping the dosage of this pill will not do anything for your erection. It will simply mean that you have wasted time and increased your risk for side effects while taking the drug. There are several other pills and drugs like Viagra that are on the market that work in much the same way, though the actual usage of the pill and terms under which it can be taken are different. These include those pills with vardenafil, tadalafill, and other erection inducing chemicals. The wait time on each of these drugs can be different as well.

Now You Know

Now that you know the answer to the question – how do erectile dysfunction drugs work? Therefore, be sure to ask your doctor about your options. They will be able to walk you through the benefits and side effects of the drugs and keep you healthy in your sexual pursuits.

All medications have side effects. Erectile dysfunction medication is no exception and there are things about the medication that can be harmful to you or your body chemistry. You need to be under a doctor’s care in order to get the prescription because you need to be able to monitor all your levels in order to make sure the side effects are not causing you harm.

Erectile Dysfunction Drugs: The Non-Lethal Side Effects

Almost every label lists a ridiculous number of potential side effects; things that might have only happened to one person in the whole history of the drug. These can be things like headaches, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness and even aches and pains. Because erectile dysfunction medication does change your blood flow, the headaches and light-headedness are likely side effects. These might not be major enough for you to stop taking the medication but if they become severe you should make sure you doctor knows about them and how often the side effect happens. Headaches can lead to bigger problems if you are not careful.

The Dangerous Side Effects

Most of the dangerous side effects of erectile dysfunction medications have to do with heart and circulation problems. In general, the drug alters the blood flow of the body in order to change the path to your penis and it can be bad if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. Many people with heart problems are not allowed to have sex at all. You should be very careful and note any type of chest pain you experience when on the medication or during sex. Strokes and aneurysms are another dangerous side effect. Because your blood flow changes, this can throw clots or cause damage to the artery walls that can lead to splitting. A doctor will monitor your pressures as well as your history in order to determine if erectile dysfunction medication is okay for you.

The Unlikely Side Effects

A full blown stroke, heart attack or aortic dissection is possible when on erectile dysfunction medication. If you are monitored by a doctor and you follow the directions given to you, these are unlikely. But you should know that it is possible and you should note how your body feels in order to avoid such horrible side effects. It is up to you to know if you are experiencing discomfort or unusual feelings. You also need to note if your mental capacity seems to change as this can be a sign of an aneurysm or stroke.

All medications can be scary. Everyone’s body is different and thereby you respond to things differently than other people will. It is your doctor’s responsibility to monitor you based on the information you give him. This means you need to be aware of your body and report any changes so you can be monitored properly. A doctor is only as good as the information given to him and a medication is only good if you use it properly.