Limitations Of Viagra
Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is described as the persistent inability to get and or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity. Most men from time to time have trouble in getting or keeping an erection. Men have nothing to worry about from occasional erection problems, this is normal. Occasional erection problems can be due to many different issues occurring in a man’s life at that time. Common causes can be worries about money, work, relationship, or stress, being tired, anxiousness or drinking too much alcohol. Even worrying about not getting an erection. If a man has continual problems either getting or keeping an erection, then it is important to get checked out by a health professional as it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Erection problems can have physical or psychological causes. Physical causes include high blood pressure, a high cholesterol level, hormone problems or even side effects of prescribed medication for other health conditions. Psychological or emotional problems such as anxiety or depression can also cause erection problems. A GP will be able to advise on the best course of action after assessing a man’s symptoms and medical history.
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What are the risk factors for erectile dysfunction?
The risk factors for erectile dysfunction include a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol levels. One way to help reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction or to help improve erection problems in someone already suffering from erectile dysfunction is to address these factors.
Positive lifestyle improvements have the benefit of improving health and reduce the chance of impotence or helping with erectile dysfunction symptoms. Risk factors that are modifiable include: –
Stop smoking
Exercising daily.
Maintaining a healthy weight. A health professional can advise on a healthy body mass index.
Eating a healthy balanced diet i.e. a wide range of food in the right proportions. Ensuring to eat five fruits and vegetables every day, eating enough fibre, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping any sugar, fat, and salt to a minimum.
Reducing stress and anxiety. Deal with stress and anxiety in a healthy, appropriate way. Using alcohol or smoking to reduce stress will make erectile dysfunction problems worse.
Do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
It is important that these modifiable lifestyle choices are advised alongside using medication such as Viagra in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Viagra as a treatment for erectile dysfunction
If appropriate, Viagra, or other drugs in the same group I.e. other phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, are the first line treatment for erectile dysfunction. One reason for this is their proven effectiveness and safety. This is both in the general population of erectile dysfunction sufferers as well as specific groups of erectile dysfunction sufferers such as men with diabetes mellitus or men who have had a prostatectomy.
Are there any limitations of Viagra?
Many sufferers of erectile dysfunction find treatment with Viagra to be of a huge benefit to them in effectively helping them to manage their condition. So, can Viagra help everybody with erectile dysfunction and are there any limitations to its use? Viagra is not for everybody. There are certain medical conditions which mean Viagra is not a suitable treatment for them. There are also certain medications that Viagra should not be taken alongside.
Viagra cannot be taken: –
- If there is a hypersensitivity or allergy to Sildenafil or any of the other ingredients found in Viagra.
- If sexual activity is inadvisable for example patients with severe cardiac failure or other severe cardiovascular disorders
- If there is vision loss due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- In severe hepatic impairment
- With blood pressure less than 90/50mmHg
- Recent stroke or myocardial infarction
- With retinitis pigmentosa or other hereditary degenerative retinal disorders
- With nitrate medication in any form, for example, isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate which is usually prescribed for angina. Nitrates are also found in recreational drugs known as ‘poppers’ in the form of amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate. If Viagra is taken alongside nitrate medication it can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
- With guanylate cyclase stimulators e.g. riociguat. If Viagra is taken alongside guanylate cyclase stimulators it can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Therefore, it is very important to always take Viagra after receiving advice from an appropriate healthcare professional. They will be able to consider the whole of a patient’s medical history, symptoms, and current medication to give the most appropriate and safe advice regarding the best course of action in treating erectile dysfunction.
If Viagra is not suitable there are other treatment options that the GP will be able to discuss.
Does Viagra cure erectile dysfunction?
Viagra does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is very effective in helping treat erectile dysfunction and helps many men get and keep an erection sufficient for sexual activity. However, treatment with Viagra does not cure erectile dysfunction. A Viagra tablet will need to be taken when sexual activity is planned, with no more than one dose of Viagra being taken in one day.
Viagra will also not directly cause an increase in sex drive.
How does Viagra cause an erection?
Viagra will not cause an erection simply by taking the Viagra tablet. After taking the tablet, Viagra will begin to be effective from 25 minutes to an hour and has a duration of action of 4 hours. In this time the man will need to be sexually aroused for an erection to occur.
After having sex, the erection should go away.
A penile erection occurs through a complex pathway of neural, vascular, hormonal, and psychological factors. Sexual stimulation leads to the release of nitric oxide which is the primary erectile-mediating neurotransmitter. Nitric oxide causes the relaxation of smooth muscle in the penis. This brings about an increase in penile blood flow, enabling an erection to occur.
Viagra helps an erection to occur by facilitating and enhancing nitric oxide relaxation of erectile smooth muscle with sexual stimulation by the inhibition of cGMP in the penis tissue. When sexual stimulation occurs, there is an increase in blood flow to the penis allowing an erection to occur.
How to take Viagra and get the most from the medication
A Viagra tablet is to be swallowed whole with a glass of water approximately one hour before sexual activity, with a maximum of one dose daily.
Viagra is available as a 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablet.
To start 50mg Viagra is usually prescribed. If the 50mg dose seems too strong or weak the dose can be adjusted according to response. The minimum dose of Viagra is 25mg and the maximum dose is 100mg. The dose may seem too strong if the man feels he suffers from side effects after taking. The dose may seem too weak if the man feels it is not effective enough in helping the erection problems.
An erection will only occur after taking a Viagra tablet if sexual arousal occurs.
If a man plans to drink alcohol at the same time as taking Viagra tablets it is important to ensure that alcohol is not consumed in excess, keep to moderate alcohol consumption. Drinking too much alcohol can affect the ability to get or maintain an erection, meaning that the Viagra tablets will not be as effective.
Do not drink grapefruit juice at the same time as taking Viagra. Grapefruit juice can lead to an increase in the levels of Viagra in the bloodstream and so make side-effects more likely.
Any further questions about erectile dysfunction or taking Viagra?
This article has covered issues associated with Viagra as a possible treatment option for erectile dysfunction. If you have any further questions or concerns our Doctor and Pharmacist are available to answer these either via email or telephone.
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References
- http://bssmorguk.ipage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BSSM_ED_Management_Guidelines_2013.pdf
- https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1072/smpc#PRODUCTINFO
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/
- https://patient.info/medicine/sildenafil-for-erectile-dysfunction-nipatra-viagra-vizarsin
- https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/sildenafil.html
Mens Pharmacy is not liable for the currency or accuracy of the information contained in this blog post. For specific information about your personal medical condition, please contact our doctors or pharmacists for advice on [email protected].