Drugwatch's trusted legal partners support the organization's mission to keep people safe from dangerous drugs and medical devices. For more information, visit our partners page.
Not all men with erectile dysfunction want to be treated - it is a personal decision. For those who do, there are many options. The best-known treatment is medication. Viagra®, Levitra® and Cialis® all increase blood flow to the penis.
.
The study included 356 men with erectile dysfunction and no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease who attended a clinic between 2006 and 2019. The cohort was divided into three categories according to blood pressure: normal, high-normal, and hypertension. A total of 164 (46%) patients were being treated with antihypertensive medications.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: fda cautions about using testosterone products for low testosterone due to aging; requires labeling change to inform of possible increased risk of heart attack and stroke with use. www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm436259.htm. Bassil N , Alkaade S , Morley JE . The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: a review. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2009;5:427–48. Søe KL , Søe M , Gluud C . Liver pathology associated with the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Liver 1992;12:73–9. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0676.1992.tb00560.x Randrup E , Baum N , Feibus A . Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Postgrad Med 2015;127:166–72. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992722 Wrishko R , Sorsaburu S , Wong D , et al . Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic overview of low-dose daily administration of tadalafil. J Sex Med 2009;6:2039–48. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01301.x Seftel AD , Sun P , Swindle R . The prevalence of hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and depression in men with erectile dysfunction. J Urol 2004;171:2341–5. doi:10.1097/01.ju.0000125198.32936.38
While oral medications are a common first step for therapy, they only tend to work in about 50 percent of men with diabetes. Diabetic men are more likely to move on to other treatment options, such as the pump, penile injection therapy, and penile implants. However, the penile implant has the highest satisfaction rate of all treatment options.
Blood vessel repair is best for men with a small blockage. It usually doesn’t work well for men who have more widespread blockages.
ED commonly referred to as “impotence” is a condition that causes problems in achieving or maintaining an erection during sex. The patient could also experience low libido or reduced sexual desire.
ED is usually easy to diagnose. If you are tempted to self-diagnose, talk to your doctor. He or she will want to make sure it isn’t related to another health condition.
Several non-pharmaceutical methods may help increase blood flow to the penis naturally. You can try these alone or in conjunction with medication.
Your physician team will work with your primary care physician, as well as your cardiologist, if ED is related to a heart problem. Providers may also recommend lifestyle changes, changing your prescribed medications or seeking mental health counseling to help treat the underlying causes of ED.
Several studies are in support of acupuncture to treat ED. Acupuncture is said to improve erection quality and restore sexual activity in those that use it. There’s no sure guarantee that this method will work but since it’s natural and has no side effects, it does no harm to try.
Testosterone. It’s a male hormone. If you have a normal testosterone level, you don’t need more.
If a medication is causing your ED, your doctor may lower your dose or try a different drug.
Sildenafil citrate is designated chemically as 1-[[3-(6,7-dihydro-1-methyl-7-oxo-3-propyl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3d]pyrimidin-5-yl)-4-ethoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-4-methylpiperazine citrate and has the following structural formula:
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety announcement regarding TRT. In part it reads ‘The benefit and safety of these medications have not been established. We are also requiring these manufacturers to add information to the labeling about a possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients taking testosterone.’37
The Asian Journal of Andrology notes that foods that are rich in fat or otherwise calorically dense can contribute to lowered sexual activity. This study recommends a “Mediterranean-style diet,” which consists primarily of whole-grain foods, fruits, vegetables, full-dairy products, and legumes. Meat lovers may be disappointed to see that eating habits that limit the consumption of red meat are recommended to improve heart health. This diet is designed to reduce bodily inflammation and a lower risk of coronary disease. In short, eating healthy is pivotal to boosting penile function and sexual stamina, and can be an effective natural remedy for ED.
Sildenafil is used to treat male sexual function problems (impotence or erectile dysfunction-ED). In combination with sexual stimulation, sildenafil works by increasing blood flow to the penis to help a man get and keep an erection.