Let’s Make Out the Efficacy of Oral Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Are you suffering in your sex life due to Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?  Thinking to take the most common oral medications Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (avanafil) to treat your ED, but have some doubts in mind??? Continue reading to clear your doubts about functioning, effectiveness, side effects, and safety of Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (Avanafil)…

Let’s Make Out Them

Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (Avanafil) are oral medications used for treating the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. These drugs are called PDE-5 inhibitors and considered first-line therapy for the men with ED.
In simple words, these drugs help to relax the muscles and increase blood circulation in the body. So these medications allow the men with ED to have a lasting erection during sexual activity with increased and improved blood flow into the penis.
Thus, these medications can help you to have a harder erection that is better sustained.

The Ideal Time to Take Oral ED Medications

If you take any one of Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (avanafil), you will not immediately have an erection without any sexual stimulation. It means these medications need mental or physical stimulation and some time to act.
Following pointers may help you to understand the ideal time to take of each medication along with its effectiveness:

• Viagra (sildenafil) is recommended to take 30 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity. Its effect typically lasts for 3 to 5 hours.
• Levitra (vardenafil) generic name Vilitra is faster than Viagra so can be taken 20- 30 minutes before sexual activity but it lasts for the same amount of time as Viagra.
• The effectiveness of Cialis (tadalafil) lasts up to 18 to 36 hours so this pill is preferred by the men who look for a long-lasting effect. It peaks its action after 1-2 hours.
• Stendra (Avanafil) generic name Avana starts its action after 15-20 minutes and stays effective for approx 6 hours.

So, all medications differ in their action time and effectiveness so people choose accordingly.

Now, you must be concerned to know about the effectiveness and safety of these medications so let’s have a deeper dig to understand advantages, side effects, and some drug interactions so that you can know how effective and safe are these ED treating medications are?

Pros of Oral ED Medications

These PDE -5 drugs cause the increased blood flow into the penis and relax the muscles so may have the following advantages for men:

• Can help you to have harder and lasting erection so are effective for men with moderate to mild erectile dysfunction problems
• Help you get to engage in sexual activity for a longer time depending on the effectiveness of the chosen drug

Cons of Oral Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Well, oral medications including Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (Avanafil) can have some side effects mentioned below:

• Mild to moderate headache
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Skin flushing or redness
• Sinus congestion
• Stuffy nose
• Heartburn in some cases
• Viagra can also cause blue coloration to the vision of the person. However, this effect goes away as soon as the drug is out of their body system, and also this effect has been seen only in 5-10% men.
• Cialis has also a rare side effect that is temporary muscular pain like muscle cramp or backache. This side effect also goes away with time and more hydration.
• There is one rare but most talked risk of oral ED drugs is priapism means painful erection that lasts for a minimum of 4 hours. If you experience the same then it is time to see a doctor.

Common Drug Interactions When Taking Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Drug interactions do occur with Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (Avanafil). It is important to know all possible drug interactions of these ED medications so that you could be aware of some risk and side effects of them.

Here Are Some Common Drug Interactions:

• Drugs used to treat chest pain including nitrates such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide
• Some recreational drugs called poppers containing amyl, nitrate, butyl nitrate or amyl nitrate.
• If you will combine ED drugs with Medications used for enlarged prostate like doxazosin, tamsulosin then can suffer from low blood pressure. So it is advisable to skip prostate medication if you are taking any one of Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Stendra (Avanafil).
• If you are taking medications like antifungal, macrolide antibiotics, HIV medications, hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors, mifepristone, and rifampin then you are advised to take low doses of ED drugs.
• Avoid mixing different ED medications at the same time.
• Avoid consuming too much alcohol if you have taken any ED drug as it can increase the chances of headache, dizziness, increased heart rate, and lower BP.
• Do not take higher than the prescribed dose of an ED drug.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking ED medications as they may increase the risk of side effects.

Can it be Dangerous to Take Oral ED Medications?

Well, FDA has urged caution in patients who have some serious health issues like heart attack, strokes, and serious disturbances of the pumping rhythm of the heart in the last 6 months. Even the men with a history of congestive heart failure or unstable angina, low blood pressure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure must avoid these ED drugs.

Even these medications are not recommended for the patients having severe eye or vision problems as there are some rare reports of blindness in such patients. so if you have any history of eye surgery then it is good to consult the doctor before taking these medications

Take Away Advice

Viagra, Levitra, Cialis, and Stendra and their generics can treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction but there are some side effects and interactions to consider before choosing them.

With the right choice of ED drug and its right dose, you can overcome ED and get engage in sexual activity. So, these medications are safe and effective only if you are taking the right dose of the right medicine after consulting an experienced doctor.