Sex Pills: Viagra And Other Oral Sex Medicine

Drugs for treating Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can be taken orally, injected directly into the penis or inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis. Viagra was the first pill to treat ED when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 1998. Later, vardenafil hydrochloride (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) were given the green light by the FDA to treat ED. Many other oral medicines are being tested for safety and effectiveness.

Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Viagra, Levitra and Cialis belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. The medication is generally taken an hour before any intended sex act, these drugs work by increasing the effects of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a chemical whose main function is to relax the smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allow increased blood flow.

Physical Effects

While there is no doubt that oral medicines improve the response to sexual stimulation, they do not trigger an automatic erection (as injections do). The advisable dose for Viagra is about 50 mg, though the physician may adjust this dose to a range of 25 to 100 mg depending on the patient. The advisable dose for Levitra or Cialis is about 10 mg, which can be increased to 20 mg if 10 mg turns out to be insufficient. A decreased dose of 5 mg (or as low as 2.25 mg) is available on the market for patients who take other medicines or have diseases that may decrease in the body's ability to use the drug.

No PDE inhibitors should be used more than once a day. It is mandatory that men who take nitrate-based drugs, such as nitro-glycerine for heart issues, should not use either drug because the combination can lead to a sudden decrease in blood pressure. In addition, it is recommended that you tell your doctor if you take any drugs known as alpha-blockers. These are mainly used to treat prostate enlargement or high blood pressure.

Often, oral testosterone can minimize ED in men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often ineffective and may lead to liver damage. Many patients are of the opinion that other oral drugs (namely yohimbine hydrochloride, dopamine, serotonin agonists, and trazodone) are pretty effective, but the results of scientific research studies have been inconsistent to say the least. Improvements may be instances of the placebo effect, a change that results from the patient's belief that an improvement will take place.