There are a number of prescription drug treatments many men currently use to treat symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. As is always the case with drugs, some treatments are better than others. However, men who suffer from Erectile Dysfunction often make their decisions for the drug treatment they will use based on the recommendation of a personal physician or on word-of-mouth.
Of course, the better choice for men is the drug suggested to them by their doctor. In any event, the following is a listing of drug treatments currently in use.
To begin:
Testosterone Replacement Therapy … Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and, when men reach – and pass – age 30, the testosterone their body produces begins to decrease at a rate of 1% to 2% annually. It may sound insignificant, but the truth is that this is an important loss. This decline in the production of testosterone, which is known as Andropause, or male menopause, differs from female menopause because it occurs much more slowly and doesn’t necessarily have the same debilitating effect on all men the way menopause affects virtually all women.
In fact, many men in their 70s enjoy testosterone levels equal to those of men who are still in their 30s. Nevertheless, most men, once they learn the truth about declining testosterone levels, become interested in slowing or reversing the development (or loss of testosterone) with Testosterone Treatment Therapy. Importantly, the treatment only helps men with abnormally low levels of testosterone … and there can be risks involved.
Here are the Dangers Associated with Testosterone Replacement Therapy
There are a number of side effects attributed to the use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. The most important one is that it can worsen prostate disease if you suffer from it when the “therapy” takes place. The danger is not automatically evident to most men for the simple reason that they often don’t even know that they have small, hard-to-find prostate cancers.
Those cancers, while generally not immediately dangerous, tend to grow and can develop into a mortal threat – or, put another way, become life-threatening – when a man subjects himself to Testosterone Replacement Therapy.
There is a secondary problem associated with the treatment. It is this: the introduction of testosterone into the body can have a direct effect on benign, non-cancerous prostate hyperplasia (or enlarged prostate). It can make the prostate even larger. And that can lead to daily, almost continuous discomfort.
And yet, there is an appropriate use for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. It is best suited for men whose blood tests indicate very low levels of testosterone and who currently have a healthy, disease-free prostate. The treatment is safe for men who fall into this category, but even they should submit to periodic physical check-ups to make certain they have not developed prostate cancer.
Remember: early detection and treatment can overcome cancer … even cancer of the prostate.
Here is something else you need to know. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can help men who suffer from Erectile Dysfunction that occurs as a direct result of abnormally low testosterone levels. That’s because, testosterone, which greatly differs from other drugs that increase blood flow to the penis, actually works to correct and overcome a man’s hormonal deficiency.
Available in a variety of forms, testosterone is most often taken by affected males – as a pill, a patch, a topical cream or by injection. Please note: there are often side effects that are directly related to its use. These include: liver dysfunction, an increased red blood cell count, an increased risk of stroke and a gradual enlargement of the prostate.
Here are some other common drug treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
There are a number of other drugs doctors prescribe for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction, most of which increase the flow of blood to the penis. They can be taken orally or applied locally, by injection or insertion directly into the penis. Here is the short list:
Sildenafil is an extremely popular prescription drug, used by millions of men to treat their Erectile Dysfunction. Taken orally, it works quickly to increase the frequency and rigidity of erections … so it achieves its objective. Importantly, the erections occur about 30 to 60 minutes after the drug is taken and they last from ten minutes to about a half hour. Here is something you need to know. The drug works only when the man who takes it is already sexually roused. And there are side effects associated with the use of Sildenafil. They are headaches, runny nose, upset stomach, even vision-related problems. If Sildenafil is taken with other drugs (such as nitroglycerin or amyl nitrate), the side effects can become more serious and risky. In such cases, the result may be dangerously low blood pressure.
Pharmaceutical companies continue to work on the development of new drugs to treat this unfortunate problem and breakthroughs are likely in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile … there are currently other prescription drugs that some physicians are using to treat Erectile Dysfunction. These include: phentolamine yohimbine and, of course, testosterone.
Phentolamine is used by some doctors to treat Erectile Dysfunction, but is less effective than Sildenafil. Yohimbine is given to men whose psychological problems affect their ability to engage in sexual intercourse. This drug produces side effects that can be troubling to the patient. They include: anxiety, shaking, rapid heart rate and an increase in blood pressure. Moreover, the drug has proven to be only minimally effective.
There are also drugs in use that are injected or inserted directly into the penis in order to widen the arteries and increase blood flow, a result that will lead to a satisfactory erection.
Finally, there is Alprostadil. This prescription drug is actually a pellet (suppository) that is inserted into the penis through the urethra. When used alone, it can produce an erection. When used in conjunction with another treatment, such as binding, this drug can be dramatically more effective.
There is a negative. Alprostradil can produce such side effects as light-headedness, a burning sensation in the penis, even a prolonged, but painful, erection called a priapism.
The point is this: if you suffer from Erectile Dysfunction, there are treatments available that can help you overcome the problem and regain your quality of life. But it is better to look for herbal, more natural treatment options available.
