Erectile Dysfunction Medication: An Overview
Erectile dysfunction medication can be taken orally, injected directly into the penis, or inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis.
In March 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
Viagra®, the first pill to treat erectile dysfunction (
ED). Since that time,
vardenafil hydrochloride (
Levitra®) and
tadalafil (
Cialis®) have also been approved as erectile dysfunction medication.
Additional types of oral erectile dysfunction medication are being tested for safety and effectiveness.
Erectile Dysfunction Medication: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis all belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Taken an hour before sexual activity, this type of erectile dysfunction medication works by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allows for increased blood flow. While oral forms of erectile dysfunction medication improve the response to sexual stimulation, they do not trigger an automatic erection as injections do.
None of these PDE inhibitors should be used more than once a day. If you take nitrate-based drugs, such as nitroglycerin for heart problems, you should not use a pill form of erectile dysfunction medication, because the combination can cause a sudden drop in
blood pressure. Also, tell your doctor if you take any drugs called alpha-blockers, which are used to treat an
enlarged prostate (
BPH) or
high blood pressure. If you do, your doctor may need to adjust your
erectile dysfunction treatment. Taking a PDE inhibitor and an alpha-blocker at the same time (within 4 hours) can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.
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