Recently, there have been some major shifts in the erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment landscape. One of these shifts revolves around the combination of Cialis and Viagra, previously considered to be two separate pills with two separate functions. A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that this combination may indeed be a good one for men with ED. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Cialis is the world’s #1 prescribed oral drug for ED and for treating patients with low blood pressure. Its main active ingredient, tadalafil, is a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor. PDEs are enzymes that break down cGMP, a chemical that helps relax the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, and increase blood flow throughout the body. By increasing blood flow, cGMP helps to improve the efficacy of Cialis in treating ED and other conditions.
Viagra, the ‘little blue pill’, is one of the most celebrated and popular erectile dysfunction medications of all time. It is a commonly prescribed drug that acts by increasing blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection. Like Cialis, Viagra is also a PDE inhibitor, but it is much more effective than Cialis at increasing blood flow to the penis and thus improving erectile function. As a result, Viagra is often referred to as a “super pill” for ED.
What Is the Combination Treatment of Cialis and Viagra?
The concept of combining ED treatments is not a new one. In fact, the combination of Cialis and Viagra is well established and has been around for over a decade. However, it was only recently that extensive research focused on studying the potential benefits of this combination, particularly in men with ED. The data from several clinical trials, including the Cialis–Viagra Interaction Analysis (CVIA) trial, suggest that this combination may indeed be an effective one for treating ED in some men. Furthermore, the researchers behind the JAMA article noted that there is preliminary evidence to suggest that this combination could be more effective than either drug used separately in the treatment of ED.
The CVIA trial is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies ever conducted in men with ED. The study enrolled over 4,500 participants who were either taking Cialis or had taken it in the past. Of these men, 35% had ED and were thus eligible to try the combination treatment of Cialis and Viagra. Additionally, all of these participants had low to moderate ED symptoms and were not responding well to other treatments. The remaining 65% had either mild or no symptoms of ED but were interested in trying the combination therapy because of the established efficacy and safety of Cialis and Viagra in treating ED.
Over a five-year period, the men in the trial were given either a daily dose of Cialis (10mg or 20mg) and Viagra (50mg or 100mg) or a placebo drug. The objective of the trial was to assess the safety and effectiveness of this combination in treating ED. After the trial, the participants were followed up for an additional two years to monitor the long-term effects of the drug combination.
How Effective is the Combination Treatment of Cialis and Viagra for ED?
In the CVIA trial, the researchers found that the men who took the combination of Cialis and Viagra had an average reduction in the severity of their ED of 37% at the end of the first year. Furthermore, the investigators noted that this benefit was sustained throughout the second and third year of the trial. This was even more impressive considering that the men in the trial had a baseline ED severity of 21 out of 38, indicating a “moderate” level of ED. Even more impressive is that 39% of the men in the trial had “marked” or “severe” ED at the start of the trial. At the end of the trial, just 16% of the participants still had severe ED.
As mentioned, it is well established that Cialis and Viagra are both effective treatments for ED. However, until recently, it was not clearly understood whether they worked better together or separately. The results from the CVIA trial provide evidence that they may in fact be a good duet rather than a “one-two punch”. The researchers found that the combination of Cialis and Viagra produced a greater and more sustained improvement in ED symptoms than when either drug was used individually. The researchers also noted that more men were able to continue their employment while being treated with the combination of Cialis and Viagra rather than with either of the drugs used separately.
Are There Any Side Effects to the Combination Treatment of Cialis and Viagra?
Side effects are one of the main concerns whenever a patient is prescribed a new drug or combination of drugs. Fortunately, the majority of the side effects related to the combination treatment of Cialis and Viagra are classed as ‘benign’ and do not require medical intervention. Some of the more common side effects of this drug combination include headache, flushing, and stuffy/congested nose. In some cases, the side effects were so benign that they were not even mentioned in the trial results. A much smaller proportion of the participants in the trial experienced ‘malignant’ side effects that were deemed serious enough to require medical attention. The most serious of these side effects included priapism (an erection that persists for more than six hours), which is a potentially life-threatening condition. There were also a small number of cases where men experienced a worsening of their ED with the combination treatment. However, in these cases, the men were able to successfully discontinue the treatment and have not experienced any serious side effects since then.
Overall, the combination treatment of Cialis and Viagra is a well-established and safe means of treating ED. The data from the CVIA trial show that, for some patients, this drug combination can provide significant and long-lasting relief from ED symptoms. It is important to keep in mind, however, that due to the small number of participants who experienced serious side effects rather than the vast majority who experienced only ‘benign’ side effects, that these findings cannot be applied to everyone with ED. Finally, it is essential to note that this drug combination should not be taken by men with hypertension or those who are allergic to any component of the combination.