If you’re looking for a medication to treat your erectile dysfunction (ED), you might wonder what exactly goes into Viagra. Is it just the Sildenafil citrate, as the name would have you believe? Or does it contain something more? Let’s take a closer look.
Sildenafil Citrate
Sildenafil citrate, or simply “Sildenafil” for short, is the key ingredient in Viagra as well as other medications sold under the drug brand name Revatio. Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), an enzyme that breaks down cGMP, a molecule which helps to relax the muscles in the penis and allows for an easier flow of blood into the penis. Sildenafil is a prescription medication, and it is extremely effective at increasing erections in menopausal women as well as in men with ED.
Cialis
Cialis is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of erectile dysfunction and is also marketed in Europe as a treatment for men with mild to moderate symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Like Sildenafil, Cialis contains the PDE-5 inhibitor tadalafil, but it is slightly less potent. Due to its enhanced safety profile compared to Sildenafil, Cialis is sometimes prescribed for men with heart conditions or diabetes, or for those who have had a stroke or heart attack. Like Sildenafil, Cialis has proven effective in treating erectile dysfunction in men and their partners. However, Cialis has a longer half-life than Sildenafil, which means that it stays in your system longer. This, in turn, can cause more side effects. If you’re taking Cialis, make sure that you consult your physician about any possible interactions that you might have with your medications.
Tamsulosin
Tamsulosin is a medication used to treat urinary obstruction caused by enlargement of the prostate gland. It is also marketed for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in the United States. Prostate obstruction and BPH are both common causes of erectile dysfunction in older men. But while tamsulosin is helpful for these conditions, it has very little effect on erectile function. Instead, it works by relaxing the bladder and its surrounding muscles.
In general, tamsulosin is considered safe and generally well-tolerated by patients. But like most medications, it has the potential to cause serious side effects, including hypotension (low blood pressure), dizziness, and fainting. These are all conditions that you need to watch out for, as they can be symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. If you experience any of these side effects while taking tamsulosin, your physician should be notified immediately.
Vardenafil
Vardenafil is another medication approved by the FDA for treatment of erectile dysfunction and is also marketed in the United Kingdom as Effortil for treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Vardenafil is a prescription medication that is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) and works in a similar fashion to tadalafil and Sildenafil, by increasing the blood flow into the penis and causing it to engorge with blood. Vardenafil is also a medication that has been shown to be effective at improving erectile dysfunction in men with heart disease. However, like tadalafil and Sildenafil, the effect of Vardenafil on erectile function is relatively short-lived.
When taken orally, Vardenafil is completely absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and quickly reaches the blood stream. But because it is a prescription medication and is controlled strictly by the FDA, the exact time that it takes for the drug to reach its maximum efficacy is unknown. However, it is generally accepted that Vardenafil starts working in as little as 10 minutes and continues to do so for roughly 3 hours. After 3 hours have passed, the medication’s effects will begin to taper off. Because Vardenafil is a PDE-5 inhibitor, it can cause allergic reactions in some people. Similar to other medications mentioned here, Vardenafil has the potential to cause side effects, including headache, flushing, and nasal congestion. If you experience any of these side effects while taking Vardenafil, discontinue use and contact your physician immediately.
Like the other medications mentioned here, Vardenafil is a useful medication in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. But because it is a prescription medication, it can be difficult to find a non-prescription version for sale at local pharmacies. This is largely due to the fact that all of these medications have been shown to be effective as ED treatments and, therefore, they are all considered “brand-name” medications, which makes them more difficult to purchase over-the-counter.
Terazosin
Terazosin is a medication used to treat urinary obstruction caused by enlargement of the prostate gland. It is also marketed for treatment of BPH in the United States. Much like tamsulosin, terazosin is also used to treat prostatic obstruction and BPH, which are both common causes of erectile dysfunction in older men. Like tamsulosin and the other medications mentioned here, terazosin inhibits phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), which results in increased blood flow into the penis. However, unlike the other medications, terazosin has an additional action, which is to directly relax the muscles in the arteries of the bladder. This allows for more complete urine flow while preventing urine from back-flowing into the kidneys. As a result of its direct effect on the bladder muscles, many patients experience an improvement in the quality of their lives while taking terazosin. Like most medications, terazosin is considered safe and generally well-tolerated by patients. But like most medications, it has the potential to cause serious side effects, including hypotension (low blood pressure), dizziness, fainting, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. If you experience any of these side effects while taking terazosin, your physician should be notified immediately.
Methyldopa
Methyldopa is an oral medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also known to improve erectile function in men and women with diabetes. One of the primary active ingredients in methyldopa is para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). PABA is a substance which naturally occurs in your body and is responsible for the chemical communication that takes place within your nervous system. While methyldopa is effective at increasing blood flow into the penile area in both men and women, it has very little effect on erectile function in men with normal blood pressure.
In general, methyldopa is well-tolerated by patients and is considered safe and effective at treating hypertension. But like most medications, it has the potential to cause side effects. These can include headache, dry mouth, drowsiness, and depression. If you experience any of these side effects while taking methyldopa, discontinue use and contact your physician immediately.
Alprostadil
Alprostadil is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men with prostate problems. It is also approved in Canada and the United Kingdom as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and is marketed in other countries, including the United States, for treatment of cervical dysplasia (premature development of the cervical glands).
Like the other medications mentioned here, Alprostadil works in a similar fashion to increase blood flow into the penis and cause it to engorge with blood. The difference is that instead of targeting the PDE-5 enzyme, Alprostadil is a direct relaxant of the penile arteries. This allows for a more reliable and long-lasting effect compared to the other medications mentioned here. But Alprostadil has a relatively short half-life compared to the other medications and, as a result, requires a more frequent administration.
When taken orally, Alprostadil is completely absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and quickly reaches the blood stream. Similar to other medications, Alprostadil is a medication that has the potential to cause side effects, including headache, flushing, and nasal congestion. If you experience any of these side effects while taking oral Alprostadil, discontinue use and contact your physician immediately.