Impotence Medication

Some types of impotence medication (such as Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis) are taken orally. While oral forms of impotence medication improve response to sexual stimulation, they do not trigger an automatic erection. Additional types of oral impotence medication are being tested for safety and effectiveness. Other forms of impotence medication are injected into the penis or inserted into the urethra.

 

Impotence Medication: An Overview

Medication for impotence (also known as erectile dysfunction, or ED) 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® as the first pill to treat impotence. Since that time, a couple other types of impotence medication -- vardenafil hydrochloride (Levitra®) and tadalafil (Cialis®) -- have also been approved.
 
Additional types of oral impotence medication are currently being tested for safety and effectiveness.
 

Impotence Medication: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis all belong to a class of impotence medication called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Taken an hour before sexual activity, this type of impotence medication works by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allows increased blood flow. While oral forms of impotence medication improve the response to sexual stimulation, they do not trigger an automatic erection as injections do.
 
The recommended dose for Viagra is 50 mg, although your doctor may adjust this dose to 100 mg or 25 mg, depending on your needs. The recommended dose for either Levitra or Cialis is 10 mg, and the physician may adjust this dose to 20 mg if 10 mg is insufficient. A lower dose of 5 mg is available for patients who take other medicines or who have conditions that may decrease the body's ability to use the drug. Levitra is also available in a 2.5 mg dose.
 
None of these PDE inhibitors should be used more than once a day. Men who take nitrate-based drugs, such as nitroglycerin for heart problems, should not use a pill form of impotence 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 impotence medication. 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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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD