Treatment of erection problems and erectile dysfunction
The initial step for all men with erection problems has to be a reduction in alcohol
intake and cessation of smoking. Any indication of diabetes or the failure of
control of that condition needs to be monitored; if necessary, the drug regime
of the patient needs to be changed, although substitution of alternative anti-hypertensive
drugs seldom improves erectile function.
As you might expect, almost all men who
experience erectile
dysfunction will experience some degree of psychological effects, no matter what
the cause of their erection problems. Therapy and counseling is helpful and
needs to be conducted with the man and his partner. Counseling can both reassure the
impotent man and reduce the stress the couple are experiencing. Transient or temporary erection
problems rarely require medical intervention, although temporary use of Viagra
may be helpful in restoring sexual self-confidence.
Drug therapy for erection problems
Most men want to be treated with drugs: there are
many available. Yohimbine is not effective, because of its weak alpha adrenoreceptor blocking ability,
and its side effects of anxiety, raised pulse rate, sweating and possibly
headache.
Oral phentolamine and Apomorphine (a
dopamine receptor agonist) have received attention in some places, but the most
effective and safe drug so far for orally administered treatment of erectile
dysfunction is Sildenafil (Viagra).
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Sildenafil is phosphodiasterase
inhibitor which was developed for heart problems and then discovered to have the
ability to increase the number of erections in men in the study. It is rapidly absorbed after
being taken orally, and needs to be ingested 60 minutes before sex is expected
to take place;
its effects last for between four and eight hours.
The
drug is available in 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets: a standard dose would be 50 mg,
which suits most men.
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