How Do Erectile Dysfunction Medications Work?

Monday, August 25 2008

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra: How ED Medications Raise Your Spirits

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most frustrating conditions that a man can have. Whether it’s a result of age, medication or simply poor health, men want the symptoms of ED to disappear as quickly as they arrived. That’s why there are so many erectile dysfunction medications available today. But do you really know how these medications work inside the body and solve the one problem that men never want to have? Following is a brief explanation of these medications and what they do to help a man achieve and maintain an erection.

The Big Three

The three main medications prescribed for erectile dysfunction are:

• Viagra
• Cialis
• Levitra

That’s not to say that these are the only three, but your doctor will likely prescribe one of these to help you achieve and maintain an erection if you’ve been having problems doing that. Viagra was the first medication of its kind on the market. Although each of these three is used for the same basic result, they have subtle differences between them, such as:

• Levitra’s effects last for five hours. Viagra’s effects last for only four hours.
• It takes about 30 minutes for both Levitra and Viagra to start taking effect.
• Cialis only takes about 15 minutes to start working.
• The effects of Cialis can last up to 36 hours in some cases, much longer than Levitra and Viagra.
• If one medication doesn’t work for your ED, there is a good chance that one of the other options could work.

Researchers have not conducted major studies that directly compare the various effects that these three have on the body. These subtle differences are simply differences that have been observed by professionals and patients.

How an Erection Occurs

In order to learn how the little blue pill and the others help men overcome erectile dysfunction, it’s essential to know how a erection occurs. One of the main chemicals involved with an erection is the type 5 phosphodiesterase enzyme, otherwise known as PDE. This is a chemical located in the penile tissues and platelets that contribute to an erection. When an erection occurs, nitric oxide in the nerve endings is released, promoting muscle relaxation to allow blood flow into the penis. The nitric oxide then stimulates the guanylate cyclase enzyme which then helps accumulate cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). By causing a reduction in calcium levels in the muscle cells, the penis is allowed to become erect. The higher the levels of cGMP inside the cell, the more erect the penis becomes.

How the Medications Work

Although this sounds like a lot of technical mumbo jumbo, it provides a background for understanding how erectile dysfunction medications work.  Men who have problems with ED typically have the chemical cGMP broken down by the PDE5 enzyme in the penis. What Viagra and the other medications do is to actually block the ability of the PDE5 enzyme to break down the cGMP. By doing this, the penis is once again allowed to accumulate cGMP, which is so essential to achieving and maintaining an erection. But contrary to popular belief, these medications do not create an erection. Instead, they tend to enhance erections. They simply allow the chemicals within the penile tissues to interact and maintain an erection.

If you’ve been having problems with erectile dysfunction, you have several options available to you. You can visit your physician and get a prescription for one of these effective medications. If you’d rather speak with a licensed health professional in a more discreet and private manner, you can visit Viamedic.com. From there, you can get a prescription, have it filled and sent to your home without letting anybody around you know about your ED. Try it today and get back to having a normal sexual lifestyle