Erectile Dysfunction Pills: Pros And Cons

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on June 20, 2022

Did you know that, according to studies, having regular sex may help boost heart health? It may even aid in lowering one's blood pressure and risk for type 2 diabetes. Those benefits, in turn, may be due to how sexual activity counts as cardio.

Unfortunately, having erectile dysfunction (ED) can prevent men from enjoying sex. Worse, ED is no longer an aging-related condition. A Canadian doctor even reported half of their ED patients are under 40.

Fortunately, erectile dysfunction pills may help. Doctors prescribe them to aid ED patients in achieving an erection.

However, like any other drug with benefits, ED pills also have adverse effects. That's why it's imperative to see a doctor to get their professional advice first.

So, what are the good and bad sides of ED pills? Read on as we discuss what you need to know below.

In this article, we talk about the following:

• What are erectile dysfunction pills?
• How do erectile dysfunction pills work?
• What are the benefits of ED pills?
• What potential side effects can you expect?
• What are available erectile dysfunction pills?
• How do you choose the right ED pill?
• How do you get the most out of your ED pill?

What Are Erectile Dysfunction Pills?

Erectile dysfunction pills are oral medications (taken by mouth). Doctors often prescribe them as a first-line of treatment for ED.

ED, in turn, is a condition that causes penile erection problems. For example, some men with ED may have trouble achieving an erection. Others do but can't keep it firmness long enough for sexual activity.

How Do Erectile Dysfunction Pills Work?

Erectile dysfunction pills fall under a class of drugs known as PDE-5 inhibitors. PDE-5, in turn, stands for phosphodiesterase type 5 and is an enzyme. It's mainly in the corpus cavernosum, the spongy tissue running through the shaft of the penis.

One of the roles of PDE-5 is to regulate signalling in physiological processes. These include the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles.

Unfortunately, PDE-5 can affect penile erection in men with erectile dysfunction. For this reason, inhibiting this enzyme can alter certain PDE-5 activities.

Read more: Erectile Dysfunction Foods

The goal of ED pills is to inhibit PDE-5, hence their name "PDE-5 inhibitors."

Moreover, ED pills may boost the effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced in the body. NO is a chemical that relaxes the muscles and blood vessels in the penis. That may improve the blood flow to the penis, possibly resulting in an erection.

So, doctors prescribe erectile dysfunction pills to men who can't get erections. The aim is to use the medications to improve blood flow to the penis during sexual arousal.

Note that sexual arousal is a critical prerequisite for ED pills to work. So if a man doesn't feel such, the medications are unlikely to help.

Read more about other ED remedies:

• CBD Oil
• Ginseng
• Oils
• Olive Oil
• Garlic
• Ashwagandha
• Juice

What Are the Benefits of ED Pills?

Having ED, regardless of your age, doesn't have to stop you from enjoying sexual activity. If it's stopping you from doing so, it's best to seek professional medical help to see if ED pills are the right choice. Besides, numerous studies have reported that, as long as taken correctly, they can help with ED.

May Help Improve ED Symptoms

The primary benefit of taking ED pills is their potential to help promote an erection. The Alberta Health Services even notes that out of 100 men who take these medications, 70 get an erection. They also maintain it long enough to enjoy successful sexual intercourse.

Conversely, the remaining 30% may not see the results they want from taking ED pills. However, that doesn't automatically mean you're part of that group. Thus, you should speak to a doctor to see if they could help improve your symptoms.

May Help With Difficult-to-Treat ED

There's also evidence that PDE-5 inhibitors may help patients with difficult-to-treat ED. In addition, researchers found that they are safe for those with severe ED.

If you've tried other erectile dysfunction treatments to no avail, talk to a doctor ASAP. A licensed physician can confirm if ED pills can help in your case.

Potential To Increase Sexual Activity

Some of the millions of Canadian men with erectile dysfunction also experience anxiety.

Anxiety may result from having ED or the thought of not being able to get an erection. Conversely, this mental condition may also trigger or have a worsening effect on ED.

Either way, feeling anxious before or during sex may impact your erections. It may then reach a point wherein you feel too worried that you choose not to have sex anymore.

In such instances, it's wise to consult a doctor about your ED and anxiety. Your doctor may prescribe ED pills to help improve your erections. And if it helps, you might feel less anxious whenever you want to have sex.

Ultimately, that may help you feel more inclined to have sex and to do it more often.

Read more: Erectile Dysfunction Creams

What Potential Side Effects Can You Expect?

Many men who take oral erectile dysfunction pills don't experience side effects. However, there are still some who do develop adverse effects.

The following are some of the most common side effects of taking ED pills:

• Headaches and dizziness
• Flushing
• Indigestion
• Light sensitivity
• Vision changes like blurriness
• Stuffy nose
• Body aches

Fortunately, most adverse effects of taking ED pills are minor and usually go away after a few hours.

What Are Available Erectile Dysfunction Pills?

Viagra, with the generic name sildenafil, is one of the most popular ED pills. Its popularity is likely due to the drug being the first of its kind approved in Canada. Health Canada first approved it in 1999, a year after the FDA approved it in the United States.

This article is written for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided in the articles cannot and should not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Talk to your healthcare provider about any physical or mental health concerns or the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.

Cialis or tadalafil is another ED medication Canadian doctors often prescribe. It works much like Viagra, but it comes in lower dosage options. For this reason, your doctor may prescribe this drug for daily or as-needed use.

Another option is Levitra, which is also available in the generic form of vardenafil. It's a PDE-5 inhibitor like Viagra and Cialis, so it has a similar mode of action. If your doctor prescribes you vardenafil, you likely have to take it only as needed.

How Do You Choose the Right ED Pill?

Your best and safest bet is to seek the advice of a licensed physician. A good reason is that, while ED pills may be effective, they can interact with many drugs. For instance, Viagra can have dangerous interactions with antihypertensive drugs or alpha-blockers.

Another reason to choose an ED pill with the help of a doctor is to learn how each one can affect you. After all, while ED drugs work similarly, they have slightly varying chemical makeup. So, your doctor may find that one option may be better for you than the rest.

Speaking of efficacy, some researchers say that Viagra is the most effective. However, there's a catch: it has also shown to have a higher rate of causing side effects. In this case, ask your doctor if Cialis may be better for you, as you can get it in a much lower dose.

Besides, you can only purchase erectile dysfunction pills with a valid prescription. And such a document can only be valid if written and signed by a licensed physician.

How Do You Get the Most Out of ED Pills?

First, follow your doctor's instructions on dosing and when to take your ED pill. For example, if your physician tells you to take a 5mg dose of Cialis daily, then do precisely that. Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you take it at about the same time every day.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind when taking ED pills.

Avoid Massive Meals

It might help if you avoid having a big meal immediately before or after taking an ED pill. In particular, steer clear from high-fat meals, as they can affect the release of the ED drug in your system. That can result in the medication requiring more time to kick in or take effect.

Give Them Time

If your doctor instructs you to take ED pills as needed, pay attention to when you take them. The time it takes for them to work varies, after all. For example, Viagra and Levitra require about half an hour to work, while Cialis needs at least two hours.

Give Them Another Shot

Likewise, give your body a chance to get accustomed to your prescribed ED pills. Sometimes, taking an ED drug for the first time doesn't always yield the desired results. However, that may be due to other factors, not the drug itself.

For example, an ED pill won't work if you don't feel aroused enough. The same goes if you drank too much alcohol before taking your dose.

So, before taking your next dose, ensure you avoid doing what you did before. You can then note the results after.

If it still fails, talk to your doctor about increasing your dose or switching to another drug.

Find Relief With Erectile Dysfunction Pills

And there you have it, your ultimate guide on erectile dysfunction pills. Now you know that doctors prescribe them to patients with ED. You've also learned that studies provide evidence of their efficacy and safety.

So, why not speak to a doctor about your ED and treatment options? The sooner you do, the sooner the medical expert can assist you.

If you're ready for a consultation, we at UPGUYS can connect you to a licensed Canadian physician. After that, you can check out and select your prescribed ED medication from our site. 

Connect to UPGUYS today!

Read more about different therapies for ED:

• Massages
• Stem Cell Therapy
• Red Light Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• PRP
• Injections
• Pumps
• Shockwave Therapy
• ED Surgery