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Oral treatments for erectile dysfunction

CIALIS

LEVITRA

VIAGRA

UPRIMA

CIALIS

Treatment for Impotence

What is Cialis?

How does Cialis work?

How do you take Cialis?

What side effects may be associate with Cialis?

What side effects may be associate with Cialis?

What conditions may prevent a man using Cialis?

Can women take Cialis?

What happens if I increase the dose?

Can I drive while taking Cialis?

Treatment for Impotence

It is important to discuss with your doctor or specialist which treatment is right for you. Bear in mind that you and your partner will want a treatment that is acceptable to both of you and perhaps more importantly gives you the confidence in the results it will provide.

What is CIALIS?

Cialis (tadalafil) belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. It is an almond shaped yellow tablet with strengths of 10mg or 20mg. It is an oral tablet, which is swallowed. It is not an aphrodisiac and does not increase sexual desire. For Cialis to be effective, sexual stimulation is required.

How does CIALIS work?

Cialis works by helping the blood vessels in the penis to relax, allowing blood to flow into the penis causing an erection. For Cialis to be effective, sexual stimulation is required. Men who do not have erectile dysfunction should not take Cialis.

How do you take CIALIS?

Cialis is available in two strengths - 10mg and 20mg. The recommended starting dose is 10mg but your doctor may decide to start with 20mg depending upon your circumstances. The maximum dose is once per day. The tablet should be swallowed whole prior to anticipated sexual activity. The amount of time it takes to work varies from person to person. Within 30 minutes approximately 50% of men can get an erection if sexually stimulated. The ability to respond to sex stimulation can last for up to 36 hours.
This period of responsiveness can allow you to distance the taking of the medicine from the sexual activity.
Food and moderate amounts of alcohol do not interfere with the effectiveness of Cialis and as such it can be taken with or without food.
Remember, alcohol consumption can diminish sexual performance. Therefore in order to get the maximum benefit from the medication it is advisable not to drink large amounts of alcohol.

What side effects may be associated with CIALIS?

The manufacturers have tested the drug in over 3,000 patients in 16 clinical trials. When taken at the recommended dose, side effects are mild and transient. The most common side effects are headache and indigestion. Less common effects include flushing, stuffy nose, myalgia, dizziness and back ache.

Who cannot take CIALIS?

Patients who are taking any medicines containing nitrates. These are commonly prescribed for the relief of angina (chest pain). Cialis, in combination with nitrates, can lower blood pressure significantly leading to untoward effects. Patients should inform their doctor if they are taking any of these medicines or should ask if they are uncertain.

Patients with the following:

• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the drug Cialis;
• Men with cardiac disease of a severity where sex is inadvisable;
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) in the last 90 days;
• Unstable angina or angina occurring during sexual intercourse;
• Significant heart failure in the last 6 months;
• Uncontrolled arrhythmias, low or untreated high blood pressure;
• Stroke within the last 6 months.
• Cialis should not be taken with other erectile dysfunction treatments

What conditions may prevent a man using CIALIS?

Cialis should be used with caution in patients with:

• An abnormally formed penis.v
• Diseases that might result in prolonged erections e.g. Sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, or leukaemia.
• A history of postural hypotension.
• Severe kidney or liver disease

Can women take Cialis?

Cialis should not be taken by women as its safety in women has not been tested.

What happens if I increase the dose?

An increase in dose should always occur under close medical supervision. The recommended starting dose is 10mg. In people in whom 10mg does not produce an adequate effect, 20mg can be tried.
Clinical trials have shown that increasing the dose beyond the maximum recommended dose of 20mg simply increases the side effects and not the efficacy.

Can I drive while taking CIALIS?

The potential for Cialis to influence the ability to drive or operate machinery is expected to be negligible but patients should be aware of how they react to Cialis before undertaking such activity.

LEVITRA

Levitra is a new oral treatment for erectile dysfunction (impotence). This factsheet provides basic information on Levitra.

What is LEVITRA?

How does LEVITRA work?

How do you take LEVITRA?

What side effects may be associated with LEVITRA?

Who cannot take LEVITRA?

What conditions may prevent a man using LEVITRA?

Can women take LEVITRA?

What happens if I increase the dose?

Can I drive while taking LEVITRA?

Will it work for everyone?

What is LEVITRA?

Levitra (vardenafil) belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. It is a round shaped orange tablet with strengths of 5mg, 10mg or 20mg. It is an oral tablet, which is swallowed. It is not an aphrodisiac and does not increase sexual desire. For Levitra to be effective, sexual stimulation is required.

How does LEVITRA work?

Levitra works by helping to relax the blood vessels in the penis, allowing blood to flow into the penis causing an erection. Levitra will not give a man an erection spontaneously; it will only help a man to get an erection if he is sexually stimulated.

How do you take LEVITRA?

Levitra is available in three strengths 5mg, 10mg and 20mg. The initial dose is selected by the doctor who will assess the most appropriate dose for each patient based on a consultation.
Levitra normally works within 25-60 minutes, although some men will achieve an erection within 15 minutes. Within a 5 hour period after taking the tablet an erection should occur in response to sexual stimulation.
The action of Levitra is not generally affected by eating before taking the treatment (except where the meal has a fat content of 57% or greater) or by drinking alcohol, so men can eat or drink as they would normally before taking Levitra.
It is recommended that only one dose of Levitra is taken in a 24 hour period.

What side effects may be associated with LEVITRA?

The manufacturers have tested the drug in over 3,750 men in worldwide clinical trials. When taken at the recommended dose, side effects are mild and transient. The most common side effects are headache and facial flushing.

Who cannot take LEVITRA?

Patients who are taking any medicines containing nitrates. These are commonly prescribed for the relief of angina (chest pain). Levitra, in combination with nitrates, can lower blood pressure significantly leading to untoward effects. Patients should inform their doctor if they are taking any of these medicines or should ask if they are uncertain.

Patients with the following:

• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the drug Levitra;
• Men with cardiac disease of a severity where sex is inadvisable;
• Recent stroke, heart attack or low blood pressure;
• Unstable angina or angina occurring during sexual intercourse;
• Aged over 75 years and taking ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole or itraconazole (oral form)

Levitra should not be taken with other erectile dysfunction treatments.

What conditions may prevent a man using LEVITRA?

Levitra should be used with caution in patients with:

• An abnormally formed penis.
• Diseases that might result in prolonged erections e.g. Sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, or leukaemia.
• A history of postural hypotension.
• Severe kidney or liver disease

Can women take LEVITRA?

Levitra should not be taken by women as it is not licensed and its safety in women has not been tested.

What happens if I increase the dose?

An increase in dose should always occur under close medical supervision. Clinical trials have shown that increasing the dose beyond the maximum recommended dose of 20mg simply increases the side effects and not the efficacy.

Can I drive while taking LEVITRA?

As dizziness has been reported in clinical trials of Levitra, patients should be aware of how they react to the drug before they drive.

Will it work for everyone?

If Levitra does not help you to get an erection, or your erection does not last long enough for you to complete your chosen sexual activity you should tell your doctor, who will be able to advise you as to whether a dose increase is necessary to reach the desired effect.
Your doctor can also advise you on other possible treatment options.

VIAGRA

VIAGRA (sildenafil) was the first oral treatment for erectile dysfunction (impotence) to be licensed. This fact sheet provides basic information on VIAGRA; for more detailed information you should consult your doctor.

What is VIAGRA?

How does VIAGRA work?

How do you take VIAGRA?

What side effects may be associated with VIAGRA?

Who cannot take VIAGRA?

What conditions may prevent a man using VIAGRA?

Can women take VIAGRA?

What happens if I increase the dose?

Can I drive while taking VIAGRA?

Will it work for everyone?

What is VIAGRA?

VIAGRA belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. It is a blue, diamond shaped, oral tablet prescribed to treat men suffering from clinical erectile dysfunction. It is not an aphrodisiac and does not increase libido. VIAGRA has no effect in the absence of sexual stimulation.

How does VIAGRA work?

VIAGRA works by helping to relax the blood vessels in the penis, allowing blood to flow into the penis causing an erection. However, it will only help a man to get an erection if he is sexually stimulated. It should not be taken by men who do not have erectile dysfunction.

How do you take VIAGRA?

VIAGRA is available in three strengths - 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. The initial dose is selected by the doctor. VIAGRA should be swallowed whole with some water about an hour before anticipated sexual activity. The amount of time it takes to work varies from person to person, but on average it takes between 20 minutes to one hour. Within a 4 to 6 hour period after taking the tablet an erection should occur in response to sexual stimulation. A man may find that VIAGRA takes longer to work if taken with a heavy meal.
Alcohol consumption can temporarily interfere with the erection process. To get the maximum benefit from the medication it is advisable not to drink large amounts of alcohol before taking VIAGRA.
VIAGRA should not be used more than once a day. Do not take VIAGRA with other medicines unless your doctor tells you that you can.

What side effects may be associated with VIAGRA?

The manufacturers have tested the drug on nearly 4,000 men during 21 clinical trials. When taken at the recommended doses some side effects have been reported although they were generally mild to moderate and brief in length. The most common side effects are headache and facial flushing. Less commonly reported are indigestion, dizziness, stuffy nose and effects on vision (predominantly a blue colour tinge to vision and increased brightness of light or blurred vision).

Who cannot take VIAGRA?

Patients who are taking any medicines containing nitrates. These medicines are commonly prescribed for relief of angina pectoris "chest pain". In combination with VIAGRA they could seriously lower blood pressure. Patients should inform their Doctor if they are taking any of these medicines or ask if they are not certain.

Patients with the following:

• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the drug VIAGRA.
• Severe heart or liver problem.
• Recent stroke, heart attack, or low blood pressure.
• Certain rare inherited eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa).
• VIAGRA should not be taken in combination with other erectile dysfunction treatments.

What conditions may prevent a man using VIAGRA?

• An abnormally formed penis.
• Diseases that might result in prolonged erection e.g. sickle cell anaemia (an abnormality of red blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of bone marrow) or leukaemia (cancer of blood cells).
• Bleeding disorders (such as haemophilia) or peptic ulceration (stomach ulcer).

Can women take VIAGRA?

VIAGRA should not be taken by women. It is not licensed for use in women and it's safety in women has not been tested.

What happens if I increase the dose?

An increase in dose should always occur under close medical supervision. Clinical trials have shown that increasing the drug beyond the maximum recommended dose of 100mg simply increases the side effects and not the efficacy.

Can I drive while taking VIAGRA?

VIAGRA can cause dizziness and effects on vision. Patients should be aware of how they react to the drug before they drive or operate machinery.

Will it work for everyone?

If VIAGRA does not help you to get an erection, or your erection does not last long enough for you to complete your chosen sexual activity you should tell your doctor, who will be able to help. There are other effective treatment options available and information can be obtained from your doctor.

UPRIMA

It is important to discuss with your doctor or specialist which treatment is right for you. Bear in mind that you and your partner will want a treatment that is acceptable to both of you and perhaps more importantly gives you the confidence in the results it will provide.

What is UPRIMA?

How does UPRIMA work?

How do you take UPRIMA?

What side effects may be associated with UPRIMA?

Who cannot take UPRIMA?

What conditions may prevent a man using UPRIMA?

Can women take UPRIMA?

What happens if I increase the dose?

Can I drive while taking UPRIMA?

Will it work for everyone?

What is UPRIMA?

Uprima (Apomorphine Hydrochloride) is a light brown pentagon (2mg) or triangle (3mg) shaped tablet. It is designed to be taken orally by placing the tablet under the tongue, where it dissolves in about 10 minutes. It is not an aphrodisiac and does not increase sexual desire. For Uprima to be effective sexual stimulation is required.

How does UPRIMA work?

Uprima is placed under the tongue, where it dissolves and is absorbed. It then acts on a specific area in the brain known to be involved in the erectile process. Here it works via the body's natural signalling pathways and acts to enhance the signals which allow an erection to occur.

How do you take UPRIMA?

Uprima will be available in two strengths - 2mg and 3mg. The recommended starting dose is 2mg. Before taking Uprima it is advised to drink a small amount of water, this helps the tablet to dissolve. The tablet should then be placed under the tongue. In the majority of men the tablet will be completely dissolved within 10 minutes (if any residual amount remains in the mouth after 20 minutes It may be swallowed). If the tablet is swallowed immediately it will not be effective.
The amount of time it takes Uprima to work varies from person to person, but on average it takes between 10 minutes to 20 minutes.
Uprima dissolves under the tongue and is absorbed in the mouth; therefore the ability of the tablet to work and the time it takes to work is not affected by food/meals.
Alcohol consumption can diminish sexual performance. Therefore in order to get the maximum benefit from the medication it is advisable not to drink large amounts of alcohol before taking Uprima.

What side effects may be associated with UPRIMA?

The manufacturers have tested the drug on over 5,000 men during 21 clinical trials. When taken at the recommended doses some side effects have been reported although they were generally mild and transient. The most common side effects are nausea, headache and dizziness.

Who cannot take UPRIMA?

Patients with the following:

• Known hypersensitivity to any component of the drug Uprima
• Severe unstable angina.
• Recent heart attack.
• Severe heart failure or low blood pressure.
• Other conditions where sexual activity is inadvisable.
• In combination with other centrally-acting dopamine agonists or antagonists.

What conditions may prevent a man using UPRIMA?

Uprima should be used with caution in patients with:

• An abnormally formed penis (such as angulation, cavernosal fibrosis or Peyronie's Disease).
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure, low blood pressure
• A history of postural hypotension.
• Compromised renal or hepatic function.
• Patients taking medication for high blood pressure, nitrate medications.

Can women take UPRIMA?

Uprima should not be taken by women as its safety in women has not been tested

What happens if I increase the dose?

The recommended starting dose for Uprima is 2mg. The dose may increase on subsequent administrations to 3mg if necessary to reach the desired clinical effect.
Clinical trials have shown that increasing the dose beyond the maximum recommended dose of 3mg simply increases the side effects and not the efficacy.

Can I drive while taking UPRIMA?

Uprima can cause dizziness and light-headedness, therefore patients should not drive for at least 2 hours after taking Uprima or until such symptoms are fully resolved.

Will Uprima work for everyone?

If Uprima does not help you get the desired clinical effect you should tell your doctor, who will be able to advise you as to whether a dose increase on subsequent administrations to 3mg is necessary to reach the desired clinical effect. Your doctor can also advise you on other possible treatment options.