Tens of thousands of men have been taking the pills for erectile dysfunction in recent years, according to a new study published in the journalJournal of Sexual Medicine.
Researchers found that men who take Viagra and Cialis daily or for two years had an increased risk of erectile dysfunction, though the study found no risk of sexual dysfunction in men taking the erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra.
“Our findings suggest that the use of erectile dysfunction drugs may be linked to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction in men taking Viagra,” said lead author Kelly Smith, from the University of California, San Francisco, who led the study.
“The findings may provide additional clues that may help guide physicians in prescribing ED drugs in men with erectile dysfunction,” Smith said.
Viagra is a brand name for the erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra, which is also marketed under the brand name Cialis.
The study was conducted by the University of Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area Medical Center and the San Diego Sexual Health Alliance.
Researchers recruited 1,000 men between the ages of 18 and 64 who had erectile dysfunction and were taking sildenafil, a type of PDE5 inhibitor.
The men were randomly assigned to receive either a standard of care drug, which was taken orally, or Cialis, a generic version of the drug, which is sold under the brand name Viagra. They were asked to rate the ease of use as “very” or “very easy.”
The study found that men who took both medications had a significantly higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction than those who did not take either medication.
Researchers also found that men who took Viagra for a year had an increased risk of erectile dysfunction when compared with those who did not take the ED drug.
“When men with ED and with erectile dysfunction were asked about their sexual and overall health, they had an increased risk of sexual dysfunction, as well as a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction,” Smith said.
“Although these results may be suggestive, they do not necessarily imply that ED drugs should be used for this purpose.
“It is important to emphasize that the results from the study are preliminary and do not fully confirm the results of the study and do not support a recommendation for prescribing ED drugs in men with erectile dysfunction,” said lead author Andrea DeAngelis from the University of Southern California, who wasn’t involved with the study.
“We are not recommending these drugs in any particular patient group and it is important to note that these data have been collected in a very small number of men and it may not be representative of all men with erectile dysfunction,” Smith said.
The researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 men with erectile dysfunction who received either a standard of care or generic Viagra or Cialis.
They also analyzed data from 1,000 men who took a combination of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and Cialis, or Viagra, and who received a standard of care drug, or Cialis.
The researchers found that men who took both medications had an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
Viagra is sold under the brand name Viagra, which is the generic version of Cialis.
Researchers also looked at data from the men who took the ED drug and who had no symptoms of erectile dysfunction, as well as data from patients who took sildenafil and Cialis.
“It is important to note that the study was observational,” Smith said.
He said he is pleased that the researchers found no evidence to support their findings.
“This study has important implications for healthcare providers when prescribing medication for erectile dysfunction,” Smith said.
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— Amy Goldstein is a health writer who contributed to this article.
Image: Flickr user, CC.Photo credit: ShutterstockThe University of Chicago researchers say that they found no link between erectile dysfunction and Viagra, despite the fact that they have a “large amount of data to support their findings.”
The study’s authors, Dr. Amy Goldstein, from the University of Chicago, and colleagues are co-authors on an abstract of the paper, entitled “Erectile Dysfunction,” by Drs. Amy Goldstein and Emily Goldstein.
Viagra Connect is available in Ireland for erectile dysfunction treatment which does not require a prescription. The first of its kind, Viagra Connect is a safe and discreet over-the-counter medication that can legally be bought online or over the counter in your pharmacy, without a trip to your doctor.
We need to ensure that this medicine is suitable for the person it is intended for. Therefore, it should only be purchased by the person taking it.
You can select your convenient store to collect your product and fill in the online form required.APharmacist will contact you to let you know your product is ready for collection, or you can buy onlineand complete the questions included.
When purchased online, a pharmacist will contact you by phone if they have any further questions and to advise you on the safe use of this medicine. If they are unable to speak to you when required your order may be delayed or the pharmacy medicine part of your order cancelled.
Please ensure your contact details are correct before ordering this medicine.Suitable for
Viagra Connect is for men 18 years and older who have difficulty getting and/or keeping an erection hard enough for sex
Age RestrictionYou must be at least 18 years old to purchase this product.
Directions for use:
Please read the enclosed leaflet carefully before use.
• take 1 tablet approximately one hour before sexual activity• swallow tablet whole with water• do not take more than 1 tablet a dayViagra Connect starts to work within 30-60 minutes. You may take it up to 4 hours before sexual activity.
Hazards and Cautions
Do NOT take if you:
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking if you:
Action and/or side effects:
If you experience the following after taking this medication, use your pre ALSO pre tab to help you assess the risk of side effects:
Do not take more than the amount of medication you are recommended. Your pre SUB before taking this may not be alleneried after you take the most recent tablet.Caution:
Do not take more than the active drug. Do not take it with any other medicines containing sildenafil or tadalafil, as this combination may cause a serious side effect.
Do not use if you are taking or have taken more than one tablet of Viagra Connect.
Do not take more than the daily dose of Viagra Connect if you are not planning to have sex. The amount of time this takes to work after sexual activity may vary based on factors such as your age and any other factors you may not be able to monitor.
Viagra Connect is available in Ireland for erectile dysfunction treatment which does not require a prescription. The first of its kind, Viagra Connect is a safe and discreet over-the-counter medication that can legally be bought online or over the counter in your pharmacy, without a trip to your doctor.
We need to ensure that this medicine is suitable for the person it is intended for. Therefore, it should only be purchased by the person taking it.
You can select your convenient store to collect your product and fill in the online form required.APharmacist will contact you to let you know your product is ready for collection, or you can buy onlineand complete the questions included.
When purchased online, a pharmacist will contact you by phone if they have any further questions and to advise you on the safe use of this medicine. If they are unable to speak to you when required your order may be delayed or the pharmacy medicine part of your order cancelled.
Please ensure your contact details are correct before ordering this medicine.Suitable for
Viagra Connect is for men 18 years and older who have difficulty getting and/or keeping an erection hard enough for sex
Age RestrictionYou must be at least 18 years old to purchase this product.
Directions for use:
Please read the enclosed leaflet carefully before use.
• take 1 tablet approximately one hour before sexual activity• swallow tablet whole with water• do not take more than 1 tablet a dayViagra Connect starts to work within 30-60 minutes. You may take it up to 4 hours before sexual activity.
Hazards and Cautions
Do NOT take if you:
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking if you:
Active Ingredients
Viagra Connect is an over-the-counter product (OTC) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra Connect contains Sildenafil 50mg which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. It works by helping the blood vessels in your penis to relax and widen when you get sexually excited or when you get sexually aroused. When ED is controlled it allows for greater stimulation and is effective for a longer period of time than Viagra Connect.
ED is not a disease and cannot be treated. It is a diagnosis and condition treated before any sexual activity can be taken as normal.
Patient advocacy groups are calling on drug manufacturers to withdraw the popular erectile dysfunction drug Viagra from the market.
Pfizer Inc. said Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to stop taking Viagra, the generic version of its popular drug, after an analysis of more than 600 clinical trials showed that Viagra is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.
The FDA said that its clinical trials showed that Viagra was effective for patients with moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction who were taking medications to improve blood flow, but had not been able to obtain the medicine for more than six months.
“We’ve seen several patients in our clinical trials who were able to return to full-intensity erections, and they continued to experience improved sexual function,” Pfizer said in a statement.
The company noted that it has not received any reports of adverse events related to Viagra’s use, although there was an increase in blood flow to the penis and improved sexual function.
Pfizer said it has been in discussions with patients about possible alternatives to Viagra, but has not yet made any recommendation.
Viagra, the generic version of Pfizer’s popular erectile dysfunction drug, is the only erectile dysfunction drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for long-term use.
Stade de France Pharmacy