Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a condition where the penis either is unable or struggles to achieve a strong enough erection for engaging in sexual intercourse.
People over the age of 50 are the most likely (but not the only ones!) to experience erectile dysfunction. ED is common and nothing to be ashamed about. Approximately one third of all males go through it at some point or another. ED doesn’t make you any less of a man and it can be treated. ED has been shown to commonly affect but isn't limited to Caucasian patients over other ethnicities.
Having erection issues from time to time is no reason to panic. If it becomes persistent, however, there are underlying conditions linked to ED of which you should be aware: alcohol or other substance abuse, stress, fatigue, overall blood flow, and even some medications can result in problems achieving an erection.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Symptoms
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Difficulty achieving erections often
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Persistent difficulty in maintaining erections
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Persistent lowered desire for sexual intercourse
Erectile Dysfunction Causes
There are many causes of ED and they can be either psychological or physical, these include:
| Psychological ED Causes | Physical ED Causes |
| Stress | Heart Disease |
| Relationship Issues | High Cholesterol |
| Depression | High Blood Pressure |
| Anxiety | Obesity |
| Feelings of Guilt | Diabetes |
| Low Self-Esteem | Tobacco Usage |
| Alcoholism | |
| Parkinson’s Disease | |
| Sleep Disorders | |
| Metabolic Syndrome |
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Risk Factors |
| Medical Conditions (Primarily Heart Conditions and Diabetes) |
| Tobacco Usage |
| Being Overweight or Obese |
| Injuries (Primarily ones that affect nerves or arteries) |
| Medical treatments (prostate surgery or cancer radiation) |
| Psychological conditions |
| Illicit drug or alcohol abuse |
| Medications (that treat mental health conditions, allergies, high blood pressure) |
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Diagnosis
ED can be diagnosed in various ways. Some diagnostics your healthcare provider could perform include:
| Physical examination | Your healthcare provider may examine your penis and testicles to check if your nerves are functioning properly. |
| Urine test | This is used to check for other underlying health conditions like diabetes. |
| Blood test | This is used to check for other underlying health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. |
| Ultrasound | This is used with a special device that's safely moved over your penis to check for proper blood flow. |
| Psychological exam | This identifies mental health conditions that could be a risk factor for ED. |
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Medication Treatments |
|||
| Generic Name (Brand) | Dosage | How do I take it? | When do I take it? |
| sildenafil (Viagra) | The normal dose for most men is 50mg but can go up to 100mg as needed. The normal dose for men over 65 years is 25mg. | Best taken on an empty stomach. Refrain from consuming grapefruit juice to avoid side effects. | Between 30 to 60 minutes before sex. Works for up to four hours. |
| tadalafil (Cialis) | Available in two dosing versions. The daily version is a 2.5mg and 5mg tablet taken daily; most men start with the lower dose. The “weekender” version comes in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg; The recommended starting dose is 10mg. | Can be taken with or without food. Avoid heavy drinking when taking Cialis, to avoid possible headaches, dizziness, heart racing, and lowered blood pressure. | The daily version is effective in between doses but can take 4 - 5 days before it begins working. The “weekender” version (20mg) can start working quickly within 30 minutes and it will work for up to 36 hours. |
| vardenafil (Levitra) | 10mg is the recommended starting dose for most men. Starting at 5mg is recommended often for men over 65. | Can be taken with or without food. Avoid anything containing grapefruit juice as it may worsen side effects. | One hour before sex. It will work for up to 4 - 5 hours. |
| vardenafil (Staxyn) | 10 mg tablet, do not exceed 1 tablet per day. | Place it directly on the tongue until dissolved without chewing. Avoid taking it with any liquid. | One hour before sex. It is a rapidly dissolving tablet (taken without water), much more discrete than other ED meds. |
| avanafil (Stendra) | The recommended starting dose is 100mg for most men. | Can be taken with or without food. Moderate consumption of alcohol is ok. Avoid drinking more than 3 glasses of wine, or 3 shots of whiskey. Drinking more than that can lead to headaches, dizziness, heart racing, and lowered blood pressure. | 30 minutes before sex. It will work for up to six hours. |
NOTE: Sildenafil can also be used to treat elevated blood pressure in the lungs, and is marketed under the name Revatio (sildenafil) for this use.
Compare Erectile Dysfunction Medication Prices
| Drug Name Strength |
U.S. Pharmacy Retail Price | U.S. Discount Card Price | Lowest Canadian Pharmacy Price | Lowest International Pharmacy Price | Greatest Percentage Savings |
|
Viagra
100 mg |
$3 119,70 | $2 432,76 | $437,19 | $171,56 | 94% |
|
Generic Viagra (sildenafil)
100 mg |
$956,78 | $52,20 | $137,04 | $10,71 | 98% |
|
Cialis
20 mg |
$3 349,27 | $1 611,45 | $513,24 | $269,98 | 91% |
|
Generic Cialis (tadalafil)
20 mg |
$58 372,58 | $14,29 | $144,62 | $11,56 | 99% |
|
Generic Levitra (vardenafil)
20 mg |
$766,42 | $88,80 | $279,69 | $10,90 | 98% |
This price data is updated daily. U.S. pharmacy retail price reflects a national average of out-of-pocket cost. All other pricing reflects that of the lowest price per pill multiplied by 30 for a quantity of 30 pills.
Common Indian Versions of ED medications
Here is a list comparing names marketed in the United States vs. in India. If you choose to order online, you may want to familiarize yourself with the international counterparts.
| US Brand Name (Generic Name) | Indian Brand Names | Turkish Brand Names | New Zealand Brand Names |
| Viagra (sildenafil) | Suhagra, Penegra, Kamagra, Caverta | Degra, Sildegra, Vigrande, Sinegra | Silvasta, Vedafil, Vivera, Apo-sildenafil |
| Cialis (tadalafil) | Tadacip, Modula, Megalis, Forzest | Afilta, Modula, Hardcis, Lifta | Cialis |
| Levitra (vardenafil) | Valif | Lovitrec | Levitra |
Warning: Cheap Erectile dysfunction (ED) Medication Marketed Online
ED medications popular on the internet, such as Cenforce (sildenafil), seem like an affordable option but may not be processed under high pharmacy standards to prove the drug is effective. For this reason, we recommend comparing costs among accredited international pharmacies.
The internet is full of rogue web operations that sell substandard or even counterfeit ED medications for cheap. Let us assuage your ordering anxiety with the PharmacyChecker Verification Portal. Feel free to type the URL of the website in question into our verification portal to check if it’s an accredited and trustworthy website.
A green checkmark means good to go
A red X means possibly dangerous
Pharmacist Advice On Taking ED Medication
1. Take your ED medication with a fasted/empty stomach if you can. If not, take it with a light meal that's not fatty because the fat in food can disrupt the absorption of the medication in your body and may result in it not working the best way it can.
2. ED medications work differently on everyone on desired results, don't be ashamed to let your healthcare provider know what works and what doesn't for you. There are several brand and generic versions to choose from.
3. f you experience a strong erection for longer than four hours, go to the emergency room immediately.
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