The commonest of all sexual problems that men are increasingly facing these days--thanks to excessive stressful and sedentary lifestyle---is known as erectile dysfunction that may range from total inability to achieve firmness of the penis to an inconsistent ability to do so, or an inability to sustain erections beyond a brief while.

Whatever may be the case, the most important thing about the whole issue is: erectile dysfunction in any form is treatable irrespective of your age. And modern medical science has opened up a plethora of approaches to treat this physical and often mental dysfunction of men. However, despite various new products and surgical techniques, the drugs are by far the first choice of the patient as well as the practitioner. Here is a brief introduction to several drugs that have the power to give back the fulfilling life that you always aspired for.

March 1998...marked a milestone of sort in the medical history. This is the time when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Viagra, the first oral pill to treat ED. The ground breaking development was followed by the launch of two more drugs to treat ED. vardenafil hydrochloride (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis). In addition to the oral drugs, the ED medications can also be injected directly into the penis. In some cases, drugs are inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis. All these drugs have passed the FDA standard for safety as well as their effectiveness.

If you want to ignite your sexual pleasure, you have to consume these drugs such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis at least an hour before intimacy. Let's explain the secret behind their magical actions: the drugs enhance the effects of nitric oxide. This results in relaxation of the muscles in the penis on the one hand and the increase in the blood flow on the other. This increased blood flow results in firmer and longer erection.

All these ED treating drugs belong to the family of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. For an otherwise healthy patient, recommended dosage of Viagra is 50 mg. However dosage may vary from 100 mg or 25 mg depending on the condition of the patient.

But the FDA warns the patients against using any of these PDE inhibitors more than once a day. Then the heart patients under nitrate-based medications such as nitroglycerin for are restricted from using these drugs as it may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. The same effect can be caused by another type of drug called alpha-blockers which are taken to treat prostate enlargement or high blood pressure. So it is important to inform your doctor about your current medications, so that the ED prescription is not in the clash with the other drugs.