Below are some medications for erectile dysfunction. Find the best cure for you now!

1. Oral medications

Oral medications require a certain amount of time before it takes effect. A person taking oral medication for erectile dysfunction should take it at least an hour before sexual activity.

Below are drugs known as phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitors. These drugs work mainly by blocking the enzyme PDE5, thus maintaining the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP). Intake of these medications, coupled with sexual stimulation, increases the blood flow in the penis, causing erection.

Incidentally, these are also FDA-approved drugs.

PDE5 Inhibitors as Medications for Erectile Dysfunction:

Medication Developer / Distributor Unique Selling Proposition Duration Common Side Effects

Sildenafil (Viagra) Pfizer First oral medication for erectile dysfunction approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; brand name Viagra is more commonly known than its competitors 4-5 hours Headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, impaired vision(Applicable for all PDE5 inhibitors.)

Vardenafil (Levitra; Vivanza) Bayer Pharmaceuticals (Levitra); GSK (Vivanza, another brand of vardenafil) Nausea (Unique to this drug only.)

Tadalafil (Cialis) Lilly ICOS, LLC Known as “The Weekend Pill” because it lasts longer than Viagra and Levitra 36 hours Back pain, muscle aches
(Onset 12-24 hours after use and usually lasts up to 48 hours.)

To get a hold on these drugs, doctor's prescription is necessary.

2. Injected Medications

Unlike oral medications, injected medications for erectile dysfunction take effect automatically.

Ways to administer injected medications for erectile dysfunction:

a. Inject directly into the penis.

Injecting drugs directly into the penis causes the blood vessels to widen, allowing blood increase to flow into the organ, thus providing it with a sufficient amount of blood needed to sustain an erection. Most men achieve stronger erections when using injected medications.

b. Inject into the urethra (Muse system)

Drug is injected about an inch deep into the urethra.

Side effects are inevitable with this type of medication, especially if the instruments used are not sterilized. Most common side effects for injected medications are:

• Scarring

• Redness

• Tenderness and swelling

• Minor bleeding or spotting

• Priapism or persistent and painful erection

• Allergic reactions such as rashes, itching, dizziness, and difficulty in breathing

• *For Urethral Injection:

- Burning sensation in the urethra

Standard drugs used as injected medications for erectile dysfunction are:

• Alprostadil (i.e. Caverject, Edex)

• Phentolamine

• Papaverine

Alpostadil as medication for erectile dysfunction:

• Safe to use even for men with medical conditions such as diabetes

• Safe for men taking nitrate-based medications and prostate cancer treatments

• Unsafe for men with penile implants

• Should be taken at a maximum of 3 times per week (allowing one day rest period between for each injection)

3. Topical Medications

An example for this type of medication is nitroglycerin. This acts as a muscle relaxant which, when rubbed on the penis, can enhance erection.

Another example of a topical medication for erectile dysfunction is the TriMix Gel. A research showed that men who did not get the desired effect from oral medications such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, got a better response from this medication.

Precautionary measures to take when using TriMix Gel:

• Use a condom to prevent your partner from having an allergic reaction, especially if pregnant or sensitive to prostaglandin.

• Do not use if you yourself are sensitive to prostaglanding. Consult your doctor before using this type of medication.

• Be sure to wash your hands before applying the medication.

• Clean the tip of your penis before applying medication.

• Do not put more than necessary.