New Study Regarding ED Drugs and Vision Side Effects

Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra share similar mild side effects like upset stomach and headache. They also share similar serious, but rare, side effects like bluish vision, or at least some reports in the past have claimed this to be the case. According to a new study, vision was unaffected in men who took the erectile dysfunction drugs.

To examine the effect of ED drugs on vision, a study was conducted on a group of 244 men with erectile dysfunction. These men were healthy and had no vision problems. During the course of six months, the men were given comprehensive eye exams to monitor any vision changes in response to taking ED medication. The study concluded that no significant vision change was noted from taking the drugs.

The researchers who conducted this study acknowledge a shortcoming in their study – the dosage used in this study was lower than in studies where vision changes were recorded. It should also be noted that this was a company-funded study, so one can certainly question the importance, if any, this study has.

Herbal Viagra

A wide variety of erectile dysfunction treatment options are on the market (both legal and illegal). Of course, the three main products are Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, the three FDA-approved ED treatments. Then, there are counterfeit medications, which sometimes go under the disguise of “generic” versions of the authentic medications. A product that is being seen more and more is something called “herbal Viagra.”

But what is herbal Viagra?

Aside from claiming to treat erectile dysfunction, the products known as herbal Viagra have no relation to the brand Viagra. In fact, these products do not even contain sildenafil citrate, the key ingredient in Viagra. Rather, these products are composed of a variety of ingredients, supposedly herbal or “natural” ingredients. However, because these products aren’t regulated, the ingredients are usually unknown.

People turn to herbal Viagra for a “natural” treatment for their erectile dysfunction. However, many of these products are far from “natural.” Medications coming from foreign countries that aren’t regulated by the FDA pose potential health risks. Just recently, a Chinese product advertised as “Herbal Viagra” that sold all over the United Kingdom was found to contain dangerous amounts prescription pharmaceutical ingredients. This posed serious health risks, like heart problems, to users of the medication.
The FDA cracked down on “herbal” pills in 2006, banning 8 pills that were found to contain prescription ingredients similar to prescription Viagra.

Unfortunately, these “herbal remedies” have a tendency to be far from herbal, and therefore pose serious health risks just like counterfeit medications do. It’s always the safe and healthy choice to purchase medication that is regulated by the FDA, rather than purchasing mystery pills that may or may not have the desired effect, and may or may not cause serious health problems.

The Danger Of Priapism

You’ve probably heard about the condition known as priapism. At the very least, you’ve more than likely heard it listed as a potential, but unlikely, side effect on TV commercials for Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. For those of you who are unfamiliar with priapism, this is a medical condition when the penis remains in an erect state for more than four hours, and does not return to its flaccid state. While many joke about how wonderful it would be to have an erection for four hours, priapism is a dangerous condition, and is considered a medical emergency.

Priapism occurs when blood becomes trapped in the penis. This depletes oxygen levels, which can be toxic to the penile tissues. Damage to these tissues can cause erectile dysfunction, permanent disfigurement, and even worse, gangrene!

The cause of priapism is unfortunately poorly understood. Certain disorders, diseases, and erectile dysfunction medications MAY be to blame for priapism, but research is still being done to pinpoint the real causes. A farmer in Peru recently underwent emergency surgery to relieve him of an erection that had lasted for a painful eight days. According to the man’s doctor, the farmer had not taken any erectile dysfunction medications, and the cause of the man’s condition was unknown.

While some men may dream of lasting all night long, priapism is not something one should desire. If you experience an erection lasting longer than four hours, seek medical attention immediately! Don’t be like the Peruvian farmer waiting for eight days before getting help. The longer medical attention is delayed, the more likely you are to experience permanent damage to your penis, and nobody dreams about that.

Erectile Dysfunction and Teenagers

Most people have heard about the health issue known as erectile dysfunction (ED), though many don’t understand just how many individuals are affected by this dysfunction. According to the National Institutes of Health, 10%-20% of the U.S. male population suffers from ED. The term “erectile dysfunction” brings to mind a health condition that affects older men, but ED can occur at any age. While erectile dysfunction is more common in the elderly, the condition can also occur in teenage boys.

Erectile dysfunction in teenagers has been blamed on psychological problems due to things like hormones, bad sexual experiences in the past, or loss of confidence. However, the first-ever study evaluating erectile dysfunction in teens recently found that the physical problems that can be to blame for ED in adults can also be the cause of ED in teenagers.

The study, led by Dr. John P. Mulhall, evaluated 40 teens, ranging from ages 14-19. A surprising 30% of these boys were found to have blood vessel problems affecting penile blood flow. Hormone therapy or vascular surgery are possible treatments when a physical cause of ED has been determined. For those teens suffering from psychological ED, medication is usually a first step. Psychotherapy is also an option. The goal when treating teens who suffer from psychological-related ED is to build up confidence. According to Dr. Mulhall, these teens can usually stop taking the medication within 12 months because of restored or improved confidence levels.

Dr. Mulhall’s study can be seen in the medical journal BJU International. The doctor acknowledges that treating ED in teenagers is a controversial issue, but he points out that doing so is extremely important for the healthy development of a young man’s sexual and overall well-being.

Future Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Most everyone is probably familiar with the three FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medications – Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. While these three drugs are successfully helping countless men with their erectile difficulties, testing is underway on new drugs that will offer more effective, faster-acting treatment, paired with fewer (or no) side effects than current treatment medications.

Avanafil is an erectile dysfunction treatment medication being developed by pharmaceutical company VIVUS. Like the 3 existing ED treatment medications, Avanafil is an oral phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Avanafil differs because it will be a twice daily medication, allowing people to have intercourse more than once a day.

Zoraxel is a medication being developed by the pharmaceutical company Rexahn. Unlike PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, Zoraxel works by activating serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain, which are mostly responsible for the feeling of sexual pleasure. This drug will be beneficial to men who are unable to take Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra due to health issues like heart disease and blood pressure problems.

Topiglan is a topical gel being developed by MacroChem. This gel is applied to the head of the penis less than an hour before intercourse. Topiglan contains alprostadil, a medicine that is currently available in injection form to treat erectile dysfunction.

Gene therapy could potentially be an option for treating erectile dysfunction in the future. The basic idea behind this method is to deliver protein-producing genes that will replace proteins in the penile tissue that aren’t functioning properly. Animal testing of this method has seen success in erectile function improvement.