How to manage erectile dysfunction?
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Hello, my friend is a 56-year-old man who has hypertension. He also reports significant erectile dysfunction (ED) that has progressed over the past 8 months. This has been distressing to him and to his wife and has caused significant marital strife. He has been treated for hypertension for 4 to 5 years and is currently taking a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol with good blood pressure control. He reports no morning erections, nocturnal erections, or spontaneous erections satisfactory for vaginal penetration. How to manage this?
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@yash Depending on the cause and severity of erectile dysfunction and any underlying health conditions, you might have various treatment options. Your friend's doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and will consider his preferences. His partner's preferences also might play a role in your treatment choices. Oral medications are a successful erectile dysfunction treatment for many men. They include: Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), Avanafil (Stendra).
All four medications enhance the effects of nitric oxide — a natural chemical your body produces that relaxes muscles in the penis. This increases blood flow and allows you to get an erection in response to sexual stimulation. Taking one of these tablets will not automatically produce an erection. Sexual stimulation is needed first to cause the release of nitric oxide from your penile nerves. These medications amplify that signal, allowing normal penile function in some people. Oral erectile dysfunction medications are not aphrodisiacs, will not cause excitement and are not needed in people who get normal erections.