Levitra Treats Erectile Dysfunction Effectively In Men Taking Medications To Lower High Blood Pressure, Study

Levitra (vardenafil HCl), a PDE5 inhibitor, is effective in treating erectile dysfunction (ED) in men receiving one or more medications for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure),(1) according to data published in a recent issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, patients treated with LEVITRA experienced an 83% overall success rate in erectile function while also receiving one or more anti-hypertensive medications.

"This study demonstrated that LEVITRA was well-tolerated when used concomitantly with anti-hypertensive medications in patients not previously treated with PDE5 inhibitors," said study author Dr. Hermann van Ahlen, University of Muenster, Germany.

Hypertension, a major risk factor for ED, affects 29.4 million men in the United States(2). It is one of the most common medical conditions, along with diabetes and high cholesterol, associated with ED. In addition many blood-pressure-lowering medications, particularly beta-blockers and diuretics, may adversely affect erectile function.

"As a primary care physician, I know that my male patients are often concerned about taking anti-hypertensive drugs for fear of the potential sexual side effects," said Dr. Matthew Rosenberg, medical director at Mid-Michigan Health Centers in Jackson, MI. "This study gives me support to tell patients that I can treat hypertension and also prescribe an effective medication to treat ED. The fact that LEVITRA improved erectile function in patients taking multiple anti-hypertensive medications is a testimony to its efficacy."

About the study

Study investigators carried out a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flexible-dose LEVITRA in men with treated hypertension and ED who had not previously used LEVITRA or other PDE5 inhibitors. In this study, use of alpha blockers was not permitted. The study, conducted at 98 primary care sites in Germany, involved 354 patients over age 18 who had experienced ED for more than 6 months. Participants received either placebo or LEVITRA, in a dose ranging from 5 mg to 20 mg, for 12 weeks. To measure the drug's efficacy, the patients kept diaries of their responses to standardized questions regarding their erectile function.

LEVITRA was well-tolerated and effective at improving all ED efficacy parameters. There was no significant difference in the frequency of adverse events when patients were grouped according to the type of anti-hypertensive medications being received. Compared with placebo, LEVITRA significantly improved patients' ability to successfully have intercourse. The success rate was 83% for men treated with LEVITRA vs 58% for placebo (P <>

Background: Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the consistent or recurrent inability of a man to attain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual performance. ED can be a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. It is estimated that some degree of ED affects up to 30 million men in the United States.

Some of the most common treatments for ED include adjustments to lifestyle and better control of concomitant medical conditions as well as the use of oral medications or other forms of therapy. Treating related health conditions or reducing stress may help maintain erectile function. LEVITRA belongs to a class of medications called oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which are among the most successful treatments for ED. There are currently three FDA-approved oral PDE5 inhibitors available.

About LEVITRA

LEVITRA is an FDA-approved oral prescription medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It belongs to a class of medications commonly referred to as oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, the most commonly prescribed treatments for men with ED. LEVITRA helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity.

LEVITRA, developed by Bayer Healthcare and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is jointly promoted in the U.S. by GSK and Schering-Plough Corporation.

Important Safety and Dosing Information

LEVITRA is a prescription medicine that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Men taking nitrate drugs, often used to control chest pain (also known as angina), should not take LEVITRA. Such combinations could cause blood pressure to drop to an unsafe level.

As with all ED drugs, there is a rare risk of an erection lasting longer than four hours. To avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical attention. LEVITRA does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. In rare instances, men taking PDE5 inhibitors (oral erectile dysfunction medicine, including LEVITRA) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to these medicines or to other factors. If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking PDE5 inhibitors, including LEVITRA, and call a doctor right away.

Discuss your medical conditions, including heart problems, and medications, including alpha blockers prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure, with your doctor to ensure LEVITRA is right for you and that you are healthy enough for sexual activity.

The starting dose of LEVITRA is 10 mg taken no more than once per day. Your doctor will decide the dose that is right for you. In patients taking alpha blockers, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of LEVITRA. In patients taking certain medications such as ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and erythromycin, lower doses of LEVITRA are recommended, and time between doses of LEVITRA may need to be extended.

In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects were headache, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. LEVITRA is available in 2.5-mg, 5-mg, 10-mg, and 20-mg tablets.

How to Use Viagra and Other Erection Drugs

The world of erection impairment changed dramatically on March 27, 1998—the day the Food and Dose Administration approved the little blasphemous pill. Viagra is used for treatment of erection impairment, at present medically called erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra was not the outset drug treatment for erection impairment (see Yohimbine below), but it was the one that captured the public’s imagination. Viagra took the U.S.—and the world—by storm. During its number 1 month of availability, American doctors wrote more than 300,000 prescriptions, making Viagra the fastest-selling new drug in history. Inside six months, repeat prescriptions were being written at the rate of 100,000 per calendar month. Today, Viagra is one of the most successful drugs always marketed. More than 10 meg men have taken more than 125 million tablets. Annual gross sales approach $2 billion. And with millions of male Baby Boomers in their 50s, the future of the little blue pill—and other erection medications—looks bright.

1. Step One

Be aware the erection medication is not the answer to every man’s erection problem, though erection medication certainly has a place in treatment of ED. Many erection difficulties are caused by sexual anxiety, and resolve when men learn more about sexual activity, relax about it, and espouse a less penis-centered, holistic and sensual approach to lovemaking. Other erection difficulties are caused by medical problems and resolve when the illnesses are treated. Many erection problems are caused by drugs (notably alcohol and cigarettes) and drug side effects and can be helped by cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoke, or tinkering with prescriptions.

2. Step Two

Know how erection medications work. Currently there are four prescription drugs available for erection problems: Sildenafil, Levitra, Cialis and Yohimbine. They all essentially work the same way. Sexual arousal stimulates release of a compound, nitric oxide (NO), in the penis. Nitrous oxide, in turn, triggers synthesis of cGMP, which relaxes the penis’ smooth muscle tissue, and allows extra blood to flow into the organ’s spongy central erectile tissues. Erection drugs heighten this smooth muscle relaxation, prod greater blood flow into the penis.

Depending on the medication, erection drugs are taken two to 36 hours before lovemaking, so the woman need not know you’re using a drug. These prescription drugs help men with ED caused by both physical unwellness and stress/anxiety problems. Most studies show that they produce erections in 75 percent of those who use them, with even greater effectiveness among men with only mild or occasional problems. They raise erection only with normal sexual stimulation. No walking around with an embarrassing bulge in your pants that signals you have taken a drug.

3. Step Three

See about possible side effects. For most, but not all manpower, these drugs are quite safe. The only significant side effects are headache (16 percent of users), flushing (10 percent), upset stomach (7 percent), nasal over-crowding (4 percent), and rarely, ocular disturbances (mostly in men with chronic eye conditions such as macular degeneration).

4. Step Four

Research your insurance coverage. Some health insurers cover erection medications, merely many provide only partial insurance coverage, or none at all. However, even without insurance coverage these drugs are quite affordable. The Viagra dose most men take, 50 mg, costs about $10—a modest price to pay for an amorous evening free from erection worries!

5. Step Five

Know that, despite their success, erection drugs also have limitations. They are ineffective in about 25 percent of cases. As badness of ED increases, their effectivity decreases. For example, the drugs work well in many men with the beginnings of diabetic ED, but less well in diabetics with considerable cardiovascular and neurological damage. In men with mild erection balkiness, these drugs may not work in some situations—if a man feels peculiarly stressed, distracted or alienated from the sexual experience.

6. Step Six

Be aware that if you read any nitrate drug such as nitrate medication for heart disease, nitroglycerine for angina, or the party drug, amyl nitrate (“poppers”), you should not use erecting drugs such as Viagra, Vardenafil or Cialis. The combination of Viagra and nitrate drugs can cause a precipitous drop in blood pressure and possibly death. Before this problem was identified, the combination of Viagra and nitrate medication killed more than 500 men.

Yohimbine drugs do not have this problem. The vast majority of men taking nitrate drugs arse use Yohimbine safely. A few deaths have resulted from victimization Yohimbine in conjunction with nitrate drugs, but they are super rare.

7. Step Seven

Take erection drugs according to your doctor’s recommendations; this is highly important. Viagra comes in 25, 50 and 100 mg pills. Side effects are more probable with a higher dose. The same appears to be true of Levitra and Cialis.

8. Step Eight

Be prepared to take more over time. The latest studies propose that some men need to increase their dose over time. University of Alabama researchers tracked 150 men who took Sildenafil citrate regularly for two years or more. During that period tierce increased their dose from 50 to 100 mg.

9. Step Nine

Aid boost effectiveness. For men world Health Organization respond poorly to erection drugs, it may help to combine the medication with the over-the-counter supplement, ArginMax. Researchers at University of California, Davis, worked with men with ED, who did not get much benefit from Viagra. The men took Viagra plus either ArginMax or a placebo. After four weeks, erections improved significantly in 22 per centum of those taking the placebo, but among men using ArginMax, the figure was 60 percent.

10. Step Ten

Know the erection drug’s intended use. Viagra was originally approved for medically diagnosed, persistent ED. The original ads featured elderly Senator Bob Dole talking about how it helped his medical problem.

Only once a drug is approved for any reason, doctors ar free to prescribe it for other, so-called “off label” uses. Today, all erection medications ar most widely used as “erection insurance” for men in their 40s to 60s who have balky erections and don’t want to worry about them. Current ads for Viagra feature young, healthy, professional baseball players saying: “I take batting practice. I take fielding practice. I take Viagra.” Ads for Vardenafil and Cialis are similar, featuring men who appear to be in their 30s or other 40s, and healthy, but precisely a little concerned about hard-on reliability.

11. Step Eleven

Moot a non-drug approach to “erection insurance.” If you’re interested about erection reliability, there ar several approaches to raising an erection and keeping it firm without using drugs. First, don’t smoke. Don’t drink any alcohol for a few hours before sex, and don’t drink more than 2 drinks a day. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Get seven hours of sleep a night. In early words, live a healthy life style and you’re likely to get a penis that behaves the way you want.

12. Step Twelve

Consider a half dose. If you have balky erections—and this is perfectly natural for men o'er 45—then you might decide you want to use erection medication for erection insurance. If so, you may get good results with half the typical dose—25 mg of Viagra instead of the usual 50 mg. Scurvy doses of Levitra and Tadalafil can also be taken.

13. Step Thirteen

Exercise erection drugs correctly and according to your doctor’s recommendations. Sildenafil and Levitra take about an hour to produce erection enhancement and the effect lasts around 2 hours—longer in some men.

Tadalafil also takes about an hour to work, but it lasts for 24 to 36 hours; hence the claim that it’s a “weekend drug.” Take them on Saturday morning, and you’re good to go through most of Sunday.

Many men, it seems, like the longer-lasting drug. When Cialis was approved, the pundits predicted it would not sell well because the Viagra brand was so well established. However, Cialis has proved quite popular.


The main reason not to usance Cialis is that it girdle in the bloodstream longer than Viagra or Levitra, so any side effects are likely to bother you for longer, as well.

14. Step Fourteen

Reckon a natural approach: Yohimbine. For centuries, the bark of the West African yohimbe tree was reputed to restore faltering erections. Scientists scoffed—until the 1980s, when several studies showed that a chemical in the bark, yohimbine, increases blood flow into the penis. More than 10 years before Viagra, the Food and Drug Administration approved Yohimbine as a prescription treatment for erection problems. The herbal extract is available in Aphrodyne and Yocon. If you’d like to try Aphrodyne or Yocon, consult your physician.

Levitra

What is the most important information I should know about Levitra?

• Do not take Levitra if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”). Taking Levitra with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
• If you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of Levitra.
• Do not take Levitra more than once a day. Allow 24 hours to pass between doses.
• Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.
• A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking Levitra. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether Levitra is the actual cause of such vision loss. Sudden vision loss with Levitra use has occurred most often in people with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old.
• Stop using Levitra and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.

What is Levitra?

• Levitra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body.
• Levitra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence).
• Levitra may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Levitra?

• Do not take Levitra if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”). Taking Levitra with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
• A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking Levitra. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether Levitra is the actual cause of such vision loss. Sudden vision loss with Levitra use has occurred most often in people with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old.
• Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease or heart rhythm problems;
• a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a heart attack, angina (chest pain), or congestive heart failure;
• a history of stroke or blood clots;
• a personal or family history of “Long QT syndrome”;
• high or low blood pressure;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
• a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;
• a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
• a stomach ulcer;
• retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);
• a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease); or
• if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.

• If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Levitra or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
• FDA pregnancy category B: Although Levitra is not for use in women, this medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use Levitra without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
• Although Levitra is not for use in women, it is not known if Levitra passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• You may need a lower dose of this medication if you are older than 65. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• How should I take Levitra?

How should I take Levitra?

• Take Levitra exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Levitra can be taken with or without food.
• Levitra is usually taken only when needed, up to 60 minutes before sexual activity. The medication can help achieve an erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Do not take Levitra more than once a day. Allow 24 hours to pass between doses.
• Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Levitra is used as needed, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a Levitra overdose may include back pain, muscle pain, or vision problems.

What should I avoid while taking Levitra?

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Levitra.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Levitra. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Do not use any other drug to treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), unless your doctor tells you to.

What are the possible side effects of Levitra?

• If you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of Levitra.
• Stop using Levitra and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.
• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using Levitra and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
• Stop using Levitra and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• irregular heartbeat;
• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
• shortness of breath;
• vision changes;
• feeling light-headed, fainting; or
• penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours or longer.
• Continue taking Levitra and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
• warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest;
• stuffy nose;
• headache;
• upset stomach; or
• back pain.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Levitra?

Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
• erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
• doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin);
• HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), tipranavir (Aptivus), darunavir (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), lopinavir/ ritonavir (Kaletra), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), ritonavir (Norvir), atazanavir (Reyataz), or nelfinavir (Viracept);
• itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), quinidine(Quinidex, Quinaglute), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), or sotalol (Betapace);
• carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), or phenytoin (Dilantin); or
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Levitra, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Levitra. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

ARGENTINA: Flaws in Acclaimed Sexual Health Plan

The National Consortium for Monitoring Reproductive and Sexual Rights (CONDERS), an umbrella group of 570 organisations and individuals dedicated to reviewing the plan's operation, said that the most frequent failing is the lack of awareness about the programme on the part of the population at large. Monitoring was carried out in 14 of the country's 23 provinces. In some, provincial authorities have added to the input materials provided by the central government, but in others this has not happened.In general, the plan is working better in the provincial capitals than in the hospitals and health centres in outlying areas of the provinces. Among the problems found, there were allegations of the sale of intrauterine devices (IUDs), which the national State distributes to be fitted free, as well as the rationing of free contraceptive pills and condoms, which means beneficiaries have to make more frequent visits to the health centres.In addition, there were problems involving inadequate training of health centre staff, who were blocking people's access to benefits by insisting on unnecessary requirements, and failures to provide counselling on reproductive health, as required by law. The group also found discontinuity in supplies of some birth control methods, and an almost total lack of emergency contraceptives (the "morning-after pill"), which are guaranteed by law. CONDERS considered it a shortcoming that 95 percent of all beneficiaries were women, and that only 21 percent of the total were under 20 years old.These figures suggest that the service has no effective strategy for reaching men, and particularly teenagers of both sexes, who should be the primary targets of the programme, the experts said. "We are concerned that more teenagers are not encouraged to use the service," Dr. Mabel Bianco told IPS. She is the head of the Foundation for Studies and Research on Women (FEIM), one of the organisations on the CONDERS coordinating committee. In Argentina, one out of every six births are to mothers aged 15 to 19, according to the United Nations Population Fund's Report for 2005.Experts interpret this statistic as a sign of a lack of sex education and of access to contraceptive methods. One of the goals of the National Programme of Sexual and Reproductive Health, which began to be implemented in 2003, is to lower the teen pregnancy rate. But CONDERS found that in some provinces, teenagers inquiring about contraception were required to be accompanied by an adult, a condition that is not part of the project. According to the report, in some provinces young women only approach the sexual and reproductive health service after they have become mothers."Teen-friendly services are needed, where they don't have to wait too long, or have to wait alongside pregnant women," Bianco argued. She also said that a basic step towards attracting men to use the plan was removing sexual and reproductive services from the maternal and child health care area, and relocating them as part of primary health care. This change has been carried out at the level of national agencies, but has not yet been adopted in provincial health centres. Men are unlikely to visit obstetrics and gynaecology services, Bianco said.That is why, in her opinion, the change of service area is essential. "It's important to involve men, because contraception is their responsibility too, and the programme also includes prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as uterine and breast cancer and prostate cancer," she pointed out.The CONDERS report has the support of the centre-left administration of President Néstor Kirchner. "The monitoring study was excellent," Valeria Islas, coordinator of the National Programme of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the ministry of Health, told IPS."There are some problems with the implementation of the plan, and we are trying to improve it through better training and better distribution of birth control methods," she said. According to the official, rather than publicity campaigns, what is needed is specific social work to empower potential beneficiaries to "stand up for their rights" in matters of sexual and reproductive health. This approach, through community organisations, "will broaden the strategies" for attracting participants to the plan, Islas said. After years of fierce resistance by conservative sectors linked to the Catholic Church, the programme was put into effect in 2003, after the law of Sexual Health and Responsible Procreation was passed.The law recognises sexual and reproductive rights and guarantees freedom of choice when it comes to birth control methods. The law maintains that it is the State's obligation to inform people about reproductive health, provide contraceptive methods and offer this service to teenagers without requiring them to be accompanied by an adult. Since then the number of participants in the programme has grown 18-fold, and the number of health promoters dedicated to this service has been multiplied by 14. The ministry said that between 2003 and 2005, the total number of women who had an IUD fitted at public institutions rose from 12,200 to nearly 112,000. Women taking oral contraceptives were up from 63,000 to 1.3 million, and those using contraceptive injections also grew in number from 2,400 to nearly 223,000. And in 2003 the programme distributed 31,150 condoms, a number that climbed to 601,000 in 2005. However, CONDERS found that there was resistance among health personnel to requests for contraceptives, and that they were reluctant to recommend IUDs or emergency contraception. Patients were not always treated with the respect they deserved, waiting times for appointments were overly long, and attention was focused on methods of avoiding pregnancy and not on other sexual health issues. In many cases, the services were "centred on women of child-bearing age," and attention for teenagers, older women, men, and sexual and ethnic minorities was "poor or insufficient," the study added.

Viagra may help heart and lung problems

The key to Viagra's success as an erectile dysfunction treatment may also help heart and lung problems caused by high altitudes, a new report says. At high altitudes, blood vessels in some people can constrict too much and create excess, even dangerous, pressure on the heart and lungs. Viagra causes blood vessels to relax and expand and, accordingly, can help counteract the effects of high altitudes.

THE BIO-AVAILABILITY, THE METABOLISM, AND THE DOSAGE FOR VIAGRA

The chemistry of Viagra drug reveals that it is readily absorbed in the human blood stream, with the maximum time observed for concentration ranging anywhere between 30 minutes to 120 minutes from oral dosage. Further information also reveals that Viagra is approximately 40 percent bio available, and has a high protein content of 96 percent. It is thus advised that Viagra intake must be accompanied with a rich calorie diet containing high fat and protein contents. Viagra when taken with a low fat meal has shown a reduced absorption rate.As for the metabolism rate, the half life and excretion rate from the use of Viagra, studies to this respect have found that metabolization activity for Viagra generally takes place through an enzyme known as CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent through another enzyme CYPC229 respectively. Once taken the Viagra breaks down and is excreted in the feces (80 percent), and through the urine approximately 13 percent. As for the known half-life of Viagra, this has been found to be approximately 4 hours.Another important aspect on the intake and use of Viagra is that individuals on medications for either kidney problems, liver problems or even undergoing a dialysis for kidney, the dosage for Viagra should be strictly followed under the specific instructions of the consulting physician, as these conditions are more than likely to be affected from the use of Viagra. The dosage for Viagra, like any drug, must also be seriously taken into account, as the dosage may be different for each individual, which may vary according to the unique health status, as well as the response of the individual's various organs to the intake of Viagra.The generally prescribed dosage for Viagra is 50mg taken about 1 hour prior to anticipated sexual activity. The labeling of the Viagra however states that Viagra can be taken anytime from one half hour to 4 hours prior to sexual activity.

VIAGRA BY PFIZER

Introduction:Viagra is a Pfizer, Inc registered trademark which contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. It is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg doses and is sold through prescription only. It’s taken as an oral tablet and has proven to be one of the most successful drugs of the decade for treating Erectile Dysfunction. It is an FDA approved drug and seen as safe for human consumption.Uses of Viagra:Viagra is actively used for the treatment of male impotence and works by increasing the blood flow to the penis increasing the body’s ability to maintain and achieve an erection during sexual stimulation.Who should not be taking Viagra:Viagra is strictly prohibited to:Men taking nitrates such as nitroglycerinViagra should not be used by women or children.Extreme Side effects of Viagra:Viagra is reported to have caused:Heart AttacksSudden DeathIrregular Heart BeatsStrokeChest PainIncreased Blood PressureHowever, the side effects are not always directly related to the effect of Viagra as they can be caused due to:Sexual ActivityPatients Blood PressurePatients Heart ConditionA combination of the above factorsThat is why it is suggested that the patient take Viagra under a doctor’s prescription.Symptomatic Side Effects:HeadacheFlushingUpset stomachStuffy noseUrinary tract infectionVisual changes such as mild and temporary changes in blue/green colors or increased sensitivity to light.DiarrheaPatients with the following symptoms should use Viagra with care:Age more than 65Liver problemsKidney ProblemsMedications (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin and saquinavir).Such patients are recommended to take a starting dose of 25 mg Viagra.Warning: Circumstances in which the effect of Viagra is not known:Patients that have had heart attacks, strokes or have had an irregular heart rhythm especially within a 6 month period.Patients that have extreme low and high blood pressureProlonged erections: contact your health care provider immediately.Patients with HIV infectionPatients with certain eye disorders.