Internal Medicine at Fairview |
 |
|
|||
|
|
September Health Tip from Dr. Koller
Sexual dysfunction in men has become more a part of the public's consciousness over the last few years. This is due to the pharmaceutical industry's promotion of a relatively new class of drugs called the phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Viagra®, Levitra®, and Cialis® are three different medications in this class that have been introduced to the public in ad campaigns that appear on television, radio, and magazines. The public has now learned to refer to this sexual problem as ED, or erectile dysfunction. Seeing your doctor for erectile dysfunction is not only important in order to receive appropriate treatment, but also important to be evaluated for medical conditions that can cause or be associated with ED. There are actually quite a number of conditions that can contribute to erectile dysfunction. These include hormonal problems, vascular disease (blood vessel disease), neuropathies (nerve disease), and diabetes. Medication side effects can play a role.
Men with psychosocial issues including anxiety, and depression can have erectile dysfunction. These men have nocturnal (nighttime) erections that occur during sleep. If a man with ED does not have nocturnal erections, his problem is likely to be organic, or non-psychosocial in nature.
After your physician evaluates you for the possible causes of ED, he can prescribe medications for treatment. The newest, most popular of these medications are Viagra®, Levitra®, and Cialis®. They have all been proven to work, and one is probably not superior to another. They all provide beneficial effects to the blood flow to the penis, but do not affect sexual libido. They are taken at least thirty minutes to one hour before an anticipated sexual encounter. Side effects are not common, but include flushing, headache, and distorted vision. There are some very important drug interactions with these medications, so it is crucial that your doctor review your medication list before prescribing. Differences in these three drugs lie primarily in their individual half-lives, or how long they are effective.
For more information: |
Internal Medicine at Fairview
101 S. Fairview Rd
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 882-4464
Clinic
Hours
Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM
Other
Important Numbers
Fairview Pharmacy
(573) 884-1100
University
Hospital
Emergency Center
(573) 882-8091
University
Hospital Operator
(573) 882-4141
Urgent Care
(573) 882-1662