Introduction
PDE5 inhibitors are drugs widely-used to control erectile dysfunction (ED). They enhance blood circulation to the penis and help men reach and sustainable an erection during sexual arousal. While these drugs can be helpful to numerous patients, they can also lead to side effects. Knowing what they may do, how to keep the patient safe, and what they may interact with gives patients an opportunity to think about their treatment choices.
How Do PDE5 Inhibitors Work?
PDE5 inhibitors inhibit an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type 5. This action is a natural relaxation of blood vessels to provide a greater blood flow in a particular section of the body. These medications may be prescribed based on a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and general physical condition.
These drugs will not cause you to become sexually excited or cause an erection. Only sexual stimulation is needed for the desired action. This may depend on the specific medicine, dosage, and susceptibility of the user as well as other medications that they may be taking.
List common side effects to watch out for.
PDE5 inhibitors have like other prescription drugs a list of side-effects. Common side effects are generally mild and temporary, though it may be more apparent for some individuals.
Common side effects are:
Headache: The changes in blood vessels have the potential to cause head pain.
Flushing of face: This can cause the face to be warm or flushed.
Indigestion: There are some patients who experience stomach discomfort, heartburn and an unsettled feeling.
Congestion of nasal cavity: Enlarged nasal blood vessels can results in a stuffy nose or congestion.
Dizziness: Due to blood pressure fluctuations, they may experience faintness, especially on standing up quickly.
Changes in vision: Drugs in this class can sometimes lead to an involuntary vision change or vision may get blurry.
The strength of such reactions varies from person to person. Patients should tell their health care professional if they experience any symptoms or if symptoms worsen or if symptoms have an effect on the way they live.
Get a doctor’s attention for serious side effects:
Some reactions are rare and only do need immediate medical evaluation. It is important for patients to know about signs of warning prior to beginning treatment.
If vision loss, hearing loss, chest pain, fainting or a serious allergic reaction occurs, seek emergency medical assistance. An erection that persists longer than 4 hours (known as priapism) also needs immediate treatment or it may cause damage to penile tissue.
If the pain of the chest pain occurs during sexual activity, it should be discontinued and continue to seek emergency assistance. They need to tell emergency workers what medication they have taken. After using these medications they should avoid nitrate medication (e.g. nitroglycerin) for treating chest pain unless directed to use them by emergency clinicians.
Safety precautions and medication interactions.
Some medications have harmful interactions with PDE5 inhibitors. One important thing to note about nitrates is that when combined with a β-blocker, they cause a very potent decrease in blood pressure, especially when administered for chest pain. These can also interact with the medication used for some types of pulmonary hypertension, called riociguat.
Other medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-blood pressure medications, antifungal medications, antibiotics, and HIV treatments could impact blood pressure or changing the effects of some ED medications. Patients should make a list of all prescription medications, over-the- counter medications, and supplements that they use and give it to their doctor.
Those with heart or blood pressure disease, heavy liver or kidney disease, or a history of some eye disease may require further evaluation. Patients should NOT take more than a single ED medication and should NOT increase any dose of an ED medicine without doctors’ advice.
Side effects can be affected by a number of factors.
There are several variables in a patient’s treatment response. Unwanted reactions may be affected by the selected medicine, the dosage prescribed, medical conditions, or other drugs.
Drinking can make a person drowsy and decrease the blood pressure, and excessive drinking can affect a person’s sex performance. Some medicines may be changed by grapefruit or grapefruit juice, so the patient should ask his or her pharmacist if he or she needs to avoid these medicines.
Any unnecessary risks may be avoided by following the instructions given, avoiding any unapproved combinations and going for medical consultations as prescribed. Don’t share prescription medicines with someone else.
What Can a Patient Do if she or he has a Mild Reaction?
Patients should discuss manageable side effects with their health care professional – not stop or change medication without consulting their doctor. An alternative treatment, review of the dosage and other medicines may be considered by a doctor if appropriate.
It will help a clinician know what caused the symptoms by knowing the onset and duration of symptoms noted. Have medical advice prior to taking any additional medications to alleviate side effects.
Specifically, patients shouldn’t overlook symptoms they don’t recognize or symptoms that are more severe that they think should go away.
Conclusion
PDE5 inhibitors may assist with the treatment of impotence, however patients need to understand that there are possible side effects, and needs to be aware of any safety precautions. The symptoms of mild reaction may be resolved without further treatment, but more serious symptoms will need to be treated promptly by medical services. Taking a clinical history, testing for possible drug interactions and adhering to expert advice can enhance treatment safety.
Patients should only begin or alter any ED treatment when they have discussed their treatment options with a qualified health care professional, and they feel this is an appropriate option for them.
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