ED Drugs May Treat Urinary Problems
May 22, 2007 — Medications commonly used to treat erection problems in men
may also relieve the bothersome urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged
prostate gland, researchers say.
Studies on the topic were presented this week at the annual meeting of the
American Urological Association in Anaheim, Calif.
“Before, we looked at these two conditions as two different
diseases,” says Kevin McVary, MD, professor of urology at Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, who moderated a press
briefing.
But in the past three or four years, he says, the thinking among urologists
has changed.
Sexual performance in men seems to decline as their prostate enlargement
becomes more severe, experts have begun to notice. Doctors also notice
that men with milder prostate problems often have less erectile dysfunction
(ED) than do those with moderate or severely enlarged prostates and urinary
symptoms.
“These two diseases — erectile dysfunction and the lower urinary tract
symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia — are probably
linked,” McVary says.
Conditions Increase With Age
Prostate problems and ED problems both tend to increase with age. About 31%
of men aged 50 to 59 have an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic
hyperplasia or BPH); 44% of those 70 and older have an enlarged prostate,
according to the National Institutes of Health. As the gland enlarges, it
constricts the blog cialis generic
tube called the urethra, making it difficult to
empty the bladder.
Common symptoms of BPH include weak urine stream, leaking or dribbling,
feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied completely after voiding, and more
frequent urination.
Medications are prescribed to relieve the symptoms. Some discount generic levitra online viagra
work by
relaxing the muscles at the neck of the bladder and prostate; others inhibit a
hormone that contributes to the growth of the gland.
Erectile dysfunction, defined as an inability to get or keep an erection, is
experienced by 20% to 46% of men aged 40 to 69, according to the NIH.
Medications to treat erection problems help increase blood flow to the penis
when a man is sexually stimulated.
Cialis Study
A once-a-day dose of Cialis helped men with erectile dysfunction and
moderate to severe urinary tract symptoms due to an enlarged prostate improve
sexual functioning, says Marc Gittelman, MD, a urologist in Aventura, Fla., and
a study researcher.
Of the 281 men who enrolled in the study, “81% were sexually active, and
they were in their low 60s,” he says. All had moderate to severely enlarged
prostates and urinary problems; 68% of the sexually active men had a medical
history of erectile dysfunction. Gittelman’s team assigned about half to take
placebo and half to take Cialis.
At the end of 12 weeks, men who took Cialis — first 5 milligrams a day and
then up to 20 milligrams — had sildenafil citrate and discount higher scores on a standard index
of erectile function, he says.
He especially wanted to see if they were as likely to do well if their
urinary problems were severe as opposed to moderate. “They are equally
erectile dysfunction tabs
likely to respond to a dose of Cialis,” he says.
The study was funded by Lilly, which is the maker of Cialis.
In another study, 223 men aged 45 to 64 who had urinary symptoms due to an
enlarged prostate were assigned either to a group given 10 milligrams of
Levitra twice daily for eight weeks or a placebo for the same time period.
Compared with placebo, treatment with the ED drug significantly improved the
men’s quality-of- life scores and their reports of urinary obstruction and
irritation, says Boris Schlenker, MD, a urologist at
Ludwig-Maxmillians-Universitaet Hospital in Munich, Germany, who presented the
data. Erectile function improved in those who took the ED drug.
“Levitra is a promising new drug for men with lower urinary tract
symptoms, but we need long-term data on how it might affect the progression of
the disease,” he says.
The Viagra Study
In a third study, McVary assigned 369 men aged 45 and up who had both
erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms to take either 50
milligrams of Viagra every night, 50 milligrams of Viagra an hour before
planned sexual activity, or to take a placebo. The dose increased to 100
milligrams after two weeks.
When he evaluated their erectile function and urinary symptoms, he found 73%
of the men with severe symptoms improved to having mild or moderate symptoms at
the end of the study.
“The changes in prostate symptom scores were dramatic,” he says.
“They compete with alpha blockers.” Alpha blockers are one type of drug
commonly prescribed to treat urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged
prostate. The more severe the urinary symptoms, the greater the
relief, he says.
The study was funded by Pfizer, which is the maker of Viagra.
“This really is viagra vs cialis
,” says Gittelman.
The experts aren’t sure if the ED drugs will eventually supplement or
replace drugs used for urinary problems associated with an enlarged prostate,
or if new formulations might be developed to deal with both conditions.
Some men on the ED drugs did report side effects, says Schlenker, with the
most common in his study being headache.
It’s not known exactly why the ED drugs also help the urinary symptoms,
McVary says. By increasing blood flow to the pelvic area, the ED drugs may help
relax the bladder enough to relieve the urinary problems.
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Sexual Problems in Women - Medications
| sexual problems are often complex and erectile dysfunction medicine . Medications may be used in treating certain conditions that contribute to sexual problems. Medication Choices
Estrogen. If you only have vaginal If you also have other
Testosterone. This hormone may play a part In women who have their ovaries removed (oophorectomy), What To Think AboutThe methyltestosterone-estrogen formula called Estratest is At this time, there is no testosterone pill, patch, or cream No studies have looked at the benefits and risks of taking Sildenafil (Viagra) is used to treat Currently no medications are approved by the FDA to treat female |
, as well as reduce hot flashes and othererectile problems, and more another.
Erection Problems (Erectile Dysfunction) - When To Call a Doctor
| erection problem (erectile dysfunction) and the erection lasts longer than 4 hours.
Seek care immediately if you have taken Call a health professional if erection problems occur with:
Make an appointment to see a health professional within 1 to 2
If your erection problem is occasional, there is no reason to call Watchful WaitingWatchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your If self-care has not helped after 2 weeks and you are concerned Who To SeeSome health professionals, including doctors and mental health The following health professionals can evaluate symptoms of
If it is possible that a psychological problem is contributing to
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment |
Drug May Ease Pulmonary Hypertension
Nov. 16, 2005 — A drug called Revatio may help treat an drug for treatment of erectile dysfunction
condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Patients with pulmonary hypertension have elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary (lung) blood vessels. The condition often arises from lung problems, but some cases are without a known cause. It can result in heart failure and early death.
Unfortunately, most of the medications that are used to treat this serious condition are not easy to take and are given by IV, injection, or inhalation — with real risks of unwanted side effects.
Revatio has the same active ingredient — sildenafil — as Viagra. Revatio and Viagra are made by Pfizer.
Pfizer funded the new study, which appears in The New England Journal of Medicine. Pfizer is a WebMD sponsor.
The dysfunction erectile pill
included Nazzarene Galie, MD, of the cardiology institute at Italy’s University of Bologna.
Walking Test
The study lasted for 12 weeks. It included 278 patients with pulmonary hypertension. The patients lived in the U.S., Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa, and Israel.
Three times daily, the patients took Revatio (20, 40, or 80 milligrams) or an empty drug (placebo) orally. That was in addition to any other standard pulmonary hypertension medications.
The big question was how far patients could walk in six minutes. That’s an important exercise test for patients with pulmonary hypertension. The farther patients can walk, the better.
Walking Farther
All of the patients taking Revatio walked farther at the end of the study:
- 20-milligram group: Walked about 148 extra feet (a 13% increase).
- 40-milligram group: Walked about 151 extra feet (a 13% increase).
- 80-milligram group: Walked about 164 extra feet (nearly a 15% increase).
Higher doses didn’t bring a notable increase in distance walked, the researchers report.
Patients were then allowed to take Revatio for up to a year; 230 did so. The researchers looked at the walking tests of 222 of those who were only taking Revatio as treatment. After a year, they walked about 167 extra feet, on average, compared with the beginning of the study.
How Patients Fared
Most of the patients included in the study had milder stages of pulmonary hypertension. Few cases worsened, alternative tadalafil
of treatment type, the study shows.
Patients taking Revatio weren’t any more or less likely to have their symptoms worsen during the trial.
The study wasn’t designed to see if Revatio helped patients live longer. Four died during the study. No deaths were judged to be linked to the treatments, write the researchers.
Side effects seen with Revatio were mild or moderate and included headache, flushing, muscle pain, and diarrhea, report Galie and colleagues.
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Heart Drug for Female Sexual Disorder?
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July 24, 2006 — Like Viagra before it, a drug once studied to treat heart problems may help treat sexual dysfunction. But this time it’s being tested exclusively for women. A new study shows that a modified version of the buy link viagra If further research confirms these results in humans, the drug may be used to treat female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). Erectile pill Candoxatril went into clinical trials in the 1990s as a heart failureheart failure erectile pill but has since become the focus of efforts to develop a medication to treat female sexual arousal disorder. How the Drug WorksCandoxatril is one of several compounds that targets levels of vasoactive cheap generic viagra An enzyme called NEP degrades VIP in the body, and Candoxatril works by blocking NEP. In a new study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, researchers altered the molecular structure of Candoxatril in order to focus the drug to treat female sexual arousal dysfunction. In animal tests, researchers at Pfizer Global Research and Drug dysfunction erectile They say the results suggest that the drug might have similar effects in humans, but further research is needed. |
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Viagra May Treat Other Ailments
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Nov. 7, 2005 - The drug made famous for its treatment of erectile dysfunction appears to have another therapeutic use. A study in the journal Circulation suggests Viagra could help treat a circulatory disorder called Raynaud’s phenomenon, which affects about 5% of the population. Raynaud’s phenomenon can be associated with other diseases such as lupus. Raynaud’s phenomenon causes episodes of numbness, tingling, and pain in the fingers and toes, as well as skin sores or gangrene in severe cases. The attacks are spawned by spasms in small blood vessels in response to cold temperatures or emotional stress. These spasms cause blood vessels to constrict and compromise blood flow to distal areas such as toes and fingers. The disorder is sometimes treated with dysfunction pill The Viagra study involved 18 patients (mostly women) whose Raynaud’s symptoms were not responsive to conventional therapies. While taking Viagra twice a day for four weeks, the patients experienced improved blood flow in the capillaries and fewer Raynaud’s attacks. Symptoms improved and the duration of attacks was also shorter. In those who had skin sores, the ulcers began to heal visibly. These effects did not occur while patients were taking a placebo. At the end of the study, 16 of the participants asked to continue taking Viagra off-label (that is, for a purpose other than its FDA-approved use). Viagra causes blood vessels to dilate in a different way from other vasodilating drugs, which may explain why it helped Raynaud’s patients who didn’t respond to standard treatments. The viagra information Although Viagra has risk for serious side effects such as heart attack, stroke, and vision loss, none of the study participants reported any such adverse effect. The side effects reported by study participants included headache, muscle pain, flushing, mild nausea, dizziness, and nasal congestion. One of the researchers has served as a consultant and speaker for Viagra’s manufacturer, Pfizer. Pfizer is a WebMD sponsor. |
Read another articles about erectile problems.
Viagra May Help Crohn’s Disease
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Feb. 23, 2006 — Researchers in the U.K. have a new theory to explain the cause of Crohn’s disease, and they say medications like the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra may prove useful for treating the bowel disorder if they are right. In Crohn’s disease, chronic inflammation causes ulcers within the digestive tract that can lead to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. The most widely accepted theory is that an overactive immune system causes the damaging inflammation. But researchers from the University College London say the opposite appears to be true. They believe a weaker-than-normal immune response triggers the bowel inflammation that leads to Crohn’s disease. Their research appears in the Feb. 25 issue of The Lancet. 1 Disease, 2 TheoriesThe prevailing theory of Crohn’s disease is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with the disorder, producing chronic inflammation that leads to bowel injury. Tony Segal, professor of medicine at University College London, explains the weak immune system theory like this: “The wall of the bowel is normally an effective barrier against the bowel contents, but sometimes the barrier is broken by an infection or injury and the bowel contents, which include large numbers of bacteria, penetrate into the bowel wall. “Normally, an acute inflammatory response would kick in to remove the bacteria and return the condition of the bowel to normal. But in Crohn’s disease, we think that the acute inflammation fails to kick-start, leaving bacteria to fester in the bowel wall which, in turn, triggers chronic, secondary inflammations.” Segal and colleagues conducted a series of small health promotion activity They found that the Crohn’s patients produced unexpectedly lower levels of white blood cells and proteins involved in inflammation, compared with people without the disorder. Segal tells WebMD that people who carry a gene that has been linked to Crohn’s disease may be especially vulnerable to getting the disease if they have weak immune systems. He added that drugs like Viagra, which open the blood vessels and increase blood flow, may help. The Viagra ResponseThe researchers tested this theory by treating 10 Crohn’s patients with 50 milligrams of Viagra after injecting them with the killed gut bacteria. They found that blood flow to the infected area improved. “Increasing blood flow is an important part of the inflammatory response, and that is why this drug may work,” Segal says. “But we don’t yet know if this will give rise to successful treatment. We need to study this further to find out.” Segal and colleagues are among a growing number of researchers suggesting that a weak immune system, rather than an overactive one, is largely erectile pill She adds that the new research adds generic omnigen viagra “This is a little more evidence that maybe we have been barking up the wrong tree,” she tells WebMD. “The idea that we should be strengthening the immune system — rather than suppressing it — sounded a little crazy at first, but the evidence continues to come in. But we still have a long way to go to really understand what causes Crohn’s.” Biologic agents that stimulate a specific part of the immune system are now being tested in Crohn’s patients. If such treatments prove effective, Kane says doctors would have an effective alternative to steroids, which work well for many patients but have many side effects. “For decades now suppressing the immune system with steroids has worked, and we will continue to do so until we find alternatives that work for everybody and are risk-free,” she says. |
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Viagra: Treatment for Lung Disease?
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Oct. 25, 2006 — Viagra may ease blood pressure in the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That’s according to a small Dutch study compare generic viagra prices COPD is the No. 4 cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). COPD is a lung disease in which breathing is difficult. It’s usually caused by smoking cigarettes, but it can also be caused by other lung irritants. The disease develops slowly and may take years to show symptoms, which include:
Those symptoms may or may not indicate COPD, states the NHLBI’s web site. Viagra StudyThe Viagra study included 12 COPD patients, half of whom had high blood pressurehigh blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, which brings blood to the lungs. The erectile dysfunction drug of pulmonary pills The researchers included Dysfunction erectile pill They tracked the patients’ pulmonary artery blood pressure before and after taking Viagra. Why Viagra? It relaxes (dilates) blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and helping blood to flow. First, the patients rested. Then they pedaled a stationary bike for three minutes at a mild pace. As expected, pulmonary artery blood pressure was higher during exercise, since the lungs were working harder. Next, the patients took a Viagra pill, waited 45 minutes, and repeated the rest and exercise tests. Their pulmonary artery blood pressure during exercise was lower after taking Viagra. “These data suggest that during daily activities some COPD patients may benefit” from drugs that dilate blood vessels, the researchers write. |
Erectile Dysfunction: Cialis, Viagra and Levitra to Treat ED
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There are only three oral drugs approved by the FDA to treat erectile What Are the Differences Between Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra?Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra work by a similar mechanism to cause erections. Cialis works a bit faster (within about 15 minutes), and the effects last If One of These Drugs Isn’t Effective for Erectile Dysfunction, Can I Try Another?Yes, but because these drugs work the same way, it’s unlikely that you’ll What Precautions Should I Take Before Taking One of These Drugs?There are certain situations in which these drugs may not be safe to take.
In addition, always follow the directions on your prescription label Who Should Not Take Cialis, Levitra or Viagra?If you have suffered from a heart attack, stroke or life erectile dysfunction medicine What Are the Side Effects of Cialis, Levitra and Viagra?Side effects are not common but they can occur. Side effects can
Call your doctor if you experience severe forms of these symptoms or if they WarningCall your doctor or seek emergency treatment erectile dysfunction
Stop taking these medications and call a doctor or health care provider
How Should These Drugs Be Stored?These drugs should be kept in its original container and out of reach of Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological |
FDA issues new safety rules for vitamins
WASHINGTON - For the first time, manufacturers of vitamins, herbal pills and other dietary supplements will have to test all of their products' ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is phasing in a new rule that is designed to address concerns that existing regulations allowed supplements onto the market that were contaminated or didn't contain ingredients claimed on the label.
Last year, the agency found that some supplements contained undeclared active ingredients used in prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction. In the past, regulators found supplements that didn't contain the levels of Vitamin C or Vitamin A that were claimed.
If, upon inspection, the FDA finds that supplements do not contain the ingredients they claim, the agency would consider the products adulterated or misbranded. In minor cases, the agency could ask the manufacturer to remove an ingredient or revise its label. In more serious cases, it could seize the product, file a lawsuit or even seek criminal charges.
Dietary supplements — pills, liquids or other products — are a $22 billion industry.
Most companies already test their raw ingredients, said Steve Mister, president and CEO for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade association ed tabs
about 65 manufacturers.
“This raises the bar so that all have to comply,” Mister said.
The new rule goes into effect Aug. 24 and will have a three-year phase-in that gives smaller manufacturers more time to comply. Even the largest of the sildenafil citrate and discount won't have to comply until June 2008.
The rule applies to all domestic and foreign companies that manufacture, package and label supplements for sale in the U.S. It requires them to analyze the identity, purity and strength of all the ingredients that go into their products before they are distributed.
It also includes erectile dysfunction pill
for record keeping and handling consumer complaints.
Dr. Sidney Wolfe, who has testified before Congress on problems with dietary supplements, said the new rule does not ease his concern that unsafe supplements are too easy to bring to market.
“You still don't have to show the product is safe. You don't have to prove it works,” said Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group.
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, called the rule a good step toward improving consistency in the ingredients that go into supplements.
“However, consumers still have no idea if a given product works, or whether it is dangerous,” said Janell Mayo Duncan, senior counsel for Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.
Congress limited the Food and Drug Administration's oversight of vitamins and other dietary supplements in 1994. The new rule is a product of that law, meaning that the rule took nearly 13 years to develop.
Under the old regulations, supplements were governed by the same rules that applied to producing foods, such as cans of soup.
“The final rule will help ensure that dietary supplements are manufactured with controls that result in a consistent product free of erectile dysfunction pill
, with accurate labeling,” said Dr. Robert E. Brackett, director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
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On the Net:
FDA: http://www.fda.gov/