What are the treatment options for ED?

In this section

Lifestyle Changes

To help in your treatment for impotence / erectile dysfunction, your doctor or other healthcare professional may suggest you make some lifestyle changes, such as:

• Quit smoking

• Get to and stay at a healthy weight

• Exercise regularly

• Limit alcohol

• Stop using recreational drugs (such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroin)

These changes may also help to improve health conditions that may be related to ED, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Counseling

To have a satisfying sexual experience, your mind and your body need to work together. When emotional or relationship problems get in the way, they can make erectile dysfunction (ED) worse. Sometimes a man or a couple can benefit from psychosexual counselling - talking with a trained counselor - to help resolve personal issues that might be interfering with sexual intimacy. Some of these issues might include anger, resentment, lack of trust, fear of not being able to perform sexually, or disappointment. Some doctors believe that a combination of medical treatment and counseling for ED may achieve the best results.

Other ED Treatment Options

Your doctor may recommend other erectile dysfunction / ED treatment options apart from psychosexual counselling, such as injection therapy or surgery. These options may be suggested if you cannot take an oral medicine because of a health condition or interactions with other medicines you are taking.

Oral Prescription Medicines

Oral prescription medicines (tablets) are the most common medical treatment for ED / impotence. These medicines are convenient to use. Prescription tablets work well as ED treatment for most men who have mild, moderate, or severe erectile dysfunction. These medicines can work even when ED is caused by another medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

CIALIS

CIALIS is one of three medicines in this class of prescription drugs. These ED treatment medicines help increase blood flow in the penis when a man is sexually stimulated. The medicines help a man with erectile dysfunction get and keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual activity. Once sexual intercourse is completed, blood flow to the penis lessens, and the erection goes away.

All ED tablets are not exactly the same. They can differ in:

• Length of time a single dose of medicine works

• Possible side effects

• Food or medicine interactions

 If one medicine does not work for you, another one may. To find the treatment that's right for you, talk with your doctor.

For most men, oral medicines work well to treat erectile dysfunction. Research shows that some men who do not respond to these ED treatment medicines may not be taking the medicine the right way or taking the right dose. Because the medicines come in different dosages, your doctor can adjust the dosage to help find the right dose that works for you.

CIALIS for daily use

CIALIS for daily use is a low dose ED (erectile dysfunction) treatment that is taken every day that can improve erectile function. It can be a very effective option for men with a range of ED severity and other health problems.

When taken every day, it can help you be ready anytime between doses.

• You no longer have to plan sex around taking a pill

• It is a clinically proven low-dose ED treatment option

• Side effects were similar to those seen with 36-hour CIALIS

CIALIS for daily use is available in 2 doses (2.5 mg and 5 mg) so it's easy for your doctor to adjust your dose. You and your doctor will determine the dose that works best for you. Your doctor may change your dose of CIALIS depending on your body's response to the medicine and on your medical condition. Your doctor must know about all the medicines (both prescription and nonprescription), vitamins, and herbal supplements you take. CIALIS and other medicines may affect each other. Your doctor needs to be aware of any potential drug interactions.

Always check with your doctor before you start or stop any medicines.

It is especially important for your doctor to know if you take medicines called nitrates (often used for chest pain), medicines called alpha blockers (sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure), other blood pressure medicines, antifungals, or medicines for HIV.

CIALIS works only with sexual stimulation

You won't get an erection just by taking CIALIS for daily use. Sexual stimulation is needed to get an erection. When sexual activity is over and blood flow to the penis decreases, your erection will go away.

CIALIS for daily use is convenient to take

Because the absorption of CIALIS is not affected by food, you can take daily CIALIS anytime during the day or evening. You can eat and drink what you want. But do not drink alcohol in excess (to a level of intoxication) when taking CIALIS. Too much alcohol can increase your chances of:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• A drop in blood pressure

• Increased heart rate

Cialis is not for everyone

Only your doctor can decide if CIALIS is right for you. Before taking CIALIS, ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity and be sure to tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all medications. Don't take CIALIS if you take nitrates as the combination can cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure.

CIALIS for daily use remains in your body for as long as you take it. Tell your doctor about all medications, especially if you take nitrates  (often used for chest pain) or medicines for blood pressure, alpha blockers, antifungals, or HIV, so your doctor can be aware of potential drug interactions.

Don't drink alcohol in excess (to a level of intoxication) with CIALIS, as this may increase your chances of getting dizzy or lowering your blood pressure. CIALIS does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. The most common side effects with CIALIS were headache and upset stomach. Backache and muscle ache were also reported, sometimes with delayed onset.

As with any ED treatment tablet, in the rare event of an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical help to avoid long-term injury.

In rare instances, men taking prescription ED tablets (including CIALIS) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing (sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness). It's not possible to determine if these events are related directly to the ED tablets or to other factors. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing, stop taking any ED tablet, including CIALIS and call your doctor right away.

In this guide