Erectile Dysfunction Drugs - Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Two New Erectile Dysfunction Drugs: How They Measure Up Against Viagra

BOSTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Since Viagra was approved by the FDA in 1998, the number of men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction in the United States has increased by 250 percent. So there is no wonder why two new drugs for the condition have recently hit the market. The January issue of Harvard Health Letter examines Levitra and Cialis and assesses how these drugs measure up against the groundbreaking Viagra. Levitra offers a much smaller dose, 10 milligrams (mg), compared with the usual starting dose of 50 mg for Viagra. Levitra may also work faster- 25-30 minutes compared with an hour for Viagra. Cialis, on the other hand, stays active in the body much longer than the other two drugs 24-36 hours-compared to 4-5 hours for Viagra and Levitra.

The January Harvard Health Letter also examines the three drugs' similarities:

They all work by relaxing smooth muscle cells, thereby widening blood vessels.
None of the drugs automatically produce an erection. Rather, they make an erection possible with sexual arousal.
Resulting side effects are comparable and may include headaches, heartburn, and flushing.
The FDA advises against mixing these drugs with alpha blockers and nitrate medications.

Even with the introduction of these two new drugs, the decision to medicate erectile dysfunction should be carefully considered with a physician and will vary among male patients.

Related Information

Prostate health is a topic covered in our special report on erectile dysfunction.

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Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of the Harvard Medical School . You can subscribe to Harvard Health Letter for $28 per year at www.health.harvard.edu or by calling 1-877-649-9457 toll-free.

About Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health Publications publishes five monthly newsletters—Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women's Health Watch, Harvard Men's Health Watch, Harvard Mental Health Letter, and Harvard Heart Letter—as well as more than 50 special health reports and books drawing on the expertise of the 8,000 faculty physicians at Harvard Medical School and its world-famous affiliated hospitals. For more information about Harvard Medical School publications, please visit our Web site, www.health.harvard.edu.