Erectile dysfunction, a common medical condition which affects
hundreds of thousands of men in the United States, is fast becoming a
topic that is no longer under constant scrutiny and ridicule.  Viagra,
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 1998 has helped
men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction in the United States and has
opened the doors to several new drugs prescribed for this condition.
In addition to Viagra, the option to take Levitra or Cialis offers
more relief for men suffering from erectile dysfunction.  Studies have
shown that Levitra may work faster than Viagra, up to 25-30 minutes
faster as compared to an hour for a dose of Viagra to begin working.
Cialis stays active in the body for much longer than Viagra or
Levitra, up to 24-36 hours.

The basic premise of how the different medications treat erectile
dysfunction is that they all work by relaxing the smooth muscle cells
which widens the blood vessels.  None of the drugs indicated here
automatically produce an erection, but they do make an erection
possible with sexual arousal.  Erectile dysfunction medication blocks
an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 which helps the smooth muscles in
the penis to relax.  This effectively increases blood flow, which
allows an erection.  The drugs typically used to treat erectile
dysfunction has been proven to be safe, however there are several
reported cases of recreational use of these drugs.  Recreational use
of erectile dysfunction medications is associated with higher risks of
sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), which includes HIV.

Erectile dysfunction is the consistent or recurrent inability of a man
to attain or maintain a penile erection that is sufficient for sexual
performance.  As erectile dysfunction is an extremely private matter,
the topic is fast becoming less taboo and is talked about more often
now than ever.  It is estimated that erectile dysfunction affects more
than one half of all men over the age of 40, yet despite the high
numbers, 9 out of 10 men in the United States have not yet sought
treatment from a physician.  Erectile dysfunction has been found to be
three times more prevalent among men diagnosed with diabetes than in
the general population.  The onset of erectile dysfunction is found in
half of men with diabetes within ten years of their diagnoses and it
can occur in 9% of men with diabetes between the ages of 20 and 29 and
rises to 95% by the age of 70.

The three drugs discussed in this article are all chemically similar
and have similar side effects.  The most noticeable difference is that
men using Viagra are more likely to experience temporary difficulties
with color vision.  Viagra taken with food can also decrease its
effectiveness by 29%, yet food causes little if any effect on Levitra
or Cialis.  With more and more drugs entering the market, it’s
becoming more difficult to determine which medication will be most
beneficial for you.  Contact your physician for further information
and to determine which drug is right for you.