Erectile
Dysfunction

PRIMARY
TREATMENT
OPTIONS

This brochure, the second in a three-part
series, focuses on erectile dysfunction, or ED.
You may still hear it called “impotence,” but
today doctors usually will refer to it as ED,
a more precise term because it refers to only
erection problems. In this brochure, you will
learn about oral therapies that may be used
to treat this condition.

There are several different sexual problems a man
may face:
• low libido, having little or no sex drive or
interest in sex;
• ejaculatory difficulties, which can include
premature ejaculation (reaching orgasm
too soon) or delayed ejaculation (taking an
extremely long time to reach an orgasm);
and
• erectile dysfunction (ED), the persistent
inability to get or maintain an erection
firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
These conditions can overlap—one man may have
more than one condition at the same time. The
good news is that solutions are available for all of
these problems to help a man and his partner enjoy
a satisfying sexual relationship throughout life.

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Until relatively recently, a man who had trouble
getting or keeping an erection was likely to suffer
in silence. He may have thought of the problem
as a personal failure or an unavoidable part of the
aging process. He may have been too embarrassed
to bring up the subject with his doctor, or just have
assumed that there was no good solution, so the
condition went untreated.
Several developments have changed that situation.
Today we have not only a greater understanding
of male sexual health, but also a broader array
of treatment options to help a man achieve and
maintain satisfying erections. And media attention
on some of the treatment options has made it
easier for a man to take the first step in resolving
ED: discussing it with his partner and doctor.

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WHAT IS ED?
Men who have ED have a problem getting or
keeping an erection that’s firm enough for sexual
intercourse. All men have difficulties with erections
from time to time. In some men it is infrequent
or mild. In others it is a consistent, more severe
problem. It can cause low self-esteem, performance
anxiety, depression, stress and may affect the
quality of a marriage or intimate relationship.
If you know or suspect you have ED, you are not
alone. Studies show that about one half of American
men over age 50 (or 30 million men in that age
group) have some degree of ED. In seeking help for
ED, it is also important to remember that an erection
problem affects both partners in a relationship.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ED
You’ve probably heard about or seen the ads for
the oral medications that are used to treat ED. For
most men, those pills are considered the first line
of therapy. They are effective and, unlike some of
the older methods, easy and convenient to use.
The oral medications are not the only solutions,
however. Depending on your situation, your doctor
might provide you with a number of additional
choices. Like the decision to treat ED, selecting
the kind of treatment to use is a personal decision
that depends on the preferences of you and your
partner.

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REVERSIBLE CAUSES
Before or while beginning treatment, your doctor
may be able to significantly improve ED by treating
an underlying cause.
LIFESTYLE OR PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
Changing certain habits, such as stopping drug
abuse, may improve or eliminate ED. Psychological
problems, such as relationship conflicts, depression
or performance anxiety, can also be successfully
treated in many cases.
PRESCRIPTION OR NONPRESCRIPTION
DRUG USE
If ED is a side effect of a medication you are
taking, your doctor may be able to help you work
around the problem by adjusting the dose of
your medication or switching you to a different
drug. However, don’t stop taking your medicine
or change your dosage without consulting your
doctor first.
HORMONE THERAPY
If a blood test shows that your testosterone level
is too low, the doctor may prescribe testosterone
replacement therapy, particularly if you’re
experiencing diminished libido in addition to ED.
This therapy can be administered in various ways,
including: through regular injections, a gel applied
to the skin or a patch that is worn on the skin.

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MEDICATION FOR ED
Sildenafil citrate (Viagra®), vardenafil HCI
(Levitra®) and tadalafil (Cialis®) are oral
medications that have been demonstrated safe
and effective for treating ED in a broad range of
patients. Sildenafil citrate was the first of these
three drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). It became available in 1998.
Media attention about the drug led to greater
public awareness of ED. As a result, more men
and their partners felt comfortable talking about
ED and asking for help with it. The FDA approved
vardenafil HCI and tadalafil in 2003.
All three pills belong to a class of drugs known
as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors.
Though they work in the same way to help men
have erections, there are differences among them.
The differences include what the standard dose is,
how long their effect lasts, which side effects are
associated with them, and how they interact with
food or other medications.
PDE-5 inhibitors work by relaxing the muscle cells
in the erection chambers, enhancing blood flow
into the penis and thereby helping to produce a
rigid erection. When a man is sexually excited,
his brain sends messages through the nerves to
the penis. These nerves release a substance that
relaxes the smooth muscle in the penis and allows
for increased blood flow. The PDE-5 inhibitors

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temporarily prevent (or inhibit) the breakdown of
that natural substance.
In general, sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCI and
tadalafil are effective in about seven out of every 10
men with ED. They only work if a man is sexually
stimulated, but they can be effective regardless
of age, race or ED severity. Even men with severe
or complete ED may respond to an oral PDE-5
inhibitor. They have been shown to help men who
have ED that is of unknown cause or related to
diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, spinal cord
injuries, a past heart attack (more than six months
ago), heart bypass surgery and depression. These
drugs are also helpful when ED is associated with
antidepressant use or medicine used to treat high
blood pressure. PDE-5 inhibitors should be tried in
men who have ED following pelvic surgery; their
effectiveness is generally less than in cases where
men have only medical problems causing ED.

PRACTICAL TIPS
Studies show that many men who do not seem to
respond to an oral PDE-5 inhibitor may not be
taking the medication properly. These tips will
help increase the likelihood that the treatment is
effective. Additional information on how to take
your oral PDE-5 inhibitor is found in the table on
page 12.

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TIMING IS IMPORTANT
All the PDE-5 inhibitors take some time to work
and their effects last for only a set amount of time.
It is recommended that these drugs be taken 30-60
minutes before sexual activity.
Sildenafil citrate works best on an empty stomach.
Eating a heavy, fatty meal or drinking a lot of
alcohol before taking sildenafil citrate can delay
or prevent its effects. Tadalafil and vardenafil HCI
can generally be taken without regard to meals,
although a heavy, fatty meal may also slow the
absorption of vardenafil HCI and delay its effects.
The effects of sildenafil citrate and vardenafil HCI
may last for 30 minutes to four hours or longer.
Tadalafil may be effective for up to 36 hours. This
does not mean that you will have an erection that
lasts for that length of time, but that tadalafil has
a longer duration of activity in your system, giving
you the opportunity for an erection. With all of the
PDE-5 inhibitors, sexual stimulation is required to
achieve an erection. If you take your medication
and just sit in front of the television with no sexual
stimulation, the medication will not work. These
drugs are not designed to treat a lack of sexual
desire, which is different from experiencing desire
but not being able to get or maintain an erection.

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CONSIDER THE BIGGER PICTURE
Although oral PDE-5 inhibitor therapy is very
effective in helping men achieve an erection, it will
not magically restore an intimate relationship if
there are other problems, too. This is especially
true if a man has had long-term ED. Good
communication between partners is required.
Some couples benefit from sexual counseling and
education that can help them identify and deal
with psychological or relationship issues that affect
their sex life.
Even men who respond to treatment with a PDE-5
inhibitor should pay attention to lifestyle factors
that can affect ED. Make good food choices, get
regular physical activity, and try to maintain
normal weight and cholesterol levels. Drink
alcohol only in moderation and don’t smoke.
Following this advice can help improve how you
respond to drug treatment for ED and help prevent
your ED from becoming worse. In other words,
you can help the drug help you. At the same time,
these steps will definitely have a positive effect on
your overall health, quality of life and longevity.

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WORK WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO FIND
THE BEST DOSE FOR YOU
Sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCI and tadalafil
all come in various strengths. Your doctor will
determine the best starting dose for you and may
adjust the dose if the drug does not seem effective
or is causing bothersome side effects. A lower
starting dose is generally recommended for men
over age 65, men on alpha blockers (for BPH or
high blood pressure), those with severe liver or
kidney disease, and in men who are taking certain
medications, such as cimetidine (Tagamet™),
erythromycin, ketoconazole or protease inhibitors.
Do not change your dose without talking to your
doctor.
Never take any of the PDE-5 inhibitors more than
once a day. If you are taking certain medications or
have kidney or liver problems, your doctor may limit
you to taking one dose every two or three days.
All of these PDE-5 inhibitors are believed to
be equally effective. Still, if your doctor has
prescribed one of these drugs for you, and you
are not happy with the results after a fair trial,
ask your doctor about trying one of the other
products.
Before giving up on one drug and switching to
another, may sure you are using the drug correctly,
and talk to your doctor about adjusting the

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dose. Remember that the drugs are not magic.
Even if your ED is due to physical problems,
a history of ED may leave you nervous about
your performance. You may need to try out ED
treatment a few times to feel comfortable and
relaxed, so you may not respond fully the first
couple of times you take a PDE-5 inhibitor.
DON’T SHARE YOUR MEDICATION
(OR OTHER ED TREATMENTS) WITH ANYONE
The PDE-5 inhibitors are for treatment of ED in
men only. They should not be taken by women
or children. None of the PDE-5 inhibitors are
intended for use in men who do not have ED.
They do not:
• increase sexual desire
• increase sexual prowess in men with
normal erectile function
• affect fertility
• act as a male form of birth control
• protect against HIV or other sexually
transmitted diseases

SIDE EFFECTS
As with any drug, there are some side effects
associated with PDE-5 inhibitors. Most common
are headaches, flushing (redness) of the face,
running or stuffy nose, upset stomach, dizziness
and muscle aches. Those side effects are usually
mild, but taking the drug with alcohol may

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make them worse. A few men who take a PDE-5
inhibitor, especially sildenafil citrate, may notice
temporary changes in their color vision. Things
may seem to have a blue tint or look brighter than
usual. In 2005, reports emerged possibly linking
decreased vision or sudden blindness with the
use of PDE-5 inhibitors. This extremely rare type
of vision loss is caused by low blood flow to the
optic nerve and is known as non-arteritic anterior
ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). However,
the condition has also been found in patients over
age 50 who may also suffer from heart disease,
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
history of smoking or eye problems and is not
connected exclusively to PDE-5 therapy. If you lose
your eyesight while taking a PDE-5 inhibitor, get
medical help immediately. More information from
the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
can be found on line at www.fda.gov/cder.
Usually, side effects associated with PDE-5
inhibitors disappear in a few hours. They have
been reported to last somewhat longer with
tadalafil compared with sildenafil citrate or
vardenafil. In particular, muscle aches and back
pain associated with tadalafil may last up to 48
hours. Contact your doctor if you experience any
side effects that are bothersome or do not go away.
Sildenafil, at the 50 mg and 100 mg doses, and
all dosages of vardenafil should be administered

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with caution in patients taking alpha-blocker
medications (see respective product information
sheets for details).

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
The PDE-5 inhibitors have helped many men with
ED, and the FDA continues to indicate that they
are safe and well-tolerated when taken as directed
by men who have gotten approval from their
doctors.
If you want to try one of these medications,
talk to your doctor. Remember, ED is a medical
condition that requires a doctor’s evaluation
before any treatment is prescribed. Never use a
PDE-5 inhibitor without a prescription. Never get
a prescription for sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCI
or tadalafil over the Internet or other nonstandard
source. You run several risks:
• You may be buying a counterfeit product that does not have the same purity,
strength or quality as the real drug.
• Your ED may be related to serious health
problems that will be undetected and
untreated if you don’t get a medical examination.
• The medication may interact with other
drugs you’re taking, or may otherwise not
be safe for you to take.

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Never take any PDE-5 inhibitor if you are taking
any medication that contains a nitrate. If you
are not sure if you are taking a nitrate, ask your
doctor. One of the most commonly used nitrates is
nitroglycerin, which is often prescribed for angina
(heart-related chest pain). Nitrates can be taken in
several forms. There are pills that are swallowed
and pills that are placed under the tongue. The
drug is also available as a skin patch and in an
inhaler.
When a PDE-5 inhibitor is used in combination
with any nitrate, blood pressure may drop to
dangerously low levels. For the same reason, PDE-5
inhibitors must not be used in combination with
recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate, known as
“poppers.” Make sure you tell doctors, pharmacists
and other health care providers if you take
sildenafil citrate, vardenafil HCI or tadalafil even
if only occasionally, so that you do not also receive
a nitrate.

AVAILABLE
STRENGTHS

USUAL STARTING
DOSE*

sildenafil
citrate
(Viagra®)

25, 50, 100 mg

50 mg

tadalafil
(Cialis®)

5, 10, 20 mg

10 mg

2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg

10 mg

DRUG

vardenafil HCI
(Levitra®)

* For men without liver or kidney disease and not taking medicatio
of sildenafil and vardenafil is also lower in men over 65 years o

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Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines called
alpha-blockers. Alpha-blockers are medications
that may be prescribed for a variety of reasons,
including for the treatment of high blood pressure
or prostate problems. Medications within this
class include terazosin HCl (Hytrin®), tamsulosin
HCl (Flomax®), doxazosin mesylate (Cardura®),
prazosin HCl (Minipress®) and alfuzosin HCl
(Uroxatral®).
Taking an alpha-blocker together with a PDE-5
inhibitor may lead to an unsafe, sudden drop in
blood pressure. Your doctor will advise you about
using a PDE-5 inhibitor and an alpha-blocker.
The PDE-5 inhibitors should be used cautiously in
men with certain medical conditions:
• active stomach ulcers
• certain heart problems (e.g., heart failure)
• retinitis pigmentosa (a rare eye disease)

MAXIMUM
DURATION

SHOULD I AVOID TAKING THIS
MEDICATION WITH MEALS?

4 hours

Yes

36 hours

No

4 hours

No

ons that can affect PDE-5 inhibitor blood levels; the usual starting dose
of age.

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• a recent (within the past six months)
stroke, heart attack or life-threatening
arrhythmia
• abnormally low or elevated blood pressure
• liver or kidney problems
• bleeding disorders
• a deformed penis shape or Peyronie’s
disease
• a history of a erection lasting more than
four hours
• certain blood cell problems
Make sure your doctor knows if you have any
of these conditions. If you have taken a PDE-5
inhibitor and then require emergency medical
treatment, make sure you share that information
with medical personnel.

SEX FOR HEART PATIENTS
If you know you have a heart condition and want
to start treatment for ED, first ask your doctor if
your heart can handle the extra strain of having
sex. Because sex makes the heart work harder,
sexual activity is not advisable for some men
with certain heart problems. However, most men
with the following cardiovascular conditions are
safely able to be sexually active and use any of the
current therapies for ED:

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• controlled high blood pressure
• a past heart attack
• after a successful heart bypass operation
If you have never been diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease (a disease of the heart or
blood vessels) your doctor will check out your
health before prescribing ED treatment, with
special attention to your risk factors for heart or
circulatory disease. That’s because ED may be a
clue to undiagnosed cardiovascular disease or
other disorders.

WHEN TO SEE A SPECIALIST
Newer, easy-to-administer medications for ED
mean that primary care doctors, such as internists
or family practice physicians, now routinely treat
the condition. In some cases, your primary care
doctor may refer you to a urologist who specializes
in the treatment of ED, or a specialist to treat a
disease or condition that may be an underlying
cause of ED.
You may be sent to see a urologist if you don’t
respond to drug therapy, if your ED is complicated
or if your primary care doctor decides you need
a second opinion. Urologists, in addition to
performing specialized evaluations, prescribe
medications and perform surgery to correct
erection problems.

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GLOSSARY
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): an enlarged
prostate not caused by cancer; BPH can cause problems
with urination because the prostate squeezes the
urethra at the opening of the bladder.
diabetes mellitus: a condition characterized by high
blood sugar resulting from the body’s inability to use
sugar (glucose) as it should; in Type 1 diabetes, the
pancreas is not able to make enough insulin; in Type 2
diabetes, the body is resistant to using available insulin.
erectile dysfunction (ED): the inability to get or
maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
ejaculation: release of semen from the penis during
sexual climax.
erection: enlargement and hardening of the penis
caused by increased blood flow into the penis and
decreased blood flow out of it as a result of sexual
excitement.
fertility: the ability to conceive and have children.
high blood pressure: medical term is hypertension.
impotence: the precise term erectile dysfunction (ED)
has largely replaced the word “impotence” because it
refers only to erection problems.
libido: sexual desire.

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orgasm: the climax of sexual excitement, consisting
of intense muscle tightening around the genital area
experienced as a pleasurable wave of sensations through
parts of the body.
phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors:
oral medications that are the first line of therapy for
uncomplicated ED.
penis: the male organ used for urination and sex.
premature ejaculation: the inability to maintain an
erection long enough for mutual satisfaction.
prostate: in men, a walnut-shaped gland that
surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder; the
prostate supplies fluid that goes into semen.
testosterone: male hormone responsible for sexual
desire and for regulating a number of body functions.
urethra: in males, this narrow tube carries urine from
the bladder to the outside of the body and also serves as
the channel through which semen is ejaculated; extends
from the bladder to the tip of the penis.
urologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of
the male and female urinary systems and the male
reproductive system.

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The American Urological Association
Foundation, Inc. (formerly the American Foundation for Urologic Disease, Inc.) is a charitable organization established to raise funds for
research, lay education and patient advocacy
for the prevention, detection, management
and cure of urologic diseases.
The American Urological Association Foundation
provides this information based on current medical and scientific knowledge. This information
is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for
professional medical advice. It is not to be used
or relied on for that purpose. Please see your
urologist or other health care provider regarding any health concerns and always consult a
health care professional before you start or stop
any treatments, including medications.
To obtain multiple copies of this brochure or
others in our patient information library, please
call 410-689-3990.
Single copies of these booklets
are available free of charge
by calling or writing:

American Urological Association
Foundation, Inc.
1000 Corporate Blvd., Suite 410
Linthicum, MD 21090
Toll-free number: 1-800-828-7866
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
Supported by a grant from:

VISIT US ON LINE AT:
www.auafoundation.org
www.UrologyHealth.org