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Melanoma and Erectile dysfunction drugs

In the recent past, many men have shied away from using PDE5 because of the fear that such medications are the leading cause of melanoma; this is despite the fact that research has proved that indeed it is not related at all.

However, a recent study by the national cancer institute published on May 19th, 2017 has once again dispelled this fear and shows that drugs used for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil commonly referred to as Viagra may not be responsible for melanoma which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

A study involving 866.049 men was conducted in 2014-2016, and it indicated that there was an overall risk of about 12% for men who used these drugs to develop melanoma. Another finding shows that these drugs are only associated with a stage zero melanoma whereby cancer cells are only confined to the upper layer and do not spread further.

The study further goes on to show that even men who take large quantities of PDE5 inhibitors ( roughly 100 pills or more) have had no significant increase in cases of melanoma, therefore, researchers have no relationship with the use of the drugs. In essence, therefore, if indeed this drug brings about melanoma, then too much use of PDE5 would accelerate the disease.

Other research has also shown that Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications do not have any significant relationship with melanoma and are therefore safe. The study further asserts that the primary reason is that men using PDE5 are conscious of their health and hence they are more likely to undergo a test, and some get diagnosed with the mild form of melanoma.

Therefore, the use of PDE5 is not the only cause of melanoma at least according to studies so far. Researchers have concluded that if this drug were responsible for this form of skin cancer, it would exhibit in a more aggressive form as compared to what research has found out.

That’s a decision you should make in consultation with a physician. Since there have been no large scale clinical studies on the effects of Viagra on premature ejaculation, and since nobody has tried gaining FDA approval for this use of the drug, you would be taking Viagra off-label.

One of the main problems with taking Viagra to treat premature ejaculation (especially for men who don’t have erectile dysfunction) is that it’s expensive. No generics will be on the market in the United States until the end of this year, and the company that’s been approved to offer the generic agreed to specific terms with Pfizer (Viagra’s manufacturer) that means they won’t be selling it at the rock-bottom prices they can in markets like Western Europe, where many generics are available.

Viagra and other popular prescription medications for erectile dysfunction belong to a drug class known as PDE-5 inhibitors. They work by inhibiting the action of an enzyme called PDE-5, which breaks down another substance called cyclic AMP. Less cyclic AMP means blood vessels cannot relax and allow maximum blood flow in, which can make it difficult to have an erection. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Staxyn inhibit PDE-5, allowing for higher levels of cyclic AMP, so blood vessels can open fully and allow sufficient blood flow.

Some erectile dysfunction medications must be timed more carefully than others.

By themselves, the drugs do not “cause” erections, but in the presence of sexual stimulation, they make it easier to get and maintain an erection, and make erections stronger. But the different drugs are all formulated slightly differently, so there are subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences in their effects.

How you take the drugs and when you take them can influence how well they work. Here are some frequently asked questions about the timing of use of medications for erectile dysfunction.

It’s possible to develop a psychological dependence on erectile dysfunction drugs.

It is possible for men to develop a psychological dependency on Viagra if they take it without having diagnosed erection problems. A man could, for example, really enjoy those strong erections he gets with Viagra and feel as if his perfectly normal non-enhanced erections are somehow inferior.

This can lead to a cycle of loss of confidence without the drug, less satisfying non-Viagra sex, and psychological dependence on it, even if there’s physically no reason for erection problems. After getting used to “super-erections” from Viagra, going off the drug could be a big letdown.

Viagra as an Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

After the authorization of Viagra by the food and drug administration FDA, an answer was found for men grappling with erectile dysfunction. It led to a wider range of deliberations regarding men’s sexual vitality. Before the Viagra endorsement, sexual stamina, particularly erectile dysfunction, was not discussed to the extent it is being done today.

With several commercial ads for the erectile dysfunction medications, individuals began to realize how common the condition was. According to WebMD, erectile dysfunction affects almost 20 million Americans, especially over 50-year-old men.

Presently, various drugs are sold to treat erectile dysfunction including Viagra. Nevertheless, other treatments also exist for the condition; they include hormone therapy, physical exercise, conscription bands, and psychologist’s visits.

According to the Men’s Health Clinic at the American Center, hardening of heart, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol cause approximately 70 percent of erectile dysfunction. However, other aspects that many men are likely unaware of, that causes erectile dysfunctions are depression and surgeries that affect the nerves such as colon and prostate surgeries.

For most men with the erectile dysfunction, they can have an erection but cannot uphold it. Since sex is a type of vigorous activity, all medical experts attending the erectile dysfunction patients are always required to assess whether their patients are of good health for sex before prescribing pills or Viagra. When a man cannot walk more than two staircases without being short of breath or have pain in the chest, then he may not be steady for coital from a cardiovascular perspective.

Bottom Line

Before the Viagra approval, some issues regarding men’s sexual health were ignored. The erectile dysfunction drugs adverts led to the realization that the condition affected many men. Apart from Viagra, this condition can be treated in other ways as mentioned above.