To understand how these drugs work we need to understand the mechanism of an erection. Basically in this rising of an erection two enzymes come into play. One is the penile hardening enzyme called cGMP -guanosinemonophosphate. The other enzyme which is the penile softening enzyme is called phosphodiesterase or pde5. Why do pde5 exists? Pde5 exists to regulate erection because a man is not supposed to be perpetually erect. The flaccid penis is the natural state. When a man gets sexually aroused his brain sends a signal to cGMP to cause the red blood cells to release nitric oxide to cause smooth muscles in the penis to relax and subsequently engorged. So after an orgasm the brain then sends another signal to turn down the production of the cGMP. Then the Pde5 can complete its regulation of an erection and the penis returns to its natural state. And if this pde5 is too active in a man or there are just too many in your body it will reduce the cGMP levels in the body and make it difficult to achieve a usable erection. So the aim of these drugs is to block or inhibit the function of the pde5 - the penile softening enzyme. Side effects Most of of the pde5 are found in the genitalia of the man. That being said, there are minute amounts found in other parts of the body, face, stomach, intestines, blood vessels of the brain even in the erectile tissues of the nose. The effect of Pde5 inhibitor on all these areas is the same and makes the smooth muscles relax.
So the drug works in every organ that contains pde5. Relaxing the smooth muscles. That may be what you are hoping only in your penis. The effect however is the same for all these organs in the body and to prolong the effect of cGMP and make smooth muscles relax. In the brain however it causes headaches, in the nose nasal stuffiness, in the face flushing, in the eyes blurred vision and a bluish/greenish tinge to your sight. It can also cause vascular dilation and a precipitious drop in the blood pressure especially if taken with alcohol, or combined with blood pressure medications or alpha blockers. The risks are not to be ignored in older men with low blood pressure or very high blood pressure. These people should try and avoid these drugs. These drugs work well in relatively healthy men and do not work well in men with diabetes or those with low testosterone levels or in men who have damaged nerve after a radical prostatectomy. They are not so effective in diabetics because it is harder for diabetics' smooth muscles to relax as they have a higher and tigther tone in their smooth muscles and the effect of cGMP caused by these Pde5 drugs may not be enough to create and prolong erection. These drugs are also not so effective in those with low testosterone because when the blood testosterone is low it is harder for the cells to relax. Until hormonal imbalance is corrected the drugs will not have enough effect to correct the ED problem. Another disadvantage with the drug is for it to work a man has to be sexually aroused. There are some novel ED drugs available that can cause an erection without the man feeling aroused.

Leave a comment