How Much/Often Should I Be Taking Erectile Dysfunction / Ed Medication?
If you are relatively new to using ED medication to improve your erections, it may be confusing when looking into the most appropriate dosage. For one, there are two leading ED pills – sildenafil, or generic Viagra, and tadalafil, which is generic Cialis. Each of these drugs has a different dosage. For example, the maximum dose of sildenafil is 100 milligrams, while the maximum dosage for tadalafil is 20 milligrams. But will you always be taking the highest amount?
The short answer is no; you will likely not take the maximum dose, at least not early in the course of treatment. However, we may prescribe the maximum dose for you to purchase and cut at home. You see, as urologists, we not only look to treat the symptoms and concerns that you come to us for, but we are also looking to save you money. As such, it is not unusual to prescribe you a dosage greater than you need, at which point you can cut the pill in half or even smaller at home. You can spend far less than you typically would with an online ED medication purveyor while still getting the proper dosage.
To that end, it is difficult to quantify precisely how much medication is needed. For some, the standard sildenafil dose of 50 milligrams is needed to achieve or maintain an erection. For others, as low as 20 milligrams may be appropriate. Understanding the proper dosage takes trial and error, and of course, we typically suggest that patients take the lowest effective dose.
Will My ED Get Worse?
The likelihood is that, yes, erectile dysfunction will get worse over time. While a small number of our patients suffer from psychological barriers – getting psyched out by sexual performance – for lack of a better phrase, ED is a vascular concern in most patients. Of course, it is possible that by modifying other medications or by treating diabetes, patients may regain some of their erectile function. However, less efficient blood flow is a natural part of the aging process for most.
Fortunately, these medications often help men with erectile dysfunction well into middle age and even into their advanced years. Many of these men do not need to consider further treatment. However, this is not always the case for men suffering from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.
If sildenafil and tadalafil no longer offer the erectile function that you expect, it is essential that you speak to a men’s health urologist like Dr. Natalie to understand precisely what may be going on. Again, for most, this is just a general aging process, and we will begin to evaluate other options, including penile injections and a penile prosthesis. Injections are often the next step from medication and can be very effective in helping a man achieve or maintain an erection when used correctly. Penile implants, on the other hand, are a permanent solution using an implanted medical device. With several discreet pumping actions, most patients can achieve a rigid erection for intercourse.
How Often Should I Take My ED Medication?
The standard advice is to take no more than the dosage you have discussed with your urologist about an hour before sexual intercourse. You should not take the medication more than once a day, even if you are sexually active more often. Taking more than prescribed simply increases the risks associated with the medication and not your performance. If you have any questions or concerns or if your ED medication is not as effective as it once was, we encourage you to contact Dr. Natalie to discuss possible options.
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