Drug dysfunction erectile medication daily news.

Feb. 8, 2002 — Viagra, the drug best known for reviving men’s sex lives, may also revitalize the brain, according to new research. An animal study suggests that the anti-impotence drug can reduce the effects of stroke by helping the brain heal itself.

“What we found is that we can use certain drugs like Viagra to create new brain cells,” said study author Michael Chopp, PhD, scientific director of the Neuroscience Institute at Henry Ford Hospital, in a news release. “And these cells are created in both elderly as well as young subjects.”

Chopp presented his research today at the 27th International Stroke Conference in San Antonio, Texas. He says Viagra was selected for testing in stroke treatment because it is chemically similar to other compounds that have been shown to improve brain function in animals after stroke.

In the study, researchers gave rats Viagra for six days after inducing an ischemic stroke (the most common type of stroke caused by a blockage of an artery that supplies blood to the brain). After 28 days, they found the rats that received the drug grew significantly more new brain cells. The Viagra-treated rats also performed better on agility, sensory, and muscle function tests.

“When animals are treated with Viagra, the drug provides very significant … benefit [to the brain]. These animals do better on many different outcome measures,” said Chopp.

Researchers say additional studies have also shown that Viagra given one day after stroke reduced function problems in animals.

However, human clinical trials to test Viagra as a treatment after stroke are still a long way off. Additional testing is needed to determine the best time for treatment and screen for adverse effects in rats. (more̷

March 29, 2004 — Men have high expectations of Viagra, and if the drug fails them the effects can be devastating to their ego, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that men are more distressed about erectile dysfunction than previously thought, and the media frenzy surrounding the launch of Viagra has dramatically raised their expectations of treatment.

The study shows that impotence has a considerable impact on men, “with most more deeply shocked than generally realized, their masculinity and self-esteem being particularly affected.”

When treatment with Viagra was successful, men’s self-confidence surged. But if the drug did not work on the first try, the study showed the psychological blow was severe and led to depression in some cases.

Impact of Erectile Dysfunction

Researchers say much attention has been given to the causes of erectile dysfunction, but little is known about the impact of the disorder and its subsequent treatment.

In this study, published in the current issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers interviewed 40 men who attended a men’s health clinic in the U.K. and were prescribed Viagra for erectile dysfunction. The average age of the participants was 52.

The study shows the most common initial reaction to erectile dysfunction was a sense of emasculation.

“For many men, the ability to perform sexually and to satisfy their partner was an important maker of their masculinity,” write researcher John Tomlinson, of the Men’s Health Clinic at Royal Hampshire Country Hospital in Winchester, U.K., and colleagues.

This decline in self-confidence not only affected their sexual relationships, but it also had a negative effect on day-to-day relationships with co-workers and friends. Many men said they felt “old before their time.”

Impact of Treatment With Viagra

Most of the men had first heard about Viagra on television or in newspaper articles and had high expectations of the drug before taking it. Researchers found many men expected to gain an instant erection easily and immediately before sexual intercourse.

Men who were successfully treated with Viagra experienced a boost in self-confidence.

But if the drug failed to work on the first try, the psychological blow was severe. Most tried the drug again, but a second failure just confirmed their negative feelings.

Researchers found all the men who thought the treatment had been unsuccessful expressed a considerable degree of disappointment, and they often attributed it to the media hype that raised their expectations of Viagra.

Many also thought the treatment was unsuccessful because it took the spontaneity out of their sex or because their sex life now depended on medical treatment.

Researchers say the findings suggest that health-care providers need to be sensitive to the effects of erectile dysfunction as well as the impact of its treatment.

“Erectile dysfunction has a major psychosocial impact on men, and health professionals might well also anticipate an impact on personal relationships,” write the researchers. “The media have had a major effect on expectations of the effects of [Viagra], and in retrospect, less sensational reporting would have lowered those expectations to the patients’ benefit.”

SOURCES: Tomlinson, J. British Medical Journal, March 29, 2004; vol 328. (more̷

A drug to boost female sex drive could be worth billions to the company that
manages to get it approved by the FDA. Recently, two new treatments have made
strides towards that goal. But some are skeptical of the real value of such
a drug to the women it’s supposed to help.

In late 2004, FDA approval of Intrinsa, a testosterone patch for low female
sex drive, seemed imminent. News reports heralded Intrinsa as a “Viagra for
her,” suggesting that it would revolutionize sexual health for women just
as erectile dysfunction pills had for men.

Except an FDA advisory panel saw things differently. Finding numerous
problems with the evidence for the drug’s effectiveness and safety, experts on
the panel voted against approving it. Procter & Gamble, the company
responsible for Intrinsa, withdrew its application. Procter & Gamble is a
WebMD sponsor.

Now the frontrunner in the race to market the first prescription drug for
low female sex drive is Boehringher-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. It has a drug
called flibanserin in phase III clinical trials, the final phase of drug
testing required for FDA approval. The company is a WebMD sponsor.

Flibanserin is a bit mysterious. It is a kind of antidepressant, but it
hasn’t been approved previously for any use. Boehringher-Ingelheim is saying
little publicly about the drug. The company declined WebMD’s request to
interview a company representative, instead issuing a prepared statement. The
statement does not explain how the drug is supposed to work, other than that
“flibanserin is a molecule acting on the central nervous system and is not
a hormone product.”

Another drug, called bremelanotide, is in development for low female sex
drive and male erectile dysfunction at the same time. Both potential uses are
being tested in phase II clinical trials, which are early studies to assess how
well a drug works and how safe it is.

Bremelanotide is a new chemical created in the laboratory. It’s given in the
form of a nasal spray, and it acts on the central nervous system.

“It’s actually working in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus,
which is known to be involved in sexual arousal in both men and women,”
says Carl Spana, PhD, CEO of Palatin Technologies, the company researching
bremelanotide. (more̷

diabetes,
high blood pressure, and low back pain, require fewer
medications if you can increase your activity level, lose weight, and improve
your diet. For some people who have type 2 diabetes, simple measures such as
eating a balanced diet that spreads
carbohydrate throughout the day and exercising
regularly can help keep your blood sugar level within a safe range without
insulin or other medications. Likewise, following a
particular eating plan and lowering your salt intake has been proven to lower
blood pressure.¹ (more̷

In the 1970s, parents worried that their longhaired, bell-bottomed teenagers were getting drunk or smoking marijuana. Today, dangers also come in the form of prescription medicines — from opioid pain relievers such as OxyContin to ADHD drugs such as Ritalin.

Prescription drug abuse appears to be on the rise in this country. Wilson Compton, MD, director of the division of epidemiology services and prevention research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), says the reasons aren’t clear.

But he suspects that increasing numbers of prescriptions written for certain drugs, such as ADHD medications, afford greater opportunity. “A certain portion of those will be diverted for abuse purposes,” he says.

Compton also says that in the current environment it seems almost normal to pop pills. “All of the advertising for pills may play a role in our willingness to try them.”

Roughly 6.3 million Americans report that they’re currently using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prescription drug abuse knows no age. The elderly are vulnerable because they’re more likely to take many medications, often long term. Also, women may be as much as 55% more likely as men to be prescribed drugs that can be abused, such as narcotics and tranquilizers; therefore, their risk is greater, according to the NIDA.

Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse

Abuse is most common among young people, Compton says. “Prescription drug abuse — like most drug abuse — tends to peak in the teens and 20s,” he tells WebMD.

Almost one in five teens — roughly 4.5 million — has tried getting high with prescription drugs (typically with pain relievers such as Vicodin or OxyContin, or stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall). That’s according to a recent national study on teen abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs by the nonprofit Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

The study also found that teens’ abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines is equal to or higher than abuse of drugs such as cocaine and crack, Ecstasy, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Some teens say that prescription medicines are much safer to abuse than illegal drugs. But just because prescription drugs aren’t cooked up in someone’s garage doesn’t mean that they’re safe. According to Compton, the main risk for many drugs is addiction.

“As people try these substances, some of them will find that they really like them,” he says. “They take more of them and they continue to take them, even when they no longer want to. And that’s the hallmark of addiction. It creeps up on people in very subtle and unexpected ways. No one starts out taking a drug, saying, ‘I want to be an addict.’”

Besides addiction, prescription drug abuse can bring on a host of health problems, such as irregular heartbeats, seizures, hostility, and paranoia — even infections with HIV or other agents if someone dissolves and injects pills to get a quick high. Overdoses can be fatal. To combat the potential for abuse, some drug companies have marketed newer, timed-release versions that are harder to misuse.

It’s important to remember that most people can reap benefits from prescription drugs without problems. But a minority will run into trouble. “Using these substances outside of a doctor’s prescription is already a red flag and a warning,” Compton says.

Which drugs are commonly abused? Who’s most susceptible? How could they be endangering their health? Here’s the rundown. (more̷

Jan. 2, 2003 — For millions who suffer from depression, the sexual side effects of many antidepressants can make treatment hard to swallow. But a new study shows that a popular drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (also known as ED) can help depressed men put the spice back in their sex lives and make it easier to stick with their treatment plan.

The study, published in Jan. 1 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that more than half of the men who took Viagra (sildenafil) in addition to their prescribed antidepressant had a significant improvement in sexual function.

Researchers say that sexual dysfunction occurs in about 30% to 70% of people who take the most frequently prescribed antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and others). The effects may include problems with sexual desire or libido, arousal, and orgasm.

The sexual side effects can become so bothersome that the study authors say almost 90% of depressed patients who develop these sexual problems stop taking their antidepressants too soon, which can put them at risk for a relapse of depression.

In the study, researchers looked at the effects of taking Viagra before sexual activity among 90 men with an average age of 45 who suffered from sexual dysfunction as a result of their treatment for depression.

After six weeks of study, researcher H. George Nurnberg, MD, of the department of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and colleagues found that 54.5% of the men who took Viagra had much or very much improved scores on overall sexual function compared with only about 4% of those who did not take the drug.

Researchers say measures of erectile function, arousal, ejaculation, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction improved significantly among the men treated with Viagra compared with those who received the placebo.

The most common side effect was headache, occurring in 40% of patients who took Viagra.

Both groups remained in relapse from depression throughout the study.

The authors say it’s the first study to show that Viagra can reduce the negative sexual side effects of antidepressant treatment and merits further research to see if the drug can be used as a first-line treatment for this common problem.

The study was supported by an independent grant from Pfizer Inc., which makes Viagra.

SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 1, 2003. (more̷

Oct. 3, 2001 — Impotence and depression are closely linked and commonly occur in the same man. But now a new study shows that one little blue pill might actually be able to take care of both problems.

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED), affects more than 18 million men in the U.S. As men age, it often becomes more difficult for them to maintain an erection. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can increase the risks of developing ED.

In some men, depression can cause ED. In others, however, ED may actually cause mild depression. So researchers from the department of psychiatry at Columbia University tried to determine whether Viagra could improve erections and depression in one fell swoop.

They looked at more than 150 men with ED and mild depression — half were given Viagra and the other half received a placebo but were not aware of which treatment they were taking.

As expected, the men receiving Viagra had a much greater response than those in the placebo group. About 90% of men taking Viagra had improvement in their erections and ability to have sexual intercourse. But only about 12% of men taking placebo had the same results.

The results often showed that whether the men took the drug or placebo, if erections improved, so did their mood.

“Results from the study suggest that successful treatment of ED in depressed men can lead to marked improvement in depression,” write Stuart N. Seidman, MD, and his colleagues. However, they are quick to point out that this single study does not reveal how long the improvement in depression will last. (more̷

Aug. 30, 2000 –The popular drug Viagra has improved the lives
of millions, but regular exercise could make it obsolete, according to a report
in the journal Urology.

In the first study of its kind, researchers showed that
physically active men have a lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED)
than inactive men, even if they don’t begin exercising until midlife. But
surprisingly, the study found that reducing tobacco and alcohol use and losing
weight in midlife didn’t reduce a man’s risk of developing erectile
dysfunction.

“Our study showed that men who burn 200 calories a day,
often by walking briskly for about two miles, can lower their risk of ED
significantly,” says study co-author Irwin Goldstein, MD, a professor of
urology at Boston University School of Medicine. “And men who burn more
than 200 calories a day can lower their risk even more.”

Defined as the inability to have or maintain an erection,
erectile dysfunction affects over half of all men between 40 and 70 years of
age, but isn’t necessarily part of aging.

For their study exploring the effects of lifestyle changes on
ED, Goldstein and colleagues interviewed nearly 600 healthy men ranging from
40-70 years of age. After their body mass was calculated, the participants were
polled about their physical activity, smoking habits, alcohol use, and sexual
function. Eight years later, the process was repeated.

Unlike regular exercise, smoking cessation, alcohol reduction,
and weight loss in midlife didn’t reduce the risk of developing erectile
dysfunction, according to the study. “This suggests that midlife changes
are too late to reverse their effects,” Goldstein cautions, “and
highlights the importance of adopting healthy behaviors early in life.”

One of the major causes of erectile dysfunction is hardening of
the arteries, which reduces the amount of blood that can enter and enlarge the
penis. “That’s why we say that good [heart] health is needed for good
sexual health,” says William Steers, MD, professor and chairman of urology
at University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

“In fact, ED may be an early warning sign of a future heart
attack or stroke,” Steers tells WebMD. “So think about some other ways
to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes,” he urges. For example,
men should:

• Stop smoking cigarettes and cigars
• Get their blood pressure under control
• Reduce dietary fat to lower their cholesterol
• Lose excess weight for their height
• Limit alcohol to one or two drinks a day

But even men who get started on a healthy lifestyle early in
life may experience impotence occasionally. “Psychological factors like
depression and anxiety can put the brakes on sexual function, but stress is
probably a bigger issue,” says Drogo Montague, MD, director of the Center
for Sexual Function at Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic and chairman of the American
Urological Association’s ED Guidelines Panel. “It can even lead to
persistent difficulty, so look for ways to relax and clear your mind.”

He also advises that men looking to avoid ED:

• Get adequate sleep to reduce fatigue
• Plan some time together with their partner, away from the kids
• Avoid alcohol before sex

Also, “a common cause of permanent impotence is physical
trauma like spinal cord injuries and pelvic fractures, so remember to wear your
seat belt,” Montague says.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of
Health. (more̷

type 1 diabetes are:

• Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as
  possible. The American Diabetes Association recommends a
  hemoglobin A_1c
  (HbA_1c) level of less than 7%. Some people may be
  able to achieve a normal level of less than 6%.² The
  lower the A_1c, the lower the chance of complications.
  The A_1c level is a measure of your blood sugar over the
  past 2 or 3 months.
• Eat a diet that spreads
  carbohydrate throughout the day.
• Get
  regular exercise.
• Take your prescribed insulin either by injection
  or through an
  insulin pump.
• Do not smoke.

For more information, see the Home Treatment section of the topic
Type
1 Diabetes: Living With the Disease. (more̷

erection problems (erectile dysfunction) that are
caused by blood vessel (vascular), hormonal, nervous system, or psychological
problems. They also may be used along with counseling to treat erection
problems that have psychological causes.

If erection problems could be caused by a
prescribed medication, it may be possible to change
the dose or try another medication. Do not change or stop taking any medication
without first talking with your health professional.

Medication Choices

Commonly used oral medications include: (more̷