Viagra Alternatives

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I want a treatment but I don’t want to go straight for Viagra

Many people think that Viagra is the only erectile dysfunction treatment available. It’s not surprising because it’s the one you’re most likely to see in the news, in films, or on TV. The truth is that Viagra is one of a number of similar medication called PDE-5 inhibitors. These are the most common erectile dysfunction treatments and the first choice for doctors to prescribe.

The other PDE-5 inhibitors available in the UK are:

Viagra Connect – over-the-counter Viagra

Viagra Connect is the prescription-free form of Viagra that will be available Spring 2018. Because you don’t need a prescription, you can go straight to your pharmacist for an assessment for the medication and buy it over the counter. There’s no need to book an appointment with your doctor. Alternatively you can also get assessment for Viagra Connect online.

Sildenafil – the cheaper version of Viagra

Sildenafil is actually the same medication as Viagra but is a cheaper alternative because of the copyright laws involved. Before June 2013, the only company that could sell Viagra was Pfizer. Then after the patent (the legal control over the production of the drug) ran out, it was possible for other companies to sell the generic (non-branded) form of Viagra; Sildenafil. This means the price isn’t set by Pfizer any more so other companies can manufacture it cheaper.

Cialis – the longest lasting option

Cialis is another well-known erection medication. It’s active ingredient is tadalafil. The main advantage Cialis has over Viagra is that it lasts so much longer, with some men experiencing the effects a day and a half later. However, Cialis is also more expensive, so it’s not ideal if you prefer a cheaper treatment option.

Cialis can also be taken at a lower dose, once a day. Other PDE-5 pills have to be taken before you plan to have sex. Taking Cialis daily means you don’t have to plan ahead for sex, but it also means you need to remember to take it every day.

Levitra – similar to Viagra, but less likely to affect your eyesight

Levitra is another PDE-5 inhibitor with the active ingredient Vardenafil. Levitra and Viagra are actually quite similar. Viagra can affect eyesight in some people but Levitra is less likely to cause this to happen because of the difference in the way the two active ingredients work in your body. Also Levitra can sometimes start working faster than Viagra, which is good if you don’t want to plan sex as far in advance.

Spedra – the newest and fastest-acting treatment

Spedra is the newest PDE-5 inhibitor on the market in the UK with the active ingredient Avanafil. It is different from the other 3 as it is a ‘2nd generation’ erectile dysfunction medication. This means it was designed differently to the others. It works faster than Viagra and last longer.

Another thing to know about Spedra is it is easier to match the right dosage for people. Compared to the other PDE-5 inhibitors, Spedra has a much stronger or weaker effect based on the amount used. This means doctors can more easily match you with the right dose and reduce your chance of getting side effects.

I have tried Viagra and I wasn’t satisfied

If you have already gone to the effort of trying Viagra and you didn’t get the result you wanted it can feel like nothing is going to work. The truth is, not everyone finds a treatment that works for them on the first try. The important thing is even if you feel like giving up, don’t! You shouldn’t just put up with erectile dysfunction and you should keep looking for a treatment that works.

We recommend trying another pill like Viagra first. You could try one of the other PDE-5 inhibitors available in the UK (see the section above for more information). These include:

If you don’t want to try another pill like Viagra, then there are some other healthcare options that you could try:

Alprostadil – a cream, or injections, applied directly to your penis

Alprostadil is a chemical than be used to treat erectile dysfunction. It works differently to PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra because it is a topical treatment. This means it is only applied to one part of the body – the penis. Pills like Viagra affect the whole body, but Alprostadil doesn’t and can prevent some side effects this way.

The downsides to Alprostadil are that it is more difficult to use and it doesn’t last as long. It is however, slightly more effective. Many people still prefer taking a simple pill to applying cream or injecting themselves.

Penile implants – a device that is inserted into the penis through surgery

Penile implants are a type of operation where you have a device inserted into your penis to help support your erection. There are 3 types – malleable, three-piece inflatable, and self-contained inflatable.

Malleable implants are more common and are less likely to have mechanical break-down issues. However they are hard to hide as they don’t deflate into an non-erect penis shape. The other 2 inflatable implants are more likely to have problems, with the parts of the implant breaking down. But because you can keep them deflated, they are more life-like.

All three types of implant come with a risk of infection and other complications that come from having surgery.

Sex therapy – regular sessions to talk through your erectile dysfunction

Although idea of talking about your erection problems to a stranger can be off-putting, a sex therapist is qualified to help you do this. They will be able to make talking through your problems easier and they will suggest ways you can change your behaviour and thinking for better erections.

Sex therapy is a slightly different type of healthcare treatment because it isn’t physical, it’s psychological (based on mental health). Sex therapy can’t help your erectile dysfunction if there is a physical cause, but if you don’t know of a physical reason why you have erectile dysfunction then it could work for you.

You might also be able to get sex therapy for erectile dysfunction on the NHS. This is only if you qualify for a referral and you live in a region of the UK that offers this service.

I don’t want medication, I want a natural or herbal alternative

You feel like you don’t want to jump straight to medication or you may want to fix your erection problems by yourself. If this is the case, then there are some non-medical, natural, and herbal treatments that people use for erectile dysfunction. It’s important to remember that not all of these treatments have been shown to work.

Non-medical alternatives that are proven to work:

Non-medical treatments that have not been proven to work:

Weight loss – use either diet or exercise to reduce body fat

Although there are always benefits to losing weight, it can also have a positive effect on erectile dysfunction. Weight loss with only work if the erectile dysfunction you’re experiencing is linked to you being overweight in the first place. This is because if being overweight is causing blood flow problems, then it might be causing the erectile dysfunction too. If this isn’t the case, weight loss may not help solve your erectile dysfunction, although if you are overweight it is still a good idea.

Weight loss could potentially be free but you may find changing your diet and exercise habits does require you to invest some money. It is hard to say how long it will take to see erection improvements from weight loss. One study done on weight loss for treating erectile dysfunction found that 31% of men saw improvement after 2 years.

Pelvic floor exercise – a way to build up the muscles responsible for erections

Pelvic floor exercises can be a great way to build up the muscles around the penis. This then improves the way they manage the blood flow to you penis and can improve erections. There are many ways to learn about pelvic floor exercises without spending money, such as in the library or on the internet.

It could take up to 3 months to see an effect of these exercises on your erectile dysfunction. These exercises do require some strength and flexibility so they may not be suitable for everyone. They also require long-term commitment to see results.

Penis pump – a device to increase blood flow to your penis

A penis pump can be a good alternative to medication as long as you are comfortable using it and you don’t mind investing the money to test it out. A penis pump uses air pressure to draw blood into the penis. Once the blood is there a tension ring (a type of penis ring) is used to keep the blood in place. This must be removed after 30 minutes to avoid damaging your penis through a lack of blood flow.

Penis rings – a small ring used to keep blood leaving the penis

The penis ring has a number of different names – cock ring, penile ring, constriction ring, and tension ring are just some. Normally this device is used after using a penis pump to keep the effect going longer. It is very important that it is not used longer than 30 minutes as it can cause damage to the penis because of lack of blood flow.

There is currently no research into the effect of penis rings used alone to treat erectile dysfunction, however they can still be used on their own. There is has been a study done on two different men who used a penis ring together with PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra which showed a positive result.

Acupuncture – needles inserted into the skin for general health improvement

Acupuncture has been shown to be safe as long as it is conducted by a trained professional. However, there is no medical proof that acupuncture can be used to treat erectile dysfunction. That doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t help, but so far there is not enough scientific evidence showing that it does.

Herbal/dietary supplements – various pills or foods that are believed to improve erectile dysfunction

Many people look for prescription-free supplements to treat their erectile dysfunction. They would rather not go through a doctor to get treatment for their erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately, there is no proof that herbal supplements work for treating erectile dysfunction.

So, at best you could be wasting money, but at worse you could be taking something potentially dangerous for you. This is because these herbal supplements are not very well regulated. Some of them do contain chemicals like PDE-5 inhibitors. That may sound like good news but if you consume any PDE-5 inhibitors without checking with a doctor first it could have serious health consequences.

Herbal supplements believed to treat erectile dysfunction include:

Some dietary supplements thought to treat erectile dysfunction include:

Vitamin E.

Flavonoid rich foods.

Watermelon.

I want to know what will be available in the future

It’s hard to know for sure what erectile dysfunction treatments will look like in the future but there are some treatments currently being researched. These include:

Using low-energy electrical shocks to increase blood flow to the penis.

Injecting genes (DNA) to help improve erections

Studying stem cells in mice to improve erectile function

Drugs that improve how sexual arousal is managed by the body:

Bremelanotide.

Melanotan II.

Drugs that help undo nerve damage that may be causing erectile dysfunction, including:

BAY 63-2521

BAY 60-4552

BAY 58-2667

Drugs that strengthen the muscles that are used for erections, including:

Fasudil

Y-27632

There are also a few treatments that exist but aren’t available in the UK at the moment. These include:

Uprima – a medication that increases sex drive

Uprima works by increasing sexual arousal (aphrodisiac) instead of making it easier to get an erection, like PDE-5 inhibitors. This medication used to be available in the UK but the company that owns the patent (the legal control over the production of the drug) stopped production and no one else can legally produce it.

Kamagra – Viagra in an oral jelly form

Another option is a jelly-form of sildenafil called Kamagra that is taken orally (swallowed). Like other PDE-5 inhibitors, it makes it easier to get an erection. Kamagra is not licensed for sale in the UK. Since it is not legal in the UK, any company that claims to be selling Kamagra will be operating illegally and could be putting your health at risk.

Viagra Alternatives – 15 Substitutes to Consider, Superdrug™, Viagra Cialis Substitute.

Viagra Alternatives

I want a treatment but I don’t want to go straight for Viagra

I have tried Viagra and I wasn’t satisfied

I don’t want medication, I want a natural or herbal alternative

I want to know what will be available in the future

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