Levitra Vs Sildenafil

One study has looked at the effects of Levitra (Vardenafil HCl) in people who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. In this study, people taking both Levitra 10 mg and Levitra 20 mg demonstrated a significant improvement in erectile function. During this study, 47 percent of men taking Levitra 10 mg had a satisfactory erection that allowed vaginal penetration, and 37 percent had an erection that lasted long enough for successful intercourse. In men taking Levitra 20 mg, 48 percent had a satisfactory erection that allowed vaginal penetration, and 34 percent had an erection that lasted long enough for successful intercourse.

Research studies have also looked at the effectiveness of Levitra in people with diabetes. These studies investigated the ability to achieve erections and the ability to maintain an erection after penetration. People took either Levitra 10 mg or Levitra 20 mg. As in other studies, significant improvements were seen in erections and successful intercourse attempts. For men with diabetes taking Levitra 10 mg, 61 percent had a satisfactory erection that allowed vaginal penetration, and 49 percent had an erection that lasted long enough for successful intercourse. In those taking Levitra 20 mg, 64 percent had a satisfactory erection that allowed vaginal penetration, and 54 percent had an erection that lasted long enough for successful intercourse.

The effects of Levitra can include:

• Achieving and maintaining an erection during sexual activity
• Having a harder erection during sexual activity
• Experiencing greater frequency of orgasms
• Having increased satisfaction with, and enjoyment of, intercourse.

In previous clinical studies, up to 80 percent of men reported that Levitra improved their erections. The drug was also shown to be effective in men with various health problems and medical conditions.

Specific Effects of Levitra

To gain knowledge about the effects of Levitra, researchers asked men a series of questions about the ability to achieve erections and the ability to maintain an erection after penetration during each sexual intercourse attempt. They were also asked questions about orgasms, desire, satisfaction with intercourse, and overall sexual satisfaction. Improvements in erections were related somewhat to the Levitra dosage. Men reported an improvement in erection enough to allow vaginal penetration up to 65 percent of the time with Levitra 5 mg, up to 75 percent of the time with Levitra 10 mg, and up to 80 percent of time with Levitra 20 mg. Depending on the dosage, up to 65 percent of the time, erections lasted long enough for successful intercourse.

As of this writing, no study has yet been conducted on the direct comparison of the three PDE-5 inhibitors. There are obvious differences, though, and these differences have been studied and discussed thoroughly. With the longer history of Viagra (at least 20 million men treated), they can undoubtedly offer more information and experience than the two newer competitors. German doctors Gleitner and Gressner from the U. Tubingen have studied the differences between the three drugs thoroughly.

Basically, the report showed that all three drugs have about 70% effectiveness, and side effects are generally the same with all three medications. The common side effects include headaches, flushing, and nasal congestion, which are all vasodilatory and are all mild and transient. The only unique side effects are the blue discoloration in vision, seen only in Viagra, and the muscle aches, experienced only with Cialis. Both side effects occur very rarely. None of the drugs may be taken together with nitrates. The only outstanding difference is the long duration of Cialis, the results of which can still be seen 36 hours after a dose.

As of 2003, two new medications for erectile dysfunction have finished with their testing stages and have been approved by the FDA – vardenafil (Levitra, created by Bayer) and tadalafil (Cialis, created by Lilly/ICOS). Just like sildenafil (Viagra, manufactured by Pfizer), which was approved 5 years earlier, these two new drugs are PDE-5 inhibitors. There are several similarities among these three drugs and they all basically work the same way – increasing penile blood flow to produce firmer and longer-lasting erections. But there are also several important differences between them that potential users should consider.

Brindley’s Contribution to Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

In 1983, a British physiologist named Giles Brindley dropped his pants in front of a stunned audience and showed them his erect penis, the result of phentolamine. This demonstration inspired the advancement of modern treatments for ED. Brindley had injected a vasodilator into his penis, which used corporal smooth muscle relaxation. Brindley’s discovery led to the development of the modern ED drugs used today, which are PDE-5 inhibitors.
How PDE Inhibitors Work

PDE or phosphodiesterase is an enzyme produced by the penis that is responsible for breaking down cyclic guanosine monophosphate or cGMP, which is a chemical that increases blood flow to the penis. It is the direct intracellular mediator in the nitric oxide pathway, which scientists discovered in 1998 – leading them to a Nobel Prize.

The nitric oxide pathway is in several organ systems, and there are several kinds of PDEs that have been identified. PDE type 5 is generally found in the penis, specifically in the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum. Its role is to break down cGMP and end an erection after ejaculation. Sometimes there is too much PDE-5 which prevents an erection from developing at all. The three ED medications – Viagra, Levitra and Cialis – are all PDE-5 inhibitors, thus allowing increased blood flow to the penis when sexually aroused.

Summary:
All three drugs are relatively safe, provided they are not taken with nitrates. The combination of any of these medications with a nitrate will almost surely result in severe hypotension. Besides the longer history of Viagra and the longer duration of Cialis, all three ED medications have more or less the same results. With more choices now, there will be more competition among these drugs, and the manufacturers will be encouraged to improve their products more.