Horny Goat Weed Alternative to Viagra
By Deana Williams on September 30th, 2008
Italian researchers are testing a promising alternative to Viagra that they’re calling 3,7-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-icaritin — or more simply put, “horny goat weed.”
In lab experiments, a semi-synthetic derivative of the active compound in Epimedium brevicornum, an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for impotence, performed as well as Viagra but with the potential for fewer side effects, the researchers say.
It’s an ironic finding: Health Canada has issued a string of warnings on Chinese herbal products for erectile dysfunction because they contain undeclared sildenafil — the active ingredient in Viagra.
Now, a Chinese aphrodisiac may outperform the blockbuster drug.
The study is scheduled for the Oct. 24 issue of the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products.
“The inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual function is an increasing problem with a considerable impact on interpersonal relationships and quality of life for men,” the researchers write.
During sexual arousal, a chemical called cyclic GMP causes smooth muscle to relax, increasing blood flow to the penis. Viagra works by blocking an enzyme that normally breaks down this chemical. This allows more blood to flow to and be trapped in the penis, resulting in an erection.
But, “sildenafil (Viagra) shows a lot of side effects including headache, facial flushing and visual disturbances,” says lead author Mario Dell-Agli, from the department of pharmacological sciences at Milan University. “So it is important to search for new alternatives to Viagra.”
His group studied medicinal plants that had a reputation in the literature for their aphrodisiac effects. They tested four. Only one, “horny goat weed,” was strongly active against the enzyme that inhibits blood flow to the penis. But it needed improvement to match Viagra’s potency.
When the researchers chemically modified the active compound, they came up with something “as potent as sildenafil on the enzyme,” Dell-Agli says. And because it targeted the enzyme more precisely, it could have fewer side effects, he says.
It hasn’t been tested in humans. But, “this molecule, in my opinion, can be considered a candidate worthy of further studies,” Dell-Agli says.
The study is scheduled for the Oct. 24 issue of the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Natural Products.
“The inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual function is an increasing problem with a considerable impact on interpersonal relationships and quality of life for men,” the researchers write.
During sexual arousal, a chemical called cyclic GMP causes smooth muscle to relax, increasing blood flow to the penis. Viagra works by blocking an enzyme that normally breaks down this chemical. This allows more blood to flow to and be trapped in the penis, resulting in an erection.
But, “sildenafil (Viagra) shows a lot of side effects including headache, facial flushing and visual disturbances,” says lead author Mario Dell-Agli, from the department of pharmacological sciences at Milan University. “So it is important to search for new alternatives to Viagra.”
His group studied medicinal plants that had a reputation in the literature for their aphrodisiac effects. They tested four. Only one, “horny goat weed,” was strongly active against the enzyme that inhibits blood flow to the penis.
Viagra Can Boost Female Libido
By Deana Williams on August 12th, 2008
The drug that turned around the sex lives of many older men has proven in a small trial to also help women libido on antidepressants who experience sexual dysfunction.
The eight-week study found that Viagra, also known as sildenafil, helped women achieve orgasm.
“In this study population, sildenafil treatment of sexual dysfunction in women taking SRIs was associated with a reduction in adverse sexual effects,” the study’s authors wrote.
Results of the study are in the July 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The lead author of the study, Dr. H. George Nurnberg, of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, in Albuquerque, declined to be interviewed for this article.
Selective and nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor, comprise up to 90 percent of the 180 million antidepressant prescriptions filled in the United States each year, according to the study. But while these medications are very effective at treating clinical depression, one of their known drawbacks are sexual side effects.
Nurnberg and his colleagues previously reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, that Viagra was helpful for men who suffered from erectile dysfunction associated with the use of antidepressant medications.
In the current study, undertaken at seven research centers, they turned their attention to women. The study included 98 women — half of whom received Viagra and half who received a placebo — who were told to take the pills before sexual activity.
Women taking Viagra reported an improved ability to reach orgasm and increased orgasm satisfaction, according to the study authors.
But 43 percent of the women taking Viagra also reported headaches, versus 27 percent of those on placebo. Almost one-quarter of those using Viagra reporting flushing, while none of the women on placebo did. And 37 percent of women taking Viagra reported nasal congestion compared to 6 percent of women on placebo. Nausea and anxiousness were reported more often in the group taking placebo.
“The libido response in women is such a complex problem. If women are unhappy in a relationship, it can affect libido. If it hurts, it can affect libido. If she doesn’t feel good about herself, it can affect libido. It’s hard to tease all of those factors out,” said Dr. Judi Chervenak, a reproductive endocrinologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
And, she added, “There’s no definitive answer to date on how antidepressants cause a lack of libido. It could be because they’re affecting dopamine, and women may be experiencing changes in dopamine that indirectly affect vaginal lubrication and arousal and cause decreased blood flow.”
Of the current study, Chervenak said, “It’s an enticing study, and it makes me want to know more. Does it make me want to prescribe Viagra right off the bat? Not at this point. I’d suggest first that patients keep a symptom diary, so we can figure out what their issue is. Is it arousal? Is it decreased blood flow? Is it an orgasm problem?”
“Another possibility might be to work with their psychiatrist,” she added. “Would it be better to change the antidepressant or to taper the dose? What about a drug holiday? Although you have to be careful, and people can’t do that on their own, because there can be potentially devastating problems if you come off these medications too quickly.”
“This study has opened up many questions, and hopefully, we’ll learn more in the future,” concluded Chervenak.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Pfizer, which manufactures Viagra, told the Associated Press that the company has no plans to seek approval for using the drug as a treatment for female sexual dysfunction. The company ended its own research on Viagra for women in 2004, she added.
source: http://health.usnews.com
Viagra vs. Levitra Comparison
By Deana Williams on May 13th, 2008
If you happen to be dealing with erectile dysfunction, you may find it difficult to choose which medication is the right one for you. Some of the most popular choices that are available today include Viagra and Levitra.
While both of these medications cost just about the same amount of money and they work in almost the same exact way, not everyone is convinced that Viagra is the better of the two. In fact, many people actually feel that Levitra is the better choice. Many men are beginning to buy Levitra to help deal with their erectile dysfunction problems. So, lets take a closer look at Levitra and why it is such a better choice that Viagra is for treating erectile dysfunction.
Great for Diabetics
One of the main reasons that you may want to buy Levitra instead of going with Viagra, is that this medication is such a great idea for diabetes. There are many men who have diabetes who have found that Viagra does not work well for them; however, Levitra seems to do a great job for men who are dealing with diabetes. In fact, more than half of men that have problems with Viagra have found that Levitra really does work for them. So, if you happen to have diabetes, you may want to buy Levitra instead of Viagra for the best possible effects.
Take After Meals
Another great benefit you’ll experience if you choose to buy Levitra instead of Viagra is that you can actually take Levitra after you eat. If you take Viagra, you are told not to take it if you have a stomach that is full. You will find that Levitra is not very sensitive to alcohol and food, so you don’t have to try and schedule the romance in your life around when you eat. However, if you eat a meal that has a lot of fat in it, it can make Levitra take a lot longer to start working for you. So, if you want a bit more flexibility, you may want to buy Levitra for your erectile dysfunction needs.
Fewer Side Effects
If you take a close look at both Levitra and Viagra, you will find that many of the side effects they have are the same. However, if you take Levitra, you will find that you don’t have to deal with the vision problems that Viagra can cause. Men that take Viagra often deal with vision that is tinted and other slight vision problems. When you take Levitra, you will not have to worry about having this vision side effect to deal with.
It Works Faster
You will also find that Levitra works a lot faster than Viagra does, which is another great reason to buy Levitra instead of Viagra. It can take up to an hour for Viagra to work and help a man have an erection. On the other hand, if you take Levitra, you will find that it works much faster; in fact, it can work in as little as just 20 minutes. While both medications will probably last for about three to five hours, it is helpful to have a medication that will work quickly. Just remember when you take Levitra, it will take a bit longer to work if you have just eaten quite a bit of fatty food before you take it.
It can definitely be difficult to make a choice on which medication is the best one for you when it comes to treating erectile dysfunction. Sure, Viagra does do a decent job for many people; however, there are so many benefits to going with Levitra instead. As we have noted, if you buy Levitra you will find that there are many great advantages, including taking it with food or without food, it helps even men who are dealing with diabetic problems, and it also works a lot faster. There are fewer side effects to worry about as well, which is another great reason to buy Levitra instead. So, now that you have decided that Levitra is the best choice for you, you may want to consider where you want to purchase the drug.
Viagra Does Not Affect Sperm Quality
By Deana Williams on February 21st, 2008
Viagra indicated for treatment of erection dysfunction have no significant impact on the quality of sperm, according to a new study published in the Jan 17, 2008 issue of Journal of Urology.
Viagra (sildenafil) by Pfizer and Levitra (vardenafil) by Bayer Pharmaceutical are Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors which are the first choice therapy in the treatment of erection dysfunction.
The study led by Jarvi K from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada and colleagues was meant to examine if these drugs would have any negative impact on the quality of sperm in men who were in their reproductive years.
For the randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, the researchers enlisted 200 men aged 15 to 64 with or without erection dysfunction who received 20 mg Levitra or 100 mg Viagra or a placebo for six months.
All men were able to ejaculate and provide semen samples.
The researchers compared the semen characteristics and reproductive hormones before and after the treatment.
The percentage of men whose sperm concentration dropped 50 percent or higher in the Levitra group was 0.07 percent greater than the rate for men in the control group, the study showed.
In addition, Levitra did not have any clinically significant effect on any other semen parameters or on levels of reproductive hormones.
Similar results were found in the men who received Viagra.
“Specifically, use of vardenafil (Levitra) for 6 months does not impair sperm concentration, total sperm count per ejaculate, or sperm morphology and motility. Levels of reproductive hormones were also unaffected,” the researchers write in their report.
They conclude “This study demonstrated that vardenafil had no adverse effects on sperm concentration, compared with sildenafil (Viagra) and placebo, when administered daily at the maximum recommended dose for 6 months.”
Viagra Reviews and Testimonials
Viagra for Male Erectile Dysfunction
By Deana Williams on September 16th, 2007
Viagra, sildenafil citrate, and also known under various other names, is a drug used to treat male erectile dysfunction (impotence) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), developed by the company Pfizer.
Its primary competitors on the market are tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra).
Viagra Does Not Increase your Penis Size
Viagra is recommended for Male Erectile Dysfunction and it’s been said also that increases your libido. But Viagra does not increase your penis size.
Viagra Dossage
As with all prescription drugs, proper dosage is at the discretion of a licensed medical doctor. The dose of sildenafil is 25 mg to 100 mg taken once per day between 30 minutes and 4 hours prior to sexual intercourse.
It is usually recommended to start with a dosage of 50 mg and then lower or raise the dosage as appropriate. The drug is sold in three dosages (25, 50, and 100 mg), all three costing about US$10 per pill. Name-brand Viagra sildenafil is not scored and a fairly hard coating makes it more difficult to accurately cut the pills in half, even with a pill cutter.
Viagra Pills
Viagra pills are blue and diamond-shaped with the words “Pfizer” on one side, and “VGR xx” (where xx stands for “25″, “50″ or “100″, the dose of that pill in milligrams) on the other.
Avoid buying Viagra from India or Chinese websites.
Amongst sildenafil’s rare but serious adverse effects are: priapism, severe hypotension, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, stroke and increased intraocular pressure.
Common side effects include sneezing, headache, flushing, dyspepsia, prolonged erections, palpitations and photophobia. Visual changes including blurring of vision and a curious bluish tinge have also been reported.
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