Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Yes. A doctor can review your symptoms, health history, and current medications in a virtual visit and prescribe treatment when appropriate. The most important safety check is making sure you do not take nitrate medications or have a heart condition that would make ED medication unsafe.

Sildenafil (generic Viagra) is taken about 30 to 60 minutes before sex and works for roughly four to six hours. Tadalafil (generic Cialis) lasts up to 36 hours, and a low daily dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg can be taken every day so you do not need to plan around it. Your doctor will help you choose based on how often you want to use it and your health history.

Common side effects include headache, facial flushing, stuffy nose, indigestion, and, with tadalafil, back or muscle aches. These are usually mild and short-lived. Seek medical care right away for an erection lasting more than four hours or any sudden change in vision or hearing.

Sildenafil and tadalafil must not be combined with nitrate medications such as nitroglycerin, as the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. They may also be unsafe for people with severe heart disease, very low blood pressure, or a recent heart attack or stroke. Some blood pressure medications need extra caution, which is why a doctor reviews everything you take.