Erectile dysfunction

[Wildstar1900]

Does anyone know what I can take to help?

[Happyrosie]

there was an article in the Daily Telegraph about this recently. I don’t remember the detail but certainly it said to see your doctor as docs are very used to treating this condition and can help. I feel fairly sure that as Viagra was originally developed as a drug for heart problems, and you are on a hearty site, you shouldn’t take this without advice. But your pharmacist might advise???

[Taviterry in reply to Happyrosie]

Here's the article: telegraph.co.uk/health-fitn... My GP didn't bother with any of the tests mentioned, just prescribed Viagra. I was in my mid-sixties at the time.

[Taviterry]

Viagra is the obvious suggestion, followed by Cialis. You may be able to get an NHS prescription from your GP, as I have been doing for some years. As you're posting in a Heart forum, you presumably have a condition, and your GP will be able to advise whether it's safe for you to take medication. When I was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, I was immediately taken off Viagra and given a cream that had to be inserted internally; I never found it much use.

When I saw my surgeon three weeks after my TAVI, he said that it was OK to resume sex and I made sure that he included a sentence saying it was OK for me to take Viagra in a letter to my GP.

Before my diagnosis, I ordered repeat prescriptions (for Simvastatin and eye ointments) every two months and appeared to be limited to eight Viagra pills. Post-TAVI, I order various pills every month, and I'm able to include a request for eight Viagra pills.

Your surgery may wish to start you off with a low dose, say 25 or 50mg. An obliging GP offered to prescribe 100mg, pointing out that these could be cut in half. (Some makes have a helpful groove.)

I avoid taking a bigger dosage than I need, as there can be side-effects - in my case, flushing and a tendency towards diarrhoea.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

You need to talk to your GP as some drugs (particularly those to treat BP) can interact to cause potentially fatal low BP. Also tell your GP if you are self prescribing . One particular No-no is St. Johns Wort.