What happens when Viagra doesn't work?

What Happens When a Man First Takes a Viagra Pill?

Absolutely nothing. Pfizer Inc., the maker of Viagra, long has said the drug isn't an aphrodisiac, but many men who take it still expect to feel something.

They don't. Among several men interviewed who have used the drug, not one of them experienced any feeling or sensation after taking the pill. The nothingness is so intense that the most common reaction is a slight panic that the drug isn't going to work.

'That was my worst fear, that it wasn't going to do anything,' says Steve Brykman of Los Angeles, who tried Viagra once nine months ago, when he believed job and financial stresses were interfering with his sex life. After taking the pill, 'there was nothing at all,' says Mr. Brykman, 33 years old. 'I just felt completely normal.'

Though you may not feel anything, things are happening in the body. As the pill moves into the bloodstream, it starts to block an enzyme called PDE-5. Blocking the enzyme eventually increases blood flow to areas where PDE-5 is most heavily concentrated -- the penis, nose and skin. Diminished blood flow to the penis is the cause of most erectile-dysfunction problems."

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Medicare will not pay for your Viagra

Most Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Will Drop Coverage for Erectile Dysfunction Medications in 2007:
"Most Medicare prescription drug plans in 2007 will not cover erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Many plans covered the treatments this year. According to the Post-Dispatch, 'many beneficiaries are learning of the change this week as they receive materials explaining next year's benefits.'

Most plans will continue to cover ED drugs if they are prescribed to treat medical conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, rather than for ED."

The Penis Hardness Factor

Sexual Fitness for Men: The Hardness Factor:
"The harder the erection, the healthier the man."

Is the penis a barometer of a man's health?
Steven Lamm, MD, says that great sex can only come with great health and that once men understand the connection between health and virility, they will take better care of themselves. For men who want to achieve peak sexual health - and the partners who love them. Lamm shared his advice for health and hardness on July 13, 2005.

"We now know that you need 500 grams of axial rigidity to penetrate during intercourse. For comparison, a 15-year-old man might have a rigidity of 2,000."

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Consumer Health Digest :: Top 25 Male Sexual Performance Enhancers

What products really work?:


What products came out on top?

How effective is your sexual enhancer product?"

Consumer Health Digest profiles popular male performance enhancers. How do they stack up to one another? Which products are effective and which ones are a waste of money? Don't shop until you read our latest Male Performance Enhancers Reviewed article.

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Too much testosterone kills brain cells - Sep 27, 2006

The cells die via a process called apoptosis:
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Too much testosterone can kill brain cells, researchers say, in a finding that may help explain why steroid abuse can cause behavior changes such as aggressiveness and suicidal tendencies.

Tests on brain cells in lab dishes showed that while a little of the male hormone is good, too much of it causes cells to self-destruct in a process similar to that seen in brain illnesses such as Alzheimer's.

'Too little testosterone is bad, too much is bad but the right amount is perfect,' said Barbara Ehrlich of Yale University in Connecticut, who led the study."

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The Ups and Downs of Testosterone Supplements

Testosterone and Male Menopause - Forbes.com:
"Testosterone supplements have been shown to have both positive and negative side effects. The positive benefits are that it makes a man's bones stronger and less prone to osteoporosis or bone fractures. Testosterone has also been shown to improve a man's cardiovascular health.

On the negative side, experts say they do not know the long-term consequences of testosterone replacement. One of the main concerns is the effect it may have on the prostate, because testosterone can enlarge it. Increased testosterone also can cause blood clots and liver dysfunction. Jacobs says another problem is that it can lead to hair loss, and in the rare circumstance the testosterone can be partially changed to estrogen, which causes breast growth.

In the meantime, experts say, it's best to see a doctor who can administer the proper amounts of testosterone. They also recommend that men do not try to supplement themselves, whether it is for treating low levels of testosterone or for activities such as weightlifting. Excessive amounts of testosterone can affect fertility, shrink testicles, cause manic anger and stunt growth."

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