Who here in the Lyme community has used Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis?
It doesn't matter if you were using it for Erectile Disfunction, and please, don't be shy or ashaimed if you have.
I'm interested in hearing the experiences of those who have used these drugs after the onset of Lyme Disease symptoms.
Tell as much or as little as you like, and please do chime in if you have.
I'm not neccesarily asking about ED, but if you used these for ED, that's fine, so long as you can recount what happened durring the time you took these meds.
Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :
Heya. I guess I'll step up to the plate first. I'm a young, early 20's male who has taken both Viagra and Cialis for ED.
As far as ED is concerned, they do help somewhat. Not to the degree I'd like, but they do work. Viagra lasts for 4 hours of "up time", and Cialis gives you some effect for about 2 days. However, please remember that these drugs do not give you an erection all by themselves! You still need to be aroused etc...also, you may be able to "go again" faster, but typicaly there is still some refractory period after orgasm. Some men report increased stamina, but there's a debate if this is just placebo effect. Avoid taking Viagra/Cialis with grapefruit juice, and try to do so on an empty stomach for Viagra - Cialis it doesn't matter so much. These drugs do have some relatively moderate side effects that many men who don't have lyme also experience.
You may feel hot, or look flushed. Maybe you'll get a stuffy nose. Vigra is worse for that then Cialis. Sometimes they may give you a headache or muscle aches after the "active" period. Again, it was more severe with Viagra for me. There are also the possibility of vision issues, which I did not personally experience, but if you do be sure to contact a doctor. This again, has nothing to do with lyme itself.
All in all, if you're a man with lyme who would like to start on the road towards recovering your sex life, ED drugs are not bad places to start. My LLMD has known about the fact I take them, and does not believe they interact with any of the treatments I've been on.
Dosing and affordability: These drugs are not particularly cheap, but just about any Urologist worth his doctorate will prescribe them for you. If you have a good rapport with the guy, figure out how many per month your insurance will pay for and then have him write for that many. Get the highest dose (100mg for V, 20mg for C) and cut them in halves or quarters. There's a lesser chance of the side effects above if you use smaller doses and they may work just as well. Also, ask your urologist or another doctor if they have any samples. These typically have 4 to 6 pills of the medium strength (50 for V, 10mg for C) which will let you know if it works for you.
Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to post questions, it doesn't bother me.
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
Awhile back....like four years ago...I tried Viagra.
Yes, it had it's desired affect...but not quite the same as natural.
I did'nt like the side effects either.
Interestingly enough since lyme infection I noticed an increase in libido at some point durring each month...for maybe 5 days each month...
I don't know if this is common with every lymie, male and female...but perhaps it has something to do with the bugs natural need for other hosts to perpetuate it's species....
Anyway....
Because the non "natural" effects were not to my liking and due to my 50 plus years and my wife's a little older...
This side affect of lyme for us was'nt a BIG issue....not like it would have been if I were in my twenties....
I have found that the numbness and inablility to achieve errection has abated...I suspect it's because of the abx treatments and vitamin supplements I have tried...vitamin E and masaging vitamin E oil into genital area.
Also, figuring that strange and wonderful things happen at time of orgasm...while on abx...I have utilized this methodology to try and get abx passed the blood brain barrier.(hope I don't need to elaborate as to how).
In any event...this methodology is a much better approach for me than the use of these ED drugs.
I think because the ED with lyme is both a circulation and nerve problem(and possibly some psychological issues of getting past the physical pain and fatigue) that these drugs, while allowing for errection...don't quite accomplish the goal...Totally for me...
If I were younger perhaps I would'nt care or have a better reaction...I don't know...
Besides the previous psychological issues...
The thought that I may be passing the chetes on to my wife thru my semen disturbs me...so "naturally" I would'nt want to infect her...if she is'nt already infected...
So there's more to it than just getting the ole gun off for me.......
zman
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Ever since he had major, emergency surgery for a ruptured diverticula about 5 years ago, my boyfriend experiences periodic ED. He is 50. His Bowen test was 1:128 - the highest you can get - although he has very few Lyme symptoms.
So rather than worry about his possible dysfunction, he uses Cialis. He tried Viagra first, but always got a headache. I think he also had slight visual problems. He only occasionally gets headaches with the Cialis, and the ``window of opportunity'' is much longer than with Viagra.
I tried Viagra, also, for my flagging libido upon the advice of my doctor. It just made me sort of nervous and agitated. I have not tried Cialis.
Boyfriend has not commented about the effects not feeling ``natural''.
Tracy
Posted by LYMESCIENCE (Member # 9259) on :
Thanks to those who responded. I also have ED as an issue from Lyme, but that's not the true reason I'm interested in Cialis or Viagra. However, its not a bad add on for these medications!!
I was especially interested in the story of the guy who got flushed and hot after taking Viagra.
I have a hypothesis that Lyme Disease, well the lock and key of Lyme, to be more specific, is in the flow of our blood.
I will keep everyone posted as I continue to refine this hypothesis.
Last night, following my hypothesis, I very nearly prevented a herxheimer. It wasn't complete, but it was extremely close.