Anxiety medication

Pain medications and ED drugs - the connection

Pain medications and erectile dysfunction have a typical relationship. 1) Pain medications can interfere with the sexual life of a man. 2) ED drugs like Viagra are not recommended for individuals taking nitrates for chest pain. 3) Viagra and allied medication may itself cause pain due to priapism requiring pain medications to ease pain due to prolonged and painful erection lasting for hours. Chronic pain can by itself interfere with a healthy sex life. At the same time, pain mediation can bring about physiological changes that too can affect normal sexual functioning. Many painkiller drugs are prepared by refining the opium poppy plant or artificially produced to work in the same way.

These types of pain medications, known as opioids, can lower testosterone levels in the body and cause erectile dysfunction. Low levels of testosterone can be countered by hormonal supplementation. People taking nitrates for treating angina or chest pain are also advised not to take drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) as it can lower blood pressures to such an extent so as to lead to fainting and shock. At the same time, painful and prolonged erection is one of the side effects of prescription medication for treating erectile dysfunction.

Most of the pain medications available over-the-counter are based medicines. It has been observed that at the first indication of pain people habitually pop a pain killer in their mouth without being aware of the side effects. What makes it worse is that modern life is full of mental and physical pain, which in turn increases the frequency with which these types of pain medications are used. The obvious outcome is that men experience problems with erection and penetration. This in turn may lead them to ED drugs and their side effects. And the circle goes on and on.

Pain medications can also interfere with sex drive in both sexes. Both men and women may experience low libido and difficulty with orgasms; women may have an accompanying problem with vaginal dryness as well. Excessive use of painkillers is not recommended and should be taken only when extremely necessary and unavoidable.

Learning how to manage pain is the best way to avoid side effects of painkillers. There are alternatives available for pain medications. You may look at relaxation techniques to manage physical stress and herbal remedies for alleviating pain. Pain, in many cases, is due to postural faults. Sometimes pain management is as simple as improving your posture.

It has been observed that over the years people are becoming as dependent on ED drugs as they are on pain killers. It is crucial to keep in mind that both have side effects and some times linked to each other. Neither ED nor pain medications should be taken without consulting a specialist.