Cialis - Viagra Alternative

Viagra is the world's most famous pharmaceutical brand name. Surveys show it's
better known than Tylenol -- and everyone knows what it does.

But very soon, there will likely be some new choices for men fighting impotence
and erectile dysfunction.

When Viagra went on the market back in 1998, it was an instant success: Drug

maker Pfizer claims it has helped more than 16 million men worldwide improve
their sex lives. Doctors say it's made it easier for men to deal with an age-old
problem.

"One thing that Viagra really has done is that it has brought this issue

to most men so they don't or should not feel embarrassed coming to doctors and
talking about it," said Dr. Geoffery Sklar, director of urology at the
University of Maryland Medical Center.

Sklar said that, before Viagra, his male patients refused to even talk about

impotence. Now they come in asking for Viagra by name.

Now two new drugs are being marketed as alternatives to Viagra -- Cialis and

Levitra. Both new treatments work like Viagra, but the new drugs have some appealing
differences.

For instance, Viagra doesn't work for everyone. Studies have shown that 30

percent of the men who take the drug are not able to have sex. Research has
also found that Viagra can affect the patient's heart, vision, and blood sugar
levels. And for some, it works too slowly, if at all.

"It does take a while to work. Because sex is usually a spontaneous event,

it sometimes turns into a planned event, because on average it takes about 40
minutes to the time a man takes the pill until they are able to have an erection,"
Sklar said.

He also said the fat content of a meal may affect Viagra's absorption -- the

higher the fat content, the slower the effects.

Meanwhile, research found that Cialis helped 88 percent of men achieve erection

in 30 minutes or less, and it was effective for up to 48 hours. Viagra lasts
for only about four to six hours.

Studies also show that Levitra works faster than Viagra and has fewer interactions

with high-fat foods. As of now, both new drugs have been shown to be as effective
as Viagra, with few side effects. They offer men more options.

Doctors say that there are many causes of impotence, but the experts estimate

about 60 percent of the time it's a physical problem, such as impaired blood
circulation to the penis. Viagra allows blood to circulate to the male organ
by blocking an enzyme known as PDE5, which slows down blood flow in the body,
the other drugs work in a simliar fashion.

"I think the main advantage these two drugs have is not that they are

particularly better than Viagra, but it may allow for individualized therapy
if we find out that these drugs work better in certain situations," Sklar
said.

Both Cialis and Levitra were supposed to be on the market by the end of last

year, but the Food and Drug Administration granted only conditional approval,
seeking further study on each drug. Both drugs are now available in Europe.