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ED meds and side effects
My husband is getting brachytherapy in September and then IG IMRT in October. He is currently on Orgovyx for month two and will be adding zytega next month. Good news is that his PSA has gone to 2 and Testosterone to 9 after a month on Firmagon so meds seem to be doing what are supposed to.
Drs have prescribed Cialis and Viagra for ED. So far he doesn’t have it but I’m sure he will after the radiation and continuation of the meds. My concern is that the ADT meds already comprise the heart. Will adding the ED meds further compromise his heart? He doesn't have any cardiac issues. Wondering may be not take the ED meds at all? Want any input on the topic.
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I've heard it may be protective:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/viagra-may-help-you-live-longer
Caution: this is a retrospective study which may be comparing two different groups of men. It's possible those who did not take ED drugs were less healthy or more prone to cardiovascular disease than those who didn't.
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1 Reaction"In contrast, multiple studies have demonstrated no relationship between ADT and cardiovascular events."
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2011.37.5741)%2C%20respectively.
I had the same concerns The choices with prostate cancer aren't fun.
I was more concerned that ADT would be psychologically fraught. That tuned out to be untrue.
I read that 5mg of cialis daily is protective of vasculature and thereby nerves for both bladder and sexual function.
Bless his treatment with luck.
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2 Reactionshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3760941/
Research fixed drug eruptions and tadalafil. I had them with sildenafil. I don’t get them with tadalafil Rare side effect. Talk with doc very soon
ED from RT/ADT therapy as a late side effect (up to 2 years after RT) is heavily correlated to the length of ADT treatment and not having regular erections due to ADT, the use it or lose it. The low dose (usually 5mg Tadalafil) daily is to increase circulation in the penis. The high dose Viagra is usually only taken as required to get an erection. Can be skipped if not required to get an erection. Many RT/ADT patients are not consoled on preventive health, get ED from the ADT and wonder happened in 1-2 years later when the ADT ends and function does not return.
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2 Reactions@jim18
In addition to the side effects ADT brings to the table the nerve bundles are fried from Radiation so ED is inevitable with Radiation
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3 ReactionsI get really sick with all of the popular ED meds. Diarrhea, headaches, and nausea for about 24 hours and they help very little with the ED issues. Remember that ED meds were standard meds for high blood pressure and became ED meds when men observed ED improvement with them,
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2 ReactionsGood point! Did you have any cognitive side effects? Confusion, memory etc. I have some, but is worse on higher doses. Anybody else have CNS central nervous system side effects?
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1 Reaction@jim18 And a reminder that nothing is a guarantee. Do what you can and be your own best advocate.
@tattodice
Yes, but I am not sure that the brain fog was caused by the ED meds since Lupron has really messed with my mind and muscles.
@gently It's my understanding that is for vascular blood flow. Never heard that it is for nerves. Anecdotal evidence that it helps nerves.
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