Erectile dysfunction tabs.

Breast Implants Lift Sex, Self-Esteem

carinawinits — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:23:52 +0000

March 23, 2007 — Women report better sexuality and improved self-esteem
after cosmetic breast augmentation surgery, a University of Florida study
shows.

Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, PhD, clinical assistant professor at the University
of Florida College of Nursing, advertised for volunteers in the offices of
cosmetic plastic surgeons. Eighty-four women completed questionnaires on
self-esteem and sexuality before and after cosmetic breast augmentation
surgery.

Overall, the women didn’t have particularly low self-esteem or particularly
poor sexual function prior to surgery. But both aspects of their lives
significantly improved after they got breast implants.

“They were already OK with self-esteem and sexuality — they just wanted
larger breasts,” Figueroa-Haas tells WebMD. “They got increased levels
of self-esteem and sexuality.”

Figueroa-Haas bristles at the idea that it’s frivolous for women to want to
improve their body image. Body image, she says, is an important factor in a
woman’s self-esteem.

“A lot of people consider plastic surgery a procedure that doesn’t need
to be done. They say women should stay with their bodies and what God gave them
and be satisfied. I don’t agree,” she says. “This procedure does change
women’s viagra generic drug
issues. There are differences in life dysfunction pill

between people with good and poor self-esteem.”

Figueroa-Haas reports her findings in the January/March issue of Plastic
Surgical Nursing.

Sex and Breast Augmentation

After getting breast implants, women experienced every measure of sexuality
more strongly, Figueroa-Haas found. After breast augmentation, women reported
significant increases in arousal, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and
lubrication.

Figueroa-Haas says women tend to be left out of the discussion when it comes
to enhancing sexuality.

“Improved sexuality is not all about men’s sexuality and Viagra,”
she says. “It is a subject women even have trouble discussing with other
women. But women who suffer sexuality issues feel like they are not feminine
enough.”

Despite the benefits she finds in cosmetic breast augmentation,
Figueroa-Haas warns that surgery cannot address serious underlying issues women
may have.

“This isn’t a cure-all. If you have underlying psychological issues,
don’t run out and see a plastic surgeon. These issues have to be addressed
first,” she says.

That’s a very important point, agrees clinical psychologist David B. Sarwer,
PhD, director of the weight and eating disorders program at the University of
Pennsylvania. Sarwer has studied psychological issues surrounding breast
augmentation surgery.

“Sure, body image is an important part of self-esteem,” Sarwer tells
WebMD. “But self-esteem is based on all sorts of things other than body
image. It may be unrealistic to think that, just by having breast augmentation,
a woman will improve her overall self-esteem.”

Sarwer has found that women who seek cosmetic breast surgery have their own,
personal motivations. They are not, as stereotype would have it, trying to
please their husbands or boyfriends.

Sarwer says women considering breast implants should consider three
things:

A woman should make sure it is what she wants. She should not seek plastic
surgery under pressure from someone else.
“A breast implant is unlikely to change women’s lives in any major
way,” Sarwer says. “They may get some positive attention, but they may
also suffer negative attention. For everyone who says you look great, there may
be whispers down the lane: ‘She is too big, too showy.’”
Some women seeking breast implants suffer from a serious psychological
problem called body dysmorphic disorder: disproportionate concern over
relatively minor physical erectile dysfunction medication
. Both Sarwer and Figueroa-Haas warn
that women must be evaluated for this condition before surgery.

And Sarwer warns that researchers are now becoming aware of a dark side to
breast implants: suicide.

“What we think is going on here, although we are not sure, is these
women have some pathology, perhaps clinical depression, prior to surgery,”
he says. “And when implants don’t improve their depression, these women
become suicidal. For women with profound underlying issues, there is something
going on here that is potentially dangerous.”

erectile dysfunction remedies

Loss of Libido in Men

carinawinits — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:14:40 +0000

Men dont like to talk about it; neither do their partners. But loss of
libido in men or inhibited sexual desire stresses a marriage more than any
other sexual dysfunction, according to Barry McCarthy, co-author of
Rekindling Desire: A Step by Step Program to Help Low-Sex and No-Sex
Marriages.

Losing interest in sex may not be as common an occurrence for men as it is
for women: It affects about 15% to 16% of men, and at least double that many
women. But when men lose interest in sex it scares them more than women –
their cialis vs viagra
is so linked to their sexuality that it is very
sex pill viagra
, says Esther Perel, a couples therapist in New York city and
author of Mating in Captivity.

Loss of libido also makes men more unhappy about the rest of their
lives than it does women. Only 23% of men with loss of libido say they
still feel very happy about life in general vs. 46% of women, says Edward
Laumann, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago co-author of
The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United
States. It bothers men more.

But loss of libido is not something you have to live with. There is much you
can do to regain your sex drive and your happy outlook on life.

How Do You Know if You have a Problem With Loss of Libido?

Libido loss doesnt usually happen suddenly its not like catching a cold
where you wake up one morning and whoops, there it is. It can be a gradual
process. Though difficult to define precisely, Laumann measures it as follows:
It is a lack of interest in sex for several months of the past
year.

Frequency of sexual activity is not the best measure of sexual interest so
many circumstances can get in the way of an encounter, even if the desire is
there. But if you are in a committed cialis vs viagra
and having sex less often
than the norm — about once a week you might ask yourself whether you are
happy with things as they are.

If youre not happy about your loss of libido, researchers agree that it is
best to grapple with these issues before they become entrenched. To help
identify the early warning signs, see whether you answer the following
questions true or false:

Touching takes place only in the bedroom.
Sex does not give you feelings of erectile pill
and sharing.
One of you is always the initiator and the other feels pressured.
You no longer look forward to sex.
Sex is mechanical and routine.
You almost never have sexual thoughts or fantasies about your spouse.
You have sex once or twice a month at most.

If you answered true to many or most of these questions, you may be on your
way to losing sexual desire, writes McCarthy. Understanding the various causes
is the first step to finding the appropriate resolution.

And some information of buy viagra.

Sex in Menopause City

carinawinits — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:07:51 +0000

Nov. 19, 2004 — Here’s the disturbing fact you probably already know: As a
woman ages and hormone levels drop, so too can her enjoyment of — and
oftentimes desire for — sex.

Here’s the good news: Though saying goodbye to hormones and sex may happen
in the same breath, the latest research indicates that sexual desire has less
to do with this change than it does with lifestyle and other health
factors, at least some of which are under a woman’s direct control.

These are the encouraging results reported by a group of distinguished
European sex experts this month in the first ever supplement to
Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society.

“The findings have helped healthcare professionals discard the notion
that sexual citrate generic sildenafil viagra
occurring close to menopause are either biologic or
physiologic,” writes Rosemary Basson, FRCP, a professor of psychiatry and
of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of British Columbia and guest
editor of the special issue.

The new research was part of a series of studies conducted on female sexual
dysfunction by the department of clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy at
Hannover Medical School in Hannover, Germany. As part of the overall project,
102 women aged 20 to “45 plus” answered 165 queries designed to flush
out determinants of female sexual erectile dysfunction help
.

Specifically, researchers hoped to determine satisfaction with sex life in
general, sexual satisfaction and orgasm during intercourse, petting,
masturbation, attitudes towards sexuality, quality of partnership, and sexual
myths.

What the study found: There appeared to be no age differences with respect
to frequency of sexual intercourse or the desire for sexual activity not
involving intercourse among the differing age groups.

Moreover, age did not make a difference in regard to frequency of orgasm or
in sexual satisfaction ratings with their partners. For example, 29% of women
up to age 45 reported having orgasms “very often,” compared with 26% of
women over age 45.

Even more dramatic was that while 41% of women over age 45 reported having
orgasms “often,” only 29% of younger women reported having orgasm
“often.”

Among the few differences in the groups: Women over 45 reported having fewer
orgasms during non-intercourse sexual activity or during masturbation. Both
groups of women reported a dual dimension necessary for successful lovemaking
that included having both feelings of emotional closeness to their partner and
satisfactory physical experiences.

After comparing all the answers from both older and younger women, as well
as from women who reported sexual problems and those who did not, researchers
concluded that the single most influential factor with regard to sexual
satisfaction via intercourse was the quality of the partnership, in particular
the quality of mutual respect, which then becomes of greater importance as a
woman ages.

After comparing these study results to earlier and ongoing findings, the
researchers concluded that the basis of any sexual problems that did occur at
midlife could not be drawn from menopause status or age alone. Instead, they
write, “Life stressors, contextual factors, past sexuality, and mental
health problems are more significant predictors of midlife women’s sexual
interest than menopause status itself.”

The study was one of just several research papers presented in the journal
this month on the subject of female sexual dysfunction. All strived to shed
much needed light on a subject that some believe has been hidden in the shadows
too long.

For NYU professor of gynecology Steven Goldstein, MD, the findings validate
what he has long suspected to be true.

“It’s quite wonderful that this is being studied and that the results
reinforce what I, and I think many doctors have long believed — that this
whole issue of changes in midlife sexual function is not a simple case of ‘take
away the hormones, take away the desire,’” Goldstein tells WebMD.

Moreover, he adds that “As we go forward, dysfunction erectile pill
all of the
complex, viagra vs levitra
elements that affect a woman’s sexuality remains crucial,
particularly when deciding who is a candidate for a hormonal treatment that
might help increase desire and who might benefit more from simple lifestyle
changes,” says Goldstein.

See related site about generic viagra.

High Blood Pressure Aftermath

carinawinits — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:51:29 +0000

Lying awake nights worrying if terrorists or bird flu will get you?
Consider, instead, a threat that’s far closer to home, and one that you can
control: high blood pressure.

One in three adults has high blood pressure, but only 61% are under
treatment and roughly two-thirds do not have it under control, according to the
American Heart Erectile dysfunction drugs
(AHA) web site. In 2004, the disease killed more
than 50,000 people in the U.S., yet the AHA says high blood pressure is easily
detected and usually erectile dysfunction help
.

Complications of blood pressure medications are one reason people never seek
treatment (what if it makes me impotent?), abandon treatment (these swollen
ankles look terrible), or cut back on their medication dosage (I’m tired of
being tired).

WebMD talked with two cardiologists and a pharmacist about seven
complications you should be aware of. Most importantly, they say that
complications shouldn’t be a reason to abandon treatment or cut back on
prescribed dosages. Instead, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. “We have
200 medications for treating high blood pressure,” says Thomas Giles, MD,
who is professor of medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine
in New Orleans. “We’ll keep on it till we find what will give you the best
result and be least intrusive in your life. It’s no good to make people feel
terrible, and we don’t have to do that.”

1. Fatigue and Dizziness

Dan Jones, MD, tells WebMD that when people begin taking blood pressure
medication, the most common problem is fatigue. Jones is dean of the School of
Medicine at the University of Herbal cure for erectile dysfunction in Jackson, and spokesman for the
American Heart Association (AHA). “It’s especially true for older patients.
If blood pressure has been elevated for a while, when the medication is taken
and the blood pressure begins to come down, for a period of time there’s less
circulation in some of the vessels, including those in the brain. It takes time
for those constricted vessels to relax. There may be a perception that there’s
less blood flow, which can produce fatigue or dizziness. If it’s mild, it can
be worked through simply by staying with the medication.”

A patient who feels fatigued when on the medication may decide instead of
taking it daily to take it every few days or so. “When they go off it, the
blood pressure rises and they feel better,” says Jones. “If they
continue this cycle, they never get past the fatigue, which typically will go
away after two to six weeks of therapy.”

2. Cough

ACE inhibitors are a class of medication that can cause a persistent cough
in 10% to 15% of patients. “Don’t continue the medication,” says Giles.
“I tell patients that if they get a cough, let me know.” If the ACE
inhibitor is stopped, it will need to be replaced with some other drug.
Examples of ACE inhibitors include: Lotensin, Monopril, Prinivil, Zestril,
Accupril, Altace, Vasotec, and Capoten.

3. Frequent Urination

No one wants to become famous for frequent bathroom breaks. Using diuretics
successfully is a matter of timing. Try to take them in the beginning of your
day. “I tell patients not to take the diuretic and drink a lot of water
before they go to bed,” says Giles, who is president of the American
Society of Hypertension. “And don’t take your pill before a one-hour taxi
ride to my office. Wait till you get here to take it.” One of the most
common diuretics used for high blood pressure is hydrochlorothiazide. It may be
in its own pill on in combined formulations such as Hyzaar or Maxide.

4. Fluid Retention

Virtually any medication for hypertension that isn’t a diuretic can cause
edema or fluid retention. Swelling of the ankles and legs can be more than a
cosmetic problem. “Calcium channel blockers like amlodipine (also known as
Norvasc) and nifedipine (also known as Procardia) are famous for causing
swelling and pain in the legs,” says Sarah Ray, PharmD, BCPS. These drugs
can also worsen underlying heart failure or other heart problems or reveal an
unknown heart condition. “We’ve seen patients discover a heart problem only
after starting on a calcium channel blocker.”

And some information of erectile dysfunction pills.

Not Tonight, Honey

carinawinits — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:34:07 +0000

By Sarah Mahoney

Youve Said It. Youve Heard It. How To Put That Excuse To
BedAnd Get Back In The Mood

Be honest. How many times have you turned down sex this month? Even the best
marriages have sexual cold fronts and everyday problemslike a crushing work
deadline, a sick parent, or an acting-out teenthat can put the chill on
romance. But when sex evasion turns into a daily habit, marriage can become an
arctic zone. After all, there’s room for only so many nights of “Do we have
to? I’ve got a bad headache” before serious problems set in.

“It helps many couples to think of sex as a bank account,” says Lana
Holstein, M.D., author of Your Long Erotic Weekend . “If you just
got back from a vacation where you had lots of time alone, then saying I’m too
wiped out tonight’ isn’t a problem. But if you haven’t had much sex in the last
six months, then it took your husband some courage to ask. If you say no, that
can be damaging.”

And both partners, not just the avoider, are harmed. “The spouse with
more desire feels rejected, and the spouse with less desire feels coerced,”
says Barry McCarthy, Ph.D., author of Rekindling Desire: A Step-by-Step
Program to Help Low-Sex and No-Sex Marriages .

If you’re the avoider, try putting yourself in your husband’s shoes. Says
Dr. Holstein, who coaches clients at Miraval Resort in Tucson, AZ: “When a
wife turns down sex, what does she want her husband to do instead? Should he go
masturbate? My clients usually say, No, I don’t want him to do that!’ Nor do
they want him to spend an hour on a pornography Web site.”

Another reason to say yes when your husband makes a move: It’s good for your
health. “Sex, and the cuddling that comes with it, releases all kinds of
chemicals women need,” says Dr. Holstein, “including viagra generic brand

hormones like dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin.” What’s more, a study
from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA, found that couples who had sex
regularly had higher levels of disease-fighting antibodies than those who
didn’t.

So it’s time to outsmart your excuse-making self (don’t listen to hershe’s
probably just grouchy from wearing sweatpants too often). Here, six common
cop-outs, and what to say insteadto your husband and yourself:

“Didn’t we just do it last week?”

Mismatched desire is one of the most common complaints marriage counselors
hearbut experts say that the excuse is pure baloney. “Two different people
will never have exactly the same desire, drive, and timing,” says Rick
Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, and author
of the best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life . “Sometimes you
have to make love for the benefit of the other person, even though you may not
need it yourself at the moment.”

“There’s no such thing as the right level of desire. Normal is usually
whatever the desired frequency is for that couple,” adds Gerald R. Weeks,
Ph.D., chairman of the marriage and family therapy department at the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas. (In case you’re curious about what other couples consider
normal, here are stats from University of Chicago researchers: About 38 percent
of married women have sex a few times a week; 47 percent a few times a month;
and 15 percent a few times a year.)

What to say to yourself:

Remember your wedding day? When you said “I do,” you said “I
do” to sex too. “Even though you may not have promised to love, honor,
and have sex once a week,’ when you made a erectile dysfunction tabs
to your relationship, it
was understood that sex would be part of the bargain,” say Patricia Love
and Steven Stosny, authors of How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking
About It . And, yes, sometimes you have to be the instigator. When it
comes to different levels of desire, “the ball is in the court of the
person who wants it less,” says Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., author of the
cure dysfunction erectile Prime: Advice and Adventures from a Sexologist on Life and Love
in the Sensuous Years .

generic viagra 50mg x 180 pills

Making Lust Last

carinawinits — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:03:40 +0000

By Keith Ablow, M.D.

Rekindling Passion For The Husband You Still Love

People sometimes tell me they know a couple married 20 years whose sex life
is still as good as it ever was. Here’s what I tell them in return: “There
are only three possibilities. One: This couple is lying. Two: They are telling
the truth, because they didn’t have good sex to begin with. Or three: Sex is
all they really have together. They never connected emotionally.”

I’ve drawn that conclusion by listening to the many dozens of husbands and
wives I’ve counseled, almost all of whom have admitted that after 10 or 20
years of marriage, passion became elusive.

Sharing lives is different from sharing dinners and long walks and weekends
away. When you were dating the man you ultimately married, you were both acting
much of the time (consciously or not), putting your best feet forward in order
to be attractive to each other.

When you were sick or had a bad headache, you probably pretended it was no
big deal. So did he. Now when your stomach is upset, you feel free to tell him
you’re about to throw up.

When you had an argument with a close friend or your sister, you might have
told him, “It really wasn’t the best day, but it’s getting better now that
we’re together.” He might have smiled, taken your hand, and said, “Tell
me what happened. I want to know.” Now when he asks how your day was, you
might just say, “Fine,” and leave it at that. And he might be happy to
leave it at that too.

Nobody would write that kind of dialogue into a romantic movieunless it was
a sad or serious one. But that’s how married people generally talk because no
one can always act adoring or keep up an air of mystery while sharing the same
space with his or her spouse, year after year. Here are the truths about sex,
as I’ve learned from years of counseling, for most married couples:

Love is constant; passion needs recharging

No surprise: Everything in the universe eventually demagnetizes when left in
proximity to something of the opposite charge. Magnets do, and men and women do
too. Some people fall out of lust in seven days, never mind seven yearsor 17.
Basic animal attraction is a force of nature that seems designed to make us
matenot mate for life. Relaxing in our marriages and freeing ourselves from
the pressure of trying to impress our partners has a generic viagra overnight delivery
outcome: Our
partners are not impressed. The magnetic spell we once cast on them begins to
lift.

Cozy is effects generic side viagra
, but not sexy

To the extent that men and women become real to each other, they cease to be
princes and princesses, gods and goddesses who inspire romantic fantasies or
amorous worship. Since couples lucky enough to be emotionally genuine with each
other share so many real moments, they need to pay special attention to
creating magical onesbecause great sex requires magic. I’d never suggest that
a couple trade their warm, safe home life for better sex. Why keep your
distance just so you can make love with abandon? I believe you can have a close
marriage and recapture a good sex lifebut only once you admit that erectile dysfunction help

romance takes creativity and a commitment of time and energy.

Intimacy doesn’t equal sex

When a man and a woman reveal themselves to each other, it makes each person
feel more vulnerable. And, erectile pill
for men, it’s hard to have amazing sex
while feeling emotionally exposed. Our earliest experiences with being close
come from our relationships with parents. And those relationships aren’t (in
any normal scenario) linked with sexual passion. That’s why some husbands and
wives are open about what pleases them sexually only when they have affairs.
They feel as if they have to be free of “family” to be free with their
amorous impulses.

Read more about generic viagra 50mg x 120 pills.

Why Women Lose Interest in Sex

carinawinits — Sat, 17 May 2008 11:38:08 +0000

Living with libido loco? For a growing number of women,
declining hormones, job stress, relationship issues, menopause, and other
problems are taking their toll in the bedroom.

Loss of sexual desire, known in medical terms as hypoactive
sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most common form of sexual dysfunction
among women of all ages. A recent study showed that nearly one-third of women
aged 18 to 59 suffer from a lost interest in sex, and it’s not all in their
heads.

Unlike men’s main sexual complaint, erectile dysfunction,
women’s biggest sexual problem is caused by a combination of both mental and
physical factors, which aren’t likely to be cured by merely popping a pill.

“Women’s sexuality tends to be multifaceted and fairly
complicated,” says sex psychologist Sheryl Kingsberg, PhD. “Although we
would love to simplify it so we could have the one-two or even a one-punch
treatment, it doesn’t tend to work that way.”

But the introduction of anti-impotence treatments in the last
few years has spurred more research into the causes of sexual dysfunction among
both men and women, and effective therapies are available to help put the lust
back into women’s lives.

What Is Low Sexual Desire?

Contrary to popular belief, experts say frequency of sexual
intercourse has nothing to do with sexual desire or satisfaction.

“One of first things I do in speaking to women who come in
with sexual concerns is let them know that there is no normal frequency or set
of behaviors and things change with time,” says Jan Shifren, MD, an
assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. “If it’s working for them
and/or their partner, there is no problem.”

But when a woman experiences a significant decrease in interest
in sex that is having an effect on her life and is causing distress, then it’s
considered a problem of low sexual desire or HSDD.

Kingsberg says that sexual desire is more than just an issue of
low libido or sex drive. She says sexual drive is the biological component of
desire, which is reflected as spontaneous sexual interest including sexual
thoughts, erotic fantasies, and daydreams.

Kingsberg, who is an associate professor of erectile dysfunction drugs

biology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine says, “It’s about
your body signaling that it wants to be sexual. Whether or not there is any
intention to act on it, we all have a certain level of drive.”

That sexual drive declines naturally with age based on
erectile dysfunction medication
factors. But sexual desire also encompasses interpersonal and
psychological factors that create a willingness to be sexual.

“Above and beyond horniness, it is the sense of intimacy in
the relationship,” says Kingsberg. “If you are mad at your spouse, you
could be horny but you’re not going want to be sexual with that particular
person.”

Therefore, all of these aspects of sexual desire must be
examined in order to determine the root of the problem.

Common causes for a loss of sexual desire and drive in women
include:

Interpersonal relationship issues. Partner performance problems,
lack of emotional satisfaction with the relationship, the birth of a child, and
becoming a caregiver for a loved one can decrease sexual desire.
Sociocultural influences. Job stress, peer pressure, and media
images of sexuality can negatively influence sexual desire.
Low testosterone. Cialis comparison generic price tadalafil
affects sexual drive in both men and
women. Testosterone levels peak in women’s mid-20s and then steadily decline
until menopause, when they drop erectile dysfunction solutions
.
Medical problems: Mental illnesses such as depression, or medical
conditions, such as cheapest viagra generic substitute
, fibroids, and thyroid disorders, impact a
woman’s sexual drive both mentally and physically.
Medications: Certain antidepressants (including the new generation
of SSRIs), blood pressure lowering drugs, and oral contraceptives can lower
sexual drive in many ways, such as decreasing available testosterone levels or
affecting blood flow.
Age. Blood levels of androgens fall continuously in women as they
age.

buy viagra 100mg

Reducing Medication Costs - Topic Overview

carinawinits — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:36:22 +0000

diabetes,
high blood pressure, and low back pain, require fewer
medications if you can increase your activity level, lose weight, and improve
your diet. For some people who have type 2 diabetes, simple measures such as
eating a balanced diet that spreads
carbohydrate throughout the day and exercising
regularly can help keep your blood sugar level within a safe range without
insulin or other medications. Likewise, following a
particular eating plan and lowering your salt intake has been proven to lower
blood pressure.¹

How can I save money on prescriptions?

Generic medications are less expensive
copies of brand-name medications. Ask your doctor if you can take a
generic equivalent for the brand-name medication that
you take now. Generic equivalents are made according to the same strict U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards as brand-name drugs and therefore
have the same quality, strength, purity, and stability as their more expensive
counterparts.

Book buy guest viagra
, generic equivalents are not available for every
brand-name medication. If there is not an equivalent, ask your doctor if there
is a similar medication in the same class that may be less expensive or that
has a generic equivalent. For example, Flomax, which is used to treat an
enlarged prostate, is a relatively expensive medication that does not have a
generic equivalent. However, another medication that also is used for enlarged
prostate, Hytrin, does have a less expensive generic equivalent.

Always shop around for the best deal on
medications. The retail cost of medications can vary widely from pharmacy to
pharmacy. While finding a good deal is important, it’s also important that your
pharmacist (or pharmacists) knows your medical history, including all the
drugs-both prescription and nonprescription, as well as dietary supplements and
herbs-you take, even if they are not dispensed at that particular pharmacy.
That way he or she can provide valuable advice about any potential for drug
interactions, side effects, or other problems.

Also, compare costs of buying medications online. Some large
drugstore chains have Web sites that offer savings. See a complete list of Web
sites on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) site at
http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/search.asp. Look for Web sites that display
the NABP VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) seal, which means
they have met state and federal requirements.

The U.S. Medicare Web site, http://www.medicare.gov, has a useful
tool for comparing prices of hundreds of prescription drugs and generic
equivalents at pharmacies near you and also available by mail order. You can
access this information by answering “Yes” to the question “Do you have
Medicare?” and entering your Zip code. The Web site requires that you answer
several screens of questions and have some familiarity with computers. People
who have difficulty can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to receive lists
of prices for the drugs they use.

Pill splitting is another strategy that
can help you save money without losing drug effectiveness or safety. Some
tablets are available at double the dose and at the same or almost the same
cost as lower doses. By splitting the larger dose, you can essentially get two
doses for the price of one. However, many medications are not suitable for pill
splitting, including timed-release pills and capsules. The chart below lists 10
commonly prescribed medications that researchers have determined can be split
safely and effectively with significant cost savings.²

Medications that can be split to save
money
Medication	Most commonly prescribed for:	Savings
Clonazepam (Klonopin)	Panic disorder, epilepsy	41%
Doxazosin (Cardura)	Hypertension	46%
Citalopram (Celexa)	Depression	46%
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)	High cholesterol	33%
Paroxetine (Paxil)	Depression	46%
Pravastatin (Pravachol)	High cholesterol	23%
Sildenafil (Viagra)	Erectile dysfunction	50%
Lisinopril (Zestril)	Heart failure, high blood pressure	38%
Sertraline (Zoloft)	Depression	46%
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)	Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder	31%

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your prescription
medications are sold at higher dosages and if it’s possible to split them. Talk
to your pharmacist about how to split pills with an inexpensive, easy-to-use
pill
splitter.

Buying prescriptions in bulk can also
save you money. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for several months’
supply of medications that you take consistently. Mail-order services can often
save you money on large orders.

Are prescription medications always necessary?

There may be an sildenafil citrate and discount alternative for your
prescription medication. For example, nonprescription Aleve is a fraction of
the cost of the prescription equivalent Naprosyn. (Generic versions of
over-the-counter medications can save you even more money.) Often
nonprescription equivalents of prescription medications come in lower
strengths, so get instructions from your doctor on how to take them.

In the case of antibiotics, recent research has found that
antibiotics are not always necessary. For example, up to 80% of ear infections
get better without antibiotics.³ Your doctor might
recommend that you take a wait-and-see approach before buying expensive
antibiotics. Likewise, randomized trials show that 69% of people who had
viagra vs cialis
sinus infection recovered without any antibiotics.⁴

Can I save money by purchasing prescription medications from Canada? Is it safe?

The answer to the first question is “Yes.” You can buy most
prescription medications, either over the Internet, by mail order, or in
person, for less money from Canadian pharmacies than from their U.S.
counterparts. Whether it is legal to do so remains controversial.

The FDA warns that the safety of drugs bought from other
countries cannot be ensured. However, many doctors acknowledge that Canada also
demands safety and efficacy for medications, and they would rather their
patients buy medications from Canada than have to skip doses because they can’t
afford their medications. U.S. citizens have been buying medications in Canada
for years, although officially federal law prohibits the practice. Currently,
the U.S. Customs Service allows Americans to bring a 90-day supply of
prescription drugs across the Canadian borders for personal use.⁵

Talk to your doctor if you decide to import your medications, and
be sure to buy only from licensed Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers.

How can my doctor help?

To enlist your doctor’s help, tell him or her that your
prescription medication bill is a financial burden. Ask for drugs that are less
expensive but just as effective. Often, several medications can be used to
treat the same condition, and your doctor may be able to prescribe the one that
is the most economical. For example, researchers have found that older, less
expensive antibiotics such as amoxicillin work better than newer antibiotics
for children who need treatment for middle ear inflammation.⁶

Often, drug companies give doctors medication samples free of
charge. You might ask your doctor if he or she has medication samples,
especially when you are trying out a new medication to see whether it will
work.

How can my insurance plan help save me money?

Take time to find out about how your medical insurance or
managed health care plan covers medication costs. Some insurance companies
cover only generic medications if they are available. With some insurance
plans, you may have to pay more for medications that are not on the plan’s list
of preferred medications. Some insurers cover medications that are bought only
at over the counter erectile dysfunction drug
pharmacies. Your insurance company also may not pay for
certain medications such as weight-loss and hair-growth drugs. Ask the customer
service representative whether your medications are covered, whether you need
to buy at participating pharmacies, and about your copayment. Many insurance
companies also list this information on their Web sites.

If you have a choice between plans, check what your copayment for
prescription drugs will be, the maximum amount the plan will pay in a year, and
other particulars. Choose the plan that best suits your needs. When buying
medications, find out which payment option will be the least expensive. Some
factors to consider include whether there is a generic version of a preferred
medication, and whether an over-the-counter equivalent is cheaper than your
copayment. Remember, having the right information can save you time and
money.

What about the Medicare drug program?

Beginning in January 2006, a new Medicare drug program-the
Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit-will begin. For the most current
information about what the Medicare Part D Act means for you, go to
http://www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your doctor, pharmacist, or
social worker may also be able to help you understand
your Medicare benefits.

What other resources are available?

See whether the pharmaceutical company that makes your
medication has a patient assistance program. Many pharmaceutical companies
offer free or discounted drugs for people who cannot afford them. These
companies often require that your doctor contact them first about your case. In
any case, your doctor will need to be involved, and the application process can
be complex. You may need to provide documentation to verify your income. The
nonprofit organization RxAssist provides doctors and other health care
providers with the information they need to access these programs. You can find
out more at http://www.rxassist.org. This Web site
also lists state programs for seniors and disabled and low-income people.

If you have a rare disease, you may be eligible for the National
Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) medication assistance program. This
program helps people with rare diseases whose income is too high to qualify for
Medicaid but too low to pay for their prescribed medications. For more
information, visit http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication.

Most veterans know that the Veterans Administration offers
prescription drug coverage for retired veterans. But many people don’t know
that the same service is available for their families and survivors. Call the
VA Health Benefits Service Center toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387), or go to
http://www1.va.gov/health_benefits/.

Some canada generic viagra
offer special discounts on prescription drugs
for their members. For example, members of AARP save 17% on brand drugs and at
least 50% on generic drugs. Also, many pharmacies offer some form of a discount
plan for seniors.

generic viagra 50mg x 10 pills

ED Treatments for People With Diabetes

carinawinits — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:01:05 +0000

Diabetes is a very common cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). Clinical
experience and numerous studies suggest that at least 50% of diabetic patients
will experience difficulties with erections. When compared to nondiabetic men,
men with diabetes are up to 3 times more likely to have ED and appear to get it
earlier in life. The significance of ED increases with the severity and
duration of diabetes as well as with advanced age.

There is evidence that controlling blood sugars and cholesterol as well as
participating in a consistent exercise program may help in preventing the
development of ED and, in some cases, may even improve symptoms in those with
ED. If you are one of the many men with diabetes and ED, you have many
treatment options to consider, including:

Oral Drugs

The three oral medications available — Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra — to
treat ED have been used successfully in people with diabetes. In general,
however, the success rate of these medications is less than the reported
success rates in people without diabetes. These medications may help 50% to 60%
of men with diabetes.

Injection Treatment

When oral medications are viagra sample pack
, intracavernous injection therapy (the
injection of medication directly into the erection chamber of the penis) may be
helpful in facilitating intercourse. Among diabetic men, the success rates with
this method range from 60% to 80%. The medications used include:

Alprostadil (brand names Caverject Impulse, Edex, and Prostin VR)
Papaverine hydrochloride
Phentolamine mesylate

In many cases, it may take a mixture of the three medications to produce an
adequate response. Although injections may be reasonably effective in diabetic
patients, about 50% of users stop after several years.

Vacuum Constriction Devices (VCD)

VCDs have been helpful in
facilitating intercourse among diabetic patients. They work in up to 80% of
users; however, like injection therapy, many people discontinue treatment after
several years.

This device consists of an acrylic cylinder that is placed over the penis. A
lubricant is used to create a good seal between the body and the cylinder. A
pump mechanism is used to create a vacuum inside the cylinder, allowing a
patient to achieve an adequate erection. If an adequate erection can be
achieved, a band or ring is then placed over the base of the penis (the part of
the penis closest to the body) and is used to help maintain the erection.

Learn more about vacuum constriction
devices.

Sex pill viagra
Therapy

This treatment involves using an applicator to place a suppository or pellet
containing medicine into the urethra (canal in the penis that carries
urine).

Learn more about viagra without prescription

therapy.

Penile Implants

Clinical studies have shown a high degree of patient satisfaction with
penile implants when other therapies have not worked. Patients need to be
suitable surgical candidates and it is preferable that patients have reasonably
good diabetic control before surgery.

Learn more about penile
implants.

Get the facts about diabetes and
ED.

View the full table of contents
for the ED guide.

Reviewed by the doctors at the Glickman Urological
Institute at The Cleveland Clinic.

Read another articles about erectile dysfunction remedies.

High Blood Pressure and ED: When Medication Is the Problem

carinawinits — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:03:19 +0000

To treat erectile dysfunction (ED), you have to lower your blood pressure
first. Some people are able to do that through lifestyle changes alone. Others
need help from prescribed blood pressure medication.

A problem for many men, however, is that some types of blood pressure
medicines can actually cause erectile dysfunction. That may make it
difficult to stay on your medication, especially if your high blood pressure
never caused any symptoms before. An estimated 70% of men who have side effects
from blood pressure medicine stop taking it.

Many drugs used to treat high blood pressure have been linked to erectile
dysfunction. But some are much less likely than others to cause problems.
Certain of the blood pressures drugs may even improve erectile
dysfunction for some men.

It’s known that diuretics (or water pills, like hydrochlorothiazide) and
beta-blockers (like Atenolol) can cause erection problems. These are also the
first drugs that a doctor is likely to prescribe if you are not able to lower
your blood pressure through diet and exercise.

If you’re taking a diuretic, you should stay on your medicine until your
blood pressure is under control. If your erection problem persists, or your
blood pressure goes back up, then your doctor might switch you to a drug that’s
less likely to cause erectile dysfunction. Or, a combination of erectile pill

might work better to control your blood pressure and reduce the risk of
erectile dysfunction.

If you take a beta blocker you may also want to ask your doctor if it might
cause erectile dysfunction. You might be better off on a medication less likely
to cause a problem.

Erection-Friendly High Blood Pressure Drugs

Some families of high blood pressure drugs rarely cause erectile dysfunction
as a side effect:

ACE inhibitors
Alpha-blockers
Calcium channel blockers
ARBs

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors — such as Lotensin, Capoten,
Zestril, Prinivil, etc. — widen blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Erectile dysfunction is rarely a side effect, occurring in less than 1% of
patients. There are several different medications in the category. This seems
to be true of all of them.

There are also medications known as calcium channel blockers, such as
Diltiazem, Verapamil, or Amlodipine. As a group, they rarely cause erectile
dysfunction. But erection problems may be less common with some individual
drugs within that group than with others. Your doctor can tell you which.

In general, generic viagra soft tab
s do not often cause erection problems either. In
one study published in the journal Dysfunction pill
in 1997, a small
number of men actually had a 100% erectile dysfunction impotence medication in their erectile dysfunction
after two years on the alpha-blocker Cardura.

Drugs known as ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers, like Losarten) are
not only unlikely to cause erection problems, but they may actually
improve sexual function in men with high blood pressure.

A 2001 study published in the American Journal of the Medical
Sciences looked at the drug Cozaar, an ARB. At first, just 7% of men and
women in the study said they felt sexually satisfied overall. After 12 weeks of
Cozaar, about 58% said they were sexually satisfied. The percentage of men who
reported having erectile dysfunction dropped from 75% to 12%.

Another study compared the drug Diovan, an ARB, with Coreg, a beta-blocker.
The study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension in 2001,
compared the effect of the two drugs on blood pressure and frequency of sexual
erectile dysfunction drugs
.

The drugs controlled blood pressure equally well. But people who took the
ARB reported having sex more often during the 16 weeks of treatment. They said
they had sex about eight times a month before, and 10 times a month after.
People taking the beta-blocker had sex much less often: eight times a month
before, and four times a month after.

Steps to Take If Your Medicine Causes Erection Problems

Tell your doctor if you think your blood pressure medicine may be causing
problems with your erections.

If it is your medication, and not just your high blood pressure,
switching to another prescription may solve the problem. Never stop taking your
medicine without your doctor’s OK.

But high blood pressure itself still could be to blame for your erectile
dysfunction. In that case, ask about trying an erectile dysfunction drug like
Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.

You should only take these drugs once your blood pressure is under control.
They are not safe for men with untreated high blood pressure. They are also not
safe for men taking alpha-blockers, or men taking nitrate drugs for heart
disease.

How do yo think, is it true about buy viagra?