Hearing Loss May be a Downside of Viagra

A new study out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health validates the 2007 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label changes regarding hearing loss and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i).
PDE-5is medications include Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. The new study reports the downside of their use is the risk of hearing loss. This downside of Viagra and the other PDE-5is puts the men who use the drugs at twice the risk of hearing loss as men who don’t use the drugs.
The results of Gerald McGwin’s, professor of epidemiology, study are published in the May 18 issue of the journal Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
The FDA originally decided to feature warnings about hearing loss on labels for PDE-5i drugs after 29 cases of the problem were reported between 1996 and 2007. The hearing loss was reported to occur within hours to days of taking the drugs.
McGwin’s cross-sectional study used a population-based sample of 11,525 men 40 years or older from the 2003-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a longitudinal, overlapping panel cohort, with each cohort consisting of approximately 15 000 households, including a subsample of approximately 39 000 individuals chosen from the National Health Interview Survey using a stratified and clustered sample with weights that produce nationally representative estimates.
The overall prevalence of self-reported hearing loss was 17.9% and increased with age. The prevalence among those in their forties was 7.5%, and this increased to 15.0%, 24.4%, 32.9%, and 47.2% in subsequent decades.
Approximately 2% of men reported having used a PDE-5i. Use was lowest among those in their forties (0.8%), steadily increased until men were in their 60s (3.3%), and then subsequently declined to 0.5% for men 80 years or older.
Among those reporting PDE-5i use, Viagra was the most frequently used (80.3%), followed by Levitra (20.2%) and Cialis (12.8%).
The results show that, among 11,525 men over age 40, those who took PDE-5i, were twice as likely to also report hearing loss as were men who had not used the drugs. This relationship was strongest for men reporting use of Viagra.
""PDE-5i medications work in ED patients by their ability to increase blood flow to certain tissues in the body," McGwin said. "It has been hypothesized that they may have a similar effect on similar tissues in the ear, where an increase of blood flow could potentially cause damage leading to hearing loss."
This study represents the first epidemiologic study to evaluate the relationship between PDE-5i drugs and long-term hearing loss. However, it doesn’t find an actually causal relationship, only shows an association. More research is needed to back up the findings.
The FDA urges those who experience hearing problems while on the drugs to stop taking the medications and call their doctor.

Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule Warning

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule. Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule is promoted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
The Health Sciences Authority of Singapore advised the public not to purchase or consume the product Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule because it contains sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and should only be taken under the guidance of a health professional.
Unsupervised use of sildenafil by patients with heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, chest pain and abnormal heartbeat. Additionally, use of sildenafil may be associated with other side-effects including temporary vision loss, seizure, prolonged erection, headache, flushing, nasal congestion and abdominal pain. Sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any type of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure.

Men Would Rather Play Video Games Than Have Sex

If you have ever felt you have to compete with your husband’s Wii for attention, you’re not alone. A recent study shows that one in three men would rather play video games than have sex with their partner. The study, reported in the U.K. newspaper The Sun, was conducted by the Specialist PlayStation3 site PS3pricecompare.co.uk and surveyed 1,130 British men.
According to Genie James, M.M.Sc, Executive Director of the Natural Hormone Institute, hormonal imbalance and stress may be to blame for the study’s startling results. “It is very likely that these men are suffering from a hormone imbalance at a cellular level that causes them to lose interest in sex,” says James.
James’ upcoming new book, “In the Mood Again,” (Simon & Schuster, January 2010), will explain how natural hormone balancing, diet and lifestyle changes can help adults of both sexes regain lost libido. She also explores the causes of low libido. For example, when testosterone levels begin to decline in a man’s 30’s and 40’s, libido – or sex drive – is compromised at a cellular level. Other symptoms of declining testosterone levels are fatigue, lethargy and weight gain. “That is why many men come home, plop down on the sofa and pick up the remote or engage in video games. They just don’t feel up to doing much else,” says James.
Lack of interest in sex is even starting to affect young men in their 20s. “Typically, young men in their teens and 20’s are sexually rambunctious but – in the last several decades – young men living in industrialized nations like America have shown reduced sperm count and quantity of ejaculate. Both of these evidence an early decline in testosterone levels,” she says. Medical scientists attribute this dismaying trend to the high levels of foreign hormones, called xenohormones, that are found in many of our foods, including meat and milk, as well as in common inhalants such as fumicides and pesticides.
So, what’s a guy to do? First and foremost, exercise. “Exercise naturally boosts lagging testosterone levels,” says James. “Also, clean up your diet. Go organic when possible to decrease exposure to xenohormones. Give up the nachos and beer while sitting on the sofa. Remember that all those pounds packed around your middle are literally decreasing your ‘manliness’."
Men who are experiencing low libido and sexual performance issues may also want to consider natural, or bio-identical, testosterone replacement. Bio-identical testosterone is safe but you will need to find a doctor who can prescribe it and monitor your levels. Other natural testosterone-boosting options are herbal approaches that have been successful in many cultures for centuries, such as Peruvian gingseng or nettle root. For improved erectile performance, clinical studies have found L-arginine, horny goat weed and yohimbe to be effective.
“To get ‘in the mood again,’ all you need is a pair of sneakers and a trip to the health food aisle of your grocery store,” says James. “The results will be less time in front of the TV and more time enjoying another form of entertainment.”

New Theory About Preserving Erectile Function After Prostate Surgery

Prostate Surgery
Erectile dysfunction after surgery to remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy) has traditionally been attributed to nerve damage that theoretically should heal over time.
But it can take as long as two years for the nerves to recover enough for a man to have an erection without the aid of drugs or devices. By that time, other damage may have occurred, according to an article in the latest issue of Perspectives on Prostate Disease.
The Harvard Medical School bulletin notes that when the penis is flaccid for long periods of time, it is deprived of a lot of oxygen-rich blood. Recent research suggests that this low oxygen level causes some muscle cells in the penis’s erectile tissue to lose their flexibility. The tissue gradually becomes more like scar tissue, interfering with the penis’s ability to expand when it’s filled with blood.
Therefore, the traditional advice given to men — to wait for erectile function to return on its own — may not be adequate. Simply put, erections seem to work on a use-it-or-lose-it basis. To prevent the secondary damage that may occur if the penis goes too long without erections, researchers now think it’s better to restore erectile function soon after prostate removal. Treatment options include using a vacuum pump device or taking erectile dysfunction drugs by mouth or by injection into the penis.
According to Dr. Marc Garnick, editor in chief of Perspectives on Prostate Disease and a Harvard oncologist, "Although the evidence supporting this ‘penile rehabilitation’ isn’t perfect, you may want to ask your doctor about the options. Such early intervention may help increase the odds that you will regain erectile function."
Also covered in the 48-page report:
– Alternative therapies for prostate cancer
– Handling a prostate cancer relapse
– Surgical options for benign prostatic hyperplasia
A year’s subscription to Perspectives on Prostate Disease is available for $99 (for print and electronic versions; $89 for electronic only) from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

Cialis (tadalafil) Overtakes Viagra to Become Number One Selling Erectile Dysfunction Treatment in France

Erectile Dysfunction Drug

Lilly ICOS LLC (NYSE: LLY and Nasdaq: ICOS) reported� � on April 18� � that Cialis� � (tadalafil)(1), the only erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment clinically proven to work up to 36 hours for most men, has surpassed Viagra� � (sildenafil citrate) in France for the second consecutive month.
In January 2005, Cialis accounted for 45 percent of the total PDE5 inhibitor tablets sold from wholesalers to pharmacies in France; Viagra's total for that same period was 44 percent. For the month of February 2005, Cialis continued its growth in France by attaining 49 percent of tablets sold from wholesalers to pharmacies, while Viagra had the second largest share with 40 percent, according to the latest IMS market share information.(2)
The market share of Cialis in France has grown consistently since the product was introduced in Europe in February 2003. Since December 2004, Cialis has secured an additional 6.4 percentage points of the total share of tablets from wholesalers to pharmacies to gain the largest share of sales in the French market.
"The success of Cialis in France is an exciting milestone for the brand and for Lilly ICOS, especially because we joined the market after the leader was so well established," said Leonard Blum, ICOS Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "The key benefit of Cialis, the up-to-36 hours that Cialis gives a man and his partner to choose the moment for intimacy that's right for them, is the reason we have always said Cialis would succeed in the Erectile Dysfunction marketplace. This benefit means couples who don't want to schedule romance can have time to relax and, for instance, have dinner or simply enjoy time together, allowing intimacy to happen when the moment is right."
Since its approval in the United States in November 2003, Cialis has increased its share of total prescriptions every month in the U.S. For the week ended April 1, 2005, Cialis held a 24 percent share of new and 22 percent of total U.S. oral Erectile Dysfunction� � treatment prescriptions.(3)
"We are not surprised by the success of Cialis in France, a country many people associate with romance and love," said Matt Beebe, Cialis U.S. Brand Team Leader, Lilly. "Here in the U.S., where Cialis was the third product to enter a very competitive market, we have our own success story - just four months after launch, Cialis secured the second largest share of the ED market. We're pleased to see the market share of Cialis continue to grow each month as more and more men discover the benefits Cialis has to offer."

About Erectile Dysfunction

Ererctile Dysfunction is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. ED affects an estimated 189 million men worldwide.(4) Experts believe that 80-90 percent of ED cases are related to a physical or medical condition, like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and prostate cancer treatment, while 10-20 percent are due to psychological causes.(5,6) In many cases, however, both psychological and physical factors contribute to the condition.(7)
About Cialis
Cialis, approved by the FDA in November 2003 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, is the only oral ED treatment shown to improve erectile function up to 36 hours in most men. Cialis can be taken without regard to food. The absorption of Cialis is not reduced by food, including high-fat foods. Cialis is currently available in approximately 100 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United States and countries throughout Europe. More than 4.5 million patients worldwide have been treated with Cialis since its first introduction in February 2003.
Cialis is available by prescription only and is not for everyone. Men taking nitrates, often used for chest pain, should not take Cialis. Such a combination could cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure.
Men should discuss their medical conditions and medications, including alpha blockers for prostate problems or high blood pressure, with their doctors to ensure Cialis is right for them and that they are healthy enough for sexual activity. The most common side effects with Cialis were headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. Although rare, men who experience an erection for more than four hours (priapism) should seek immediate medical attention. Men should not drink alcohol in excess with Cialis. Cialis does not protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Individual results may vary. Cialis studies were not designed to assess multiple intercourse attempts after a single dose. For full patient information, visit www.cialis.com
About Lilly ICOS LLC
Lilly ICOS LLC, a joint venture between ICOS Corporation (Nasdaq: ICOS) and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), developed tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
ICOS Corporation, a biotechnology company headquartered in Bothell, Washington, is dedicated to bringing innovative therapeutics to patients. ICOS is marketing its product, Cialis (tadalafil), through Lilly ICOS LLC, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. ICOS is working to develop treatments for serious unmet medical conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com
P-LLY
Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry, management beliefs and certain assumptions made by the management of ICOS and Lilly. Investors are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including economic, competitive, governmental, technological, legal and other factors discussed in the two companies' respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may affect the business and prospects of the two companies and Lilly ICOS. Results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. More specifically, there can be no assurance that Cialis will achieve commercial success or that competing products will not pre-empt market opportunities that might exist for the product.