Can You Take Viagra With Testosterone?
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You can take Viagra while on testosterone. The question is, should you or do you even have to?
Viagra and similar drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors are some of the most popular treatments for erectile dysfunction or ED. Men with low testosterone often suffer from ED. One of the many benefits of testosterone replacement therapy for men with low testosterone is they see an immediate improvement in their sex drive and their ability to get and maintain an erection.
While it is perfectly safe to take Viagra while on testosterone therapy, you shouldn’t have to. Many men who may have been using Viagra or similar drugs to treat ED before they found out that low testosterone was probably at the root of the problem found they no longer needed such oral ED drugs after starting testosterone therapy.
Furthermore, men with low testosterone often suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure, or other conditions which mean they cannot take Viagra or related drugs. The bottom line is, if you have ED and low testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy is a much better treatment choice than Viagra.
Viagra vs. Testosterone: Which One Helps ED Better?
Viagra and related drugs work by increasing nitric oxide output. Nitric oxide is essential for getting and maintaining an erection. It stimulates the opening of the blood vessels in the spongy tissues of the penis that fill with blood upon arousal, causing an erection. But this is only a temporary fix that occurs once you take the pill. Furthermore, you have to take Viagra when you know you may be involved in sexual activity. Testosterone replacement therapy, on the other hand, is a more permanent solution to ED. Testosterone is essential for normal erectile function because, among other things, it stimulates your body’s natural production of nitric oxide. The relationship between low testosterone and erectile function is a complex one. However, one thing is certain; men with low testosterone also are highly likely to suffer from ED.
Doctors know that your testosterone level directly impacts your ability to get and maintain an erection because it is a necessary precursor to your natural production of nitric oxide. In addition, there are several ways that low testosterone can influence, if not directly cause, ED. For example, men with low testosterone also tend to be overweight, have hardening of the arteries, and diabetes, all of which are known to contribute to ED. In addition, men with below-normal testosterone levels also tend to be weak, tired, stressed, or depressed — all of which can lead to erectile dysfunction. This is why testosterone replacement therapy can be such an effective treatment for men with low testosterone and ED.
Can You Take Viagra With Testosterone?
You can take Viagra along with testosterone; however, there is very little reason to. If you have been experiencing ED or other sexual performance issues, such as loss of libido due to low testosterone, these are some of the first symptoms to disappear once you start on testosterone therapy.
Beyond that, a recent study found that adding testosterone to Viagra does nothing to enhance its effects. The study included 140 men aged 40 to 70. All were given a typical prescription for Viagra, used as needed before sex. After three to seven weeks, half of the men were then randomly assigned to also use a daily testosterone gel, and the other half used a drug-free placebo gel. The researchers found no difference between the two groups on measures of erectile function.
Does Viagra Affect T Levels in Males?
There have been some studies that indicate that Viagra can temporarily raise a man’s testosterone levels. But it is just a spike while taking the medication; the increase does not last long, nor does it seem to improve the effectiveness of Viagra.
Conclusion
There is no reason to take Viagra and testosterone together. There is little or no clinical evidence that one enhances or improves the effect of the other. For men with low testosterone and ED, testosterone replacement therapy is the better solution. Testosterone therapy for men has not only been clinically proven to improve ED symptoms, but it also provides many other physical and emotional benefits for men with low testosterone.