erectile dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the term used to describe the difficulty of getting and maintaining an erection firm enough for sex. Although people are more likely to experience ED as they get older, most will experience it at some point in their lives. 

While this can be a short-term condition caused by things like alcohol, stress, or tiredness, some people will experience erectile dysfunction over a longer period of time. This can be due to a physical or emotional cause. If you’ve regularly been experiencing erectile dysfunction, please speak to a pharmacist or your GP.

Not all people experience the symptoms of erectile dysfunction in the same way. Some people can’t get an erection at all, some people lose their erection before sex, and others can’t get an erection hard enough for sex. If you can’t get or keep an erection long enough for sex, you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, you aren’t alone; 4.3 million men in the UK have experienced erectile dysfunction symptoms.

Erectile dysfunction treatment is used to help you get or keep an erection that’s hard enough to have sex with. Erectile dysfunction treatments only work if you’re sexually aroused, they can’t help if you have low sex drive, or if you’re ejaculating faster than you want to (premature ejaculation).

Most erectile dysfunction treatments work in a similar way, making it easier for blood to flow into the penis when you’re aroused, making it easier to get and keep an erection.

There are many kinds of pills for erectile dysfunction, but they are all part of the same group of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. PDE-5 inhibitors work by relaxing your blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the penis and helps you to get an erection. 

Each pill has a different active ingredient so, while they’re all PDE5 inhibitors, each pill may work a little differently from another. This means that you may need to try a few different pills to get the best result for you.

There are 4 main types of erectile dysfunction tablets, which we can prescribe for ED at Denny Pharmacy :

• Sildenafil (used in Viagra, Viagra Connect, and generic Sildenafil) – these are the NHS’s first choice and they’re the most popular. They start working about 30 mins after you take them and last for 4-6 hours.

• Tadalafil (used in Cialis, Cialis Daily, and generic Tadalafil) – often known as the ‘weekend pill’, tadalafil medications get to work in about 30 mins and can last for up to 36 hours.

• Vardenafil (used in Levitra and generic Vardenafil) – similar to Viagra, vardenafil medications start after about 30 mins and last 4-6 hours, but they can be slightly better to take for men with eye problems.

• Avanafil (used in Spedra) – this medication is the fastest-acting one, getting to work in as little as 15 mins.

The chances of side effects are also very low, all erectile dysfunction tablets cause side effects in less than 2% of men who try them.

The initial consultation with one of our pharmacists is free of charge.

The cost of the tablets will depend on which tablet you opt for, the strength and the quantity prescribed.

We will highlight the costs and options during the consultation.

Select a date and time that suits you on our online portal here.

One of our pharmacists, Mike or Aidan, will speak with you in private to fill in a medical history form and ensure the tablets are suitable for you.

It's as simple as that and we can supply you with the medication that day.