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Sildenafil didnt work?

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User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 21:27

Hi

Used my first prescribed 50mg Sildenafil over the weekend, 8 week post surgery.....  it didn't work?

Never thought for one second that it would not work.

What do you recommend I do?

I got them prescribed by a urology consultant.

Thanks for any advice 👍👍

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 20:01

There are many threads on post-op erectile dysfunction.  There are many which talk about the likes of viagara not working and man using alprostadil or invicorp injections.  Not wanting to scare you, but there is lots of information  on here and you'll see many of us have been on a long journey.  I ended up being fitted with a mechanical implant, for example.  

Do more research and arm yourself with information.  Talk to one of the specialist nurses from this site.  

I found all the info I needed from this forum and the specialist nurses.

User
Posted 09 Oct 2023 at 06:23

A lot of hospitals don't even have ED services and GPs aren't always clued up on it.  Speak to one of the nurses on here.  They'll  listen to what you're going through and explain your options.

User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 22:17

Dry Guy,

I’m no expert and can only give my personal experience. I had nerve-sparing RARP in December 2022, and was prescribed 50mg Sildenafil when the catheter was removed. This was later increased to 100 mg, 4 tablets per month. 9 months on and I don’t get useable erections. I have a prescribed pump which does the job when used with constriction rings. Things are improving but I accept it will take time. It’s not much fun, but other contributors have given me hope for the future.

 

User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 22:37

8 weeks post surgery is very early.

I took 100mg Sildenafil, weekly for months, along with using a pump. It will take time and for me things improved. 

Suggest you request the higher dose. 

P.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 10:13

Sounds like your doctor did not communicate very well.

I was under the impression that these drugs are mainly for rehabilitation purposes (to increase blood flow), and if you get an erection, then  it is a bonus.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 10:50

It's still very early days. You won't get an erection just by taking it - you need to get sexually aroused too. Sildenafil works best on an empty stomach, and also when you haven't eaten fats/oils. (For Tadalafil, it doesn't matter if/when/what you've eaten.)

Also, if you didn't get any unacceptable side effects from it, you should ask for the max dose, 100mg, at this stage.

In terms of saying if a PDE5 inhibitor is working or not, you have to try it 4-8 times before you can say it doesn't work as they don't necessarily work every time. Obviously, stop before then if it generates unacceptable side effects.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 20:23

Hi Dry Guy,

I am 15 months post-surgery.  I take low dose (5 mg) of Tadalafil every day.  This is just to keep blood flowing to the penis.  It doesn't give me an erection.  I also use a vacuum pump for the same reason.  If I want a useable erection, I take 20 mg. of Tadalafil.  At first, even 20mg. of Tadalafil didn't do anything, but now, 15 months later, I get a reasonable erection, (although not as firm or as much girth as before surgery).  20 mg. of Tadalafil is equivalent to 100mg sildenafil.  So, I would say it might be early days for you to get a useable erection.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

User
Posted 04 Oct 2023 at 01:46

Dry guy, you are so right. The system is extremely flawed. 

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself from these forums and support groups, watch youtube etc. Hopefully armed with knowledge, you can advocate for yourself to ask for medications, pumps, injections to improve your quality of life.

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 20:26

Thanks Ulsterman for your reply, I took my second Sildenafil.....and nothing again. Going to go to the doctors as I don't think I've got another appointment other than 4 month psa blood test.

The urology consultant never mentioned me seeing any ED Specialist even though I told him I had zero movement downstairs.

Bit depressed with losing a couple of inches n the horror that can happen to a non working penis & it not working to get intimate with my great Mrs......but being cancer free is lifting me through it.....very thankful for that

Cheer again 👍👍

User
Posted 21 Oct 2023 at 21:07

Hi Dry Guy.

I believe that the usual 'event' dose is 20 mg.  But maybe the G.P. gave you 10 mg. as a trial dose, to see how you get on with it.  Some people do get joint ache for the first few times, but in my own experience this passes and I found it worth persevering.

Good luck.

JedSee.

User
Posted 21 Oct 2023 at 21:54

Yes, 20mg is the event dose. 10mg is for someone who got unacceptable side effects on 20mg.

User
Posted 22 Oct 2023 at 06:21

Thanks for your reply jedsee, unfortunately it didn't make my only joint I wanted it to stiff.

Got fibromyalgia so unfortunately well versed on painful joints.

Think I did feel a miniscule of the past going on downstairs but nowt happened.

User
Posted 22 Oct 2023 at 21:23

Dry Guy,

Sorry to hear about the poor response from Tadalafil.  To have Fybromyalgia as well as PCa must feel like a raw deal.

Look after yourself.

JedSee. 

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User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 22:17

Dry Guy,

I’m no expert and can only give my personal experience. I had nerve-sparing RARP in December 2022, and was prescribed 50mg Sildenafil when the catheter was removed. This was later increased to 100 mg, 4 tablets per month. 9 months on and I don’t get useable erections. I have a prescribed pump which does the job when used with constriction rings. Things are improving but I accept it will take time. It’s not much fun, but other contributors have given me hope for the future.

 

User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 22:37

8 weeks post surgery is very early.

I took 100mg Sildenafil, weekly for months, along with using a pump. It will take time and for me things improved. 

Suggest you request the higher dose. 

P.

User
Posted 02 Oct 2023 at 22:58

Thanks for your reply Probbo & Pawmark. The next appointment will be in 4 months with him, he didn't mention anything about the possibility of it not working.

Proper disappointed & upset, thought these pills would have worked. I'll have to make a appointment with the doctors?.

Thanks again 👍👍

 

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 10:13

Sounds like your doctor did not communicate very well.

I was under the impression that these drugs are mainly for rehabilitation purposes (to increase blood flow), and if you get an erection, then  it is a bonus.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 10:45

Thanks for your help, I had no idea, he just prescribed me them & I presumed and didn't know any difference that they wouldn't work but 100%.

All he asked how many times a week we make love prior & could I now get a erection which a replied no.

Maybe I could have asked more questions....but I'm not the expert he were, but like I stated I thought they worked without failure.

Going to phone the urology dept now.

Thanks 👍👍

 

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 10:50

It's still very early days. You won't get an erection just by taking it - you need to get sexually aroused too. Sildenafil works best on an empty stomach, and also when you haven't eaten fats/oils. (For Tadalafil, it doesn't matter if/when/what you've eaten.)

Also, if you didn't get any unacceptable side effects from it, you should ask for the max dose, 100mg, at this stage.

In terms of saying if a PDE5 inhibitor is working or not, you have to try it 4-8 times before you can say it doesn't work as they don't necessarily work every time. Obviously, stop before then if it generates unacceptable side effects.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 11:43

Thanks Andy for reply, I had the pill about 2 hours after dinner so wouldn't have thought a bad time?

Suppose I were a tad nervous first time after the opp & getting back in the chair so to say....but excited to.

Thanks 👍👍

 

Edited by member 03 Oct 2023 at 11:43  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 20:23

Hi Dry Guy,

I am 15 months post-surgery.  I take low dose (5 mg) of Tadalafil every day.  This is just to keep blood flowing to the penis.  It doesn't give me an erection.  I also use a vacuum pump for the same reason.  If I want a useable erection, I take 20 mg. of Tadalafil.  At first, even 20mg. of Tadalafil didn't do anything, but now, 15 months later, I get a reasonable erection, (although not as firm or as much girth as before surgery).  20 mg. of Tadalafil is equivalent to 100mg sildenafil.  So, I would say it might be early days for you to get a useable erection.

Best wishes,

JedSee.

User
Posted 03 Oct 2023 at 21:43

Thanks Jedsee for reply, wow I've learnt 50 times more today with yours & other users today than I did with a urology consultant appointment....why?...it shouldn't be. 

Like I've stated I were just given the pills nothing else. No treatment plan.

Why? Surely they should have given a low dose & instructed me the best route for future erections and what the outcome would have been with the 50mg of Sildenafil I took.

I'm lost what to do?? 

I feel that it's a important time to do things right.

Thanks for your help 👍👍

Edited by member 03 Oct 2023 at 21:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Oct 2023 at 01:46

Dry guy, you are so right. The system is extremely flawed. 

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself from these forums and support groups, watch youtube etc. Hopefully armed with knowledge, you can advocate for yourself to ask for medications, pumps, injections to improve your quality of life.

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 20:01

There are many threads on post-op erectile dysfunction.  There are many which talk about the likes of viagara not working and man using alprostadil or invicorp injections.  Not wanting to scare you, but there is lots of information  on here and you'll see many of us have been on a long journey.  I ended up being fitted with a mechanical implant, for example.  

Do more research and arm yourself with information.  Talk to one of the specialist nurses from this site.  

I found all the info I needed from this forum and the specialist nurses.

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 20:26

Thanks Ulsterman for your reply, I took my second Sildenafil.....and nothing again. Going to go to the doctors as I don't think I've got another appointment other than 4 month psa blood test.

The urology consultant never mentioned me seeing any ED Specialist even though I told him I had zero movement downstairs.

Bit depressed with losing a couple of inches n the horror that can happen to a non working penis & it not working to get intimate with my great Mrs......but being cancer free is lifting me through it.....very thankful for that

Cheer again 👍👍

User
Posted 09 Oct 2023 at 06:23

A lot of hospitals don't even have ED services and GPs aren't always clued up on it.  Speak to one of the nurses on here.  They'll  listen to what you're going through and explain your options.

User
Posted 21 Oct 2023 at 19:17

Hi

After Viagra didn't work I needed to see the doctor either to get some more or get a different med.

I got given 4 ×10mg Tadalafil.

Is that a event dose? The Viagra were 50mg.

Waiting for a Andrology appointment.

Thanks for any replies

Are 👍👍

User
Posted 21 Oct 2023 at 21:07

Hi Dry Guy.

I believe that the usual 'event' dose is 20 mg.  But maybe the G.P. gave you 10 mg. as a trial dose, to see how you get on with it.  Some people do get joint ache for the first few times, but in my own experience this passes and I found it worth persevering.

Good luck.

JedSee.

User
Posted 21 Oct 2023 at 21:54

Yes, 20mg is the event dose. 10mg is for someone who got unacceptable side effects on 20mg.

User
Posted 22 Oct 2023 at 06:21

Thanks for your reply jedsee, unfortunately it didn't make my only joint I wanted it to stiff.

Got fibromyalgia so unfortunately well versed on painful joints.

Think I did feel a miniscule of the past going on downstairs but nowt happened.

User
Posted 22 Oct 2023 at 21:23

Dry Guy,

Sorry to hear about the poor response from Tadalafil.  To have Fybromyalgia as well as PCa must feel like a raw deal.

Look after yourself.

JedSee. 

 
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