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Cialis & Sildenafil (Viagra)

User
Posted 07 Nov 2016 at 09:33

I hope someone can help advise even if it's not a subject I'd ever imagined myself openly talking about.

I am +10 weeks from Da-Vinci, RP. Despite the process being non-nerve sparing I have regained 70% of function naturally, and we're experimenting with what chemical aids could work.

I understand Sildenafil (Viagra) is now capable of being prescribed freely as it's off patent, but Cialis is still restricted. I think even where individual patients pass the initial requirement criteria, numbers of tablets are restricted to x/month.  My own GP prescribed sildenafil 2 weeks ago, and last week Cialis, but both in small numbers with a view to me deciding which worked best.

My question is that as this is a long term process, with all sort of factors influencing the results, is it reasonable to ask to continue with both for a while yet before making a decision?  I really don't know which is better yet, as though the chemical effect may be similar the mode of action is very different, and as we all know the psychological component can be just as important as the chemical. 

Can an NHS GP prescribe both drugs simultaneously? I wonder of there is some rule that says Cialis can only be used where Viagra has failed, but I don't know if I'm in that boat yet.

 

User
Posted 07 Nov 2016 at 12:12

Hello mate
Great post. Keep fighting on and on as the squeakiest wheel gets the oil ! I'm not sure of the actual rights , but if you get on with your doctor it helps a lot. I didn't want op and was terrified of the dreaded ED. I'm 17months post op and have slight recovery but nothing natural yet. I'm young too. Because of this my doc has thrown everything at me.
By far my best result is Cialis 5mg per day taken at bedtime so the side-effects are ok. You would need to ask your doc for 8 X 20mg tablets and cut them. I think 8 per month is the max allowance , but I also bought them online generic and they worked fine. It may in weeks give you natural spontaneous erectionscas it has me. I slip a Lovehoney rubber ring on him too and he's pretty good although loss of size now.
Good luck. Drive your own recovery
Chris

User
Posted 07 Nov 2016 at 13:13
SDB

My consultant wrote to my GP and asked him to prescribe daily sildeafil. In the NICE guidance there is reference to stopping certain treatments if they do not work in an allotted period.

As CJ said keep on it and do not get fobbed off. Great news that you are getting some movement so soon after your op.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 07 Nov 2016 at 13:14  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 07 Nov 2016 at 14:17

Thanks, Chris(es) x2. Much appreciated. I read the comments by you both and others and find them a real benefit, so thank you, though it continues to amaze me that I find myself able to discuss an issue such as this so candidly. This journey changes you in lots of ways, doesn't it?

I find myself in a position I really didn't expect, as I'd chosen a surgeon in spite of his reluctance to spare nerves in circumstances such as mine (tumour was largely on one side) and by his own admission I would likely find a surgeon who would if I pursued another opinion. For lots of reasons we didn't

This means I'd done zero research about erection supporting drugs until the faint & fragile but unmistakeable stirrings I experienced a couple of weeks' post-op prompted me to start to read. I want to be a participant in the decision-making process with doctors, but to do that I need facts, hence I find myself every evening reading the historic threads on these pages, but still I have more questions than answers.

Is the (lengthy) recovery timescale that people who've had nerve sparing ops experience likely to apply to me too? Are these gains ever reversible? (neuro response I mean, I understand the plumbing can deteriorate) I'm surprised to find so little information (generally I mean) on this aspect as according to some research up to 15% of younger men (<60yrs) recover erectile function after non-nerve sparing RP. I've seen others say 0%.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement. Every time this aspect of the whole journey starts to get the better of me my mind wanders to the post another contributor made in one of the other threads (no idea which, I've read thousands). He said though his member "no longer pointed up towards the stars, it did at least indicate the direction of the far horizon'' There's a goal to aim for, eh? :)

User
Posted 07 Nov 2016 at 20:57
SDB

I describe myself as "supposedly" non nerve sparring, because I was told there was too much disease too spare nerves and the surgery was to get rid of the cancer. I think logic would say if some stirrings are happening like me, then some nerves are still there. I would think getting on the right medication as soon as possible might be an advantage.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 08 Nov 2016 at 12:01
Your situation sounds really good to me and you have made great progress. My experience suggests that the medics are not sure about many questions as there is no definitive research. So some docs or specialist nurses have their own views based on their experience of what works best. Despite nerve sparing of 50% on a radical op over two years ago I still have ED, lots of mental stirrings but no physical response without help and then only on a good day. I have tried every ED device and chemical without very satisfactory results. My GP prescribes sildenafil and caverject monthly so no problem about two treatments being given at once.

Sildenafil is out of patent and I've been told costs 16p a 100mg tab. It can be purchased so that may be a solution if your GP wishes to limit your supply, or the GP could prescribe cialis and you purchase sildenafil for yourself ( I believe that Cialis also comes out of patent next year).

 
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