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Erectile dysfunction (ED) can affect men of all ages. In the UK, ED is thought to affect 1 in 10 men and more than 50% of men over the age of 40 will experience some form of ED. It can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition and if it becomes a chronic problem then it is best to consult your GP.

ED can be caused by physical conditions that restrict the flow of blood to the penis, such as narrowing of the blood vessels, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

It’s also caused by conditions involving the nervous system, e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, after a stroke and diabetes (which also involves the nervous system).

Hormonal problems can also cause it; deficiencies in testosterone production, an overactive or underactive thyroid gland and Cushing’s syndrome (where the body doesn’t produce enough of the steroid, cortisol).

Furthermore, depression and anxiety are psychological problems that can cause ED.

There are a whole range of medications that can cause ED and even more frustratingly, a lot of the treatments for the aforementioned medical conditions can make existing ED even worse!

Some members of a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure, such as Ramipril and Lisinopril cause it. Also, other medications for hypertension, called Calcium-channel blockers; amlodipine,felodipine and Nifedipine. Other culprits are beta-blockers, used for angina and hypertension, such as carvedilol, metoprolol and atenolol.

Another group of drugs causing this unwanted side-effect are diuretics (used to treat high blood pressure, kidney disease or heart failure), for example, bendoflumethazide and furosemide. The widely used statins and fibrates used for high cholesterol and commonly used antihistamines, for hayfever and other allergic conditions, also cause ED. Treatments for urinary retention such as Tamsulosin and Doxazosin are guilty too. Anticonvulsants used for epilepsy, cytotoxics used in chemotherapy and medications for ulcers may cause ED.

This list is not exhaustive but gives you an indication of the large number of medications that do cause this sensitive and embarrassing condition. However, it is extremely important never to stop your prescribed medication if you suspect it may be the cause of your ED but go and speak to your GP as an alternative medication may be available that doesn’t cause this unwanted side effect.

There is a huge stigma surrounding ED and many men find it embarrassing and awkward to even talk to their partners about it never mind discussing it with their GP. Although attitudes to gender have improved greatly over the years and the division of labour in the home is now far more evenly distributed than in our parents’ days, we still live in a society where the majority of men like to appear as “macho” and dislike discussing anything that may have a negative impact on their perceived masculinity or sexual prowess.

As a result, when men have difficulties achieving an erection, the majority would rather avoid intimacy and suffer in silence rather than bring attention to the problem and try to find a solution. This attitude is alien to the way a typical man would normally deal with a problem in his everyday life where he usually tries to be the problem solver!

I think if more men were aware that their medical condition and/or their medication was responsible for their ED then they would be more willing to discuss it with their partner and seek out a remedy.

The vast majority of men with ED can be optimistic and anticipate a return to satisfying sexual activity with the various treatments now available and successfully transform their lives.

Medically reviewed by: Superintendent Pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 29/08/15

https://webmedpharmacy.co.uk/gonorrhoea-symptoms-and-treatment

Many people are lactose intolerant which is a common digestive problem where the body is unable to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and, to a lesser extent, in dairy products. Lactose is digested by lactase and can then be absorbed and utilised by the body. If you are lactose intolerant you do not produce enough lactase and therefore the lactose stays in the gut where it is fermented by gut bacteria and produces various gases that lead to diarrhoea, flatulence, stomach cramps, nausea and bloating.

An allergy to lactose is far more serious as it involves the immune system and can result in wheezing or coughing, runny nose, watery eyes, an itchy skin rash or vomiting.

This means that people affected either have to limit the amount of lactose ingested or avoid it completely. Lactase substitutes, in the form of tablets or drops, can be obtained to take with your meals or drinks, to improve your digestion of lactose but it’s better to avoid it. Lactose intolerance varies greatly between different ethnic groups. For example, while only one in 50 people of northern European descent are thought to be lactose intolerant, most people of Chinese descent have the condition. In fact, hereditary or primary lactase deficiency affects 60% of the world’s adult population. The condition can develop at any time and many cases first occur between 20 and 40 years of age.

Unfortunately, many pharmaceutical tablets and capsules contain lactose as a “filler” or “binder”. Fillers are used to bulk out the active ingredient or the drug used in a particular medication as the amount of active drug in a tablet or capsule is very small. Therefore, to make the drug a more manageable size to handle, the pharmacologically inactive fillers are used to bulk out the tablet and increase its size.

However, this practise makes the medication unsuitable for those who are either allergic to lactose or lactose intolerant. There are other fillers that can be used by the pharmaceutical industry that do not cause any problems.

For this reason, the generic sildenafil treatment for erectile dysfunction that we supply from Webmed Pharmacy is lactose free.

Medically reviewed by: Super intendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 19/08/15

https://webmedpharmacy.co.uk/gonorrhoea-symptoms-and-treatment

I am a pharmacist who has worked in Retail Pharmacy for over 25 years.

I had a business in Glasgow that I started in 1988 but over recent years have seen the change in peoples buying habits and the increasing difficulty of getting an appointment with your GP. I now see online pharmacies as the way of the future for busy people who want confidentiality and speed of service.

Webmed Pharmacy specialises in treatments for sensitive and intimate conditions where patients may feel awkward or embarrassed talking to their GP.

You can complete an online medical questionnaire in the comfort of your own home and, if suitable, can be prescribed treatment by one of our own Doctors.

Confidential, discreet next day delivery of medicines delivered within a 1 hour time slot to most postcodes in the UK. Which you can then track the driver in real time counting down to a 15 minute window. Or you can choose from one of our 2,500+ Pickup Stores.

Some of the conditions we treat are - Weight loss (Saxenda), Erectile dysfunction (Viagra / Sildenafil / Tadalafil), Premature ejaculation, hair loss in men, cystitis for women or kits to detect Sexually Transmitted infections (STI’s) and their treatment.

Solve your problem without having to go to your GP and have your medicine prescribed by a GMC regulated Doctor and when ordered before 4pm will be guaranteed delivery the next day.

Supplying only UK sourced medicines through our professional regulated pharmacy in discreet packaging with no reference to the pharmacy or medication.

How can I be sure that I'm buying genuine medication from a fully approved and Regulated UK pharmacy?  Is a question we are often asked. Click here to read our blog "Are you buying fake medicines online?" which tells you what to look for.

No longer do you have to wait around for days to see your GP or take time off work.