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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Diabetic men who are unable to perform in the bedroom can get help from drugs like Viagra and Levitra. Erectile dysfunction drugs are safe and effective for diabetes patients, new research reveals.
Men with diabetes are three-times more likely than healthy men to suffer from erectile dysfunction, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. But diabetic patients have to be careful about the drugs they take -- side effects can complicate chronic health problems. Health complications, like heart disease and high blood pressure, are linked to diabetes.
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Researchers with The Cochrane Collaboration performed a meta-analysis of eight studies on several types of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, a drug category that includes Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. The studies involved a total of 1,759 diabetic men, 80 percent having type-2 diabetes. Researchers found men who took PDE-5 inhibitors experienced 26.7 percent more "successful intercourse attempts" compared to placebo groups.
Some patients experienced side effects such as headache, upper respiratory tract complaints and flu-like symptoms. However, researchers report PDE-5 inhibitors do not appear to put diabetes patients at-risk for serious short-term complications.
Researchers say more research is needed to determine long-term risks for diabetic men taking PDE-5 inhibitors. Most of the studies in the meta-analysis lasted just 12 weeks.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Volume 1
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