Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are common male sexual problems. Erectile dysfunction can be defined as the inability of a man to get or maintain an erection. Premature ejaculation can be defined as loss of control over ejaculation or ejaculating too soon.
These conditions affect the sexual relationship of a person and can cause various mental health-related problems.
Cenforce D is a combination medicine with the active ingredients of Sildenafil citrate and dapoxetine. Sildenafil component is for erectile dysfunction and dapoxetine is for premature ejaculation.
Since these two problems coexist in many situations, combination medicine like Cenforce D would be beneficial in such situations. However, combining two drugs has various complexities involved and it must be used under the prescription of the doctor.
In the article, we would try to explain each of the components of Cenforce D, the benefits of combining the medicines, the price, and dosing of the medicine, the side effects involved, when to take the medicine, and when not to take the medicine.
What is Cenforce D?
Cenforce D is a prescription medicine composed of sildenafil citrate and dapoxetine. It is manufactured by Centurion Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
Sildenafil citrate is a medicine under the class of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. It works by increasing blood flow to the vessels of the penis leading to penile erection for satisfying sexual intercourse. The drug was approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in 1998.
Dapoxetine is a medicine under the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It works by regulating a type of neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin is found to be associated with various medical conditions. SSRIs are known for their antidepressant effects but dapoxetine is the only medicine in its class manufactured for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Hence, the combination drug is found to be more effective for sexual problems like erection problems and ejaculation problems.
What’s the Dose of Cenforce D?
The available dose of Cenforce D is 160 mg, which contains 100 mg of sildenafil and 60 mg of dapoxetine. You must take the dose as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more than one pill per day.
The active ingredients—Sildenafil is available in the dose of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 120 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg; Dapoxetine is available in different doses like 30 mg, 60 mg, and 90 mg.
The medicine is prescribed on-demand basis. That means it should be taken around 60 minutes before engaging in sexual intercourse. The medicine will show its peak effect in around 90 minutes of taking it. The dose of the medicine is available in various combinations.
How Long Does it Take for Cenforce D to Kick In?
The effects of Cenforce D will start to kick in about 30 minutes to 60 minutes after you take it. In a few cases, it may take longer. Do not increase the dose on your own if it does not work. In such situations, the dose can be increased only after the recommendation of the doctor.
If you have intentionally or accidentally consumed more than the prescribed amount of Cenforce D tablet, then you might feel severe dizziness, fainting, and painful/prolonged erection. In such situations, seek medical help immediately.
How Long Does Cenforce D Last?
The effect of Cenforce D usually lasts for 6 hours to 12 hours but could last up to 18 hours. So, you should not be worried for a night. Also, you should only take one pill in 24 hours.
How Much Does Cenforce D Cost?
Cenforce D costs between $1.25 and $1.5 per pill. The price can vary according to the place where you are getting it from and the number of pills you are buying.
The History of Cenforce D
Sildenafil citrate was discovered for its benefit in erectile dysfunction accidentally when the study for its use in high blood pressure was going on. Pfizer patented the drug in 1996. Two years later in 1998, FDA approved the drug and Pfizer marketed the drug under the brand name Viagra. The patent of Pfizer expired in 2019. So, currently, it is available in various brand names and various combinations.
Initially, the drug was studied by Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company. It was sold to Johnson & Johnson in 2003 and they filed it for approval to the US FDA but it was rejected. Two-phase II studies were conducted for appropriate dosing for phase III trials. Based on the results of the phase II trial, it was recommended to use 30 mg and 60 mg for further investigations in phase III trials. The results of the phase III trials have found the drug to be effective for the treatment of premature ejaculation but it is not approved by FDA to date.[1]
But it has been approved by the European Commission and issued a decision in 2012 stating that the benefits of the medicine outweigh its risk and the marketing authorization was granted.
Who Should Take Cenforce D?
The combination of the two drugs Sildenafil citrate and dapoxetine help to alleviate various sexual problems in men. As described earlier it can be used for patients suffering from both erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
Erectile dysfunction: The problem with the erection occurs as the result of decreased blood flow to the cavernous bodies of the penis. Sildenafil citrate in Cenforce D effectively treats this condition. The medicine should only be taken if sexual stimulation is already present.
Premature ejaculation: Dapoxetine is the component in Cenforce D that helps in the treatment of premature ejaculation, whereas sildenafil potentiates this effect.[2]
Is Cenforce D Safe?
The medicine is usually well tolerated but there are few side effects involved related to either sildenafil citrate or dapoxetine
Some side effects related to sildenafil citrate are:
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Flushing (feeling of warmth)
- Nosebleeds
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Numbness, burning or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
- Muscle aches
- Color vision problems (problems in differentiating blue and green colors)
- Sensitivity to light
- Sudden vision loss
- Sudden hearing loss
- Chest pain
- Prolonged and painful erections
- Allergic reactions
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
Some side effects of dapoxetine are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Nervousness
- Constipation
- Weight changes
- Ejaculation disorder
- Feeling weak
- Suicidal ideations
- Seizures
Drug Interactions of Cenforce D
Cenforce D can interact with several other medications, causing different effects. Some interactions can make the drug less effective and others may increase the side effects of the medicine.
Before taking Cenforce D, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescriptions, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. You should also inform them about any vitamins, herbal medicines, and supplements you are taking. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
Some of the potentially serious drug interactions are:
- Using Cenforce D with drugs like Nitrates ( a medicine used for treating chest pain related to angina), alpha-blockers, and antihypertensives can severely lower blood pressure leading to dizziness, fainting, and lightheadedness
- Drugs like azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), Histamine antagonists (Cimetidine), protease inhibitors for HIV (ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics ( erythromycin, azithromycin), opioid analgesics, can interact with Cenforce D by decreasing its metabolism and increasing the risk of side effects and toxicity.
- The medications like rifampicin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin can increase the metabolism of the Cenforce D reducing the effectiveness of the drug.
- Alcohol intake with Cenforce D can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. It might also reduce the efficacy of the medicine.
- Medications like monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), L-tryptophan, triptans, tramadol, linezolid, SSRIs, SNRIs, lithium, and St. John’s Wort can lead to a condition called serotonin syndrome. It is associated with excess serotonin and sometimes can have serious reactions including hyperthermia, rigidity, myoclonus, rapidly fluctuating vitals, and mental status change
Who Should Avoid Using Cenforce D?
Here are a few examples of when you should avoid using Cenforce D altogether:
- You have severe heart disease or heart valve failure
- You have a history of Bipolar disorder with an episode of mania or hypomania
- You have a history of optic neuropathy or problems with the blood supply of the retina.
- You are diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa
- You have a history of hypersensitivity to any of the component
- You have a history of priapism
- You have severe kidney disease
- You are diagnosed with blood disorders (hemophilia, leukemia, sickle-cell anemia)
- You are taking nitrates.
How Does Cenforce D Work?
Each active component of the medicine has a separate mechanism of action. Sildenafil citrate works by inhibiting phosphodiesterase type 5 which is responsible for the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Thus the accumulation of cGMP causes dilatation of blood vessels in the penis increasing blood flow to the penis and thus causing an erection.[3]
Dapoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It helps to regulate the serotonin level in the body. One of the causes of premature ejaculation is thought to be the dysregulation of serotonin levels. Thus by maintaining the balance of serotonin levels, dapoxetine prolongs ejaculatory latency timing.
Thus, these two medications work synergetically in Cenforce D to improve overall sexual function in men by enhancing their sexual experience.
Is Cenforce D Helpful for Women?
The common sexual problem in women is most likely the problem of sexual stimulation associated with sexual desire and arousal. Since Cenforce D is not a sexual stimulant, it would not be beneficial in women. Hence, Cenforce D is not recommended for use in women.
Medical Research Involving Combination of Sildenafil and Dapoxetine
A study conducted in 2015-2016, aimed to compare the effectiveness of paroxetine, dapoxetine alone, sildenafil alone, and combined sildenafil and dapoxetine, the study concluded that sildenafil and dapoxetine combination works better for premature ejaculation and improves intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) without significantly increasing the risk of side effects.[4]
Another study conducted between 2016 and 2017 studied the safety and efficacy of a combined form of sildenafil and dapoxetine. The study result showed that the combination form of medicine significantly improved premature ejaculation, which is more pronounced in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. The side effects associated with the therapy were noticed to be mild and short-lived.[5]
Alternatives to Cenforce D
Alternatives to sildenafil citrate are:
- Pharmaceutical alternatives like tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil, mirodenafil, and udenafil.
- Natural alternatives like horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.), L- Arginine, Korean Red Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), and Yohimbe.
Alternatives to dapoxetine are:
- Pharmaceutical alternatives like Escitalopram, Sertraline, fluoxetine, lidocaine spray, Tramadol, Modafinil, Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors
- Natural alternatives like Kaunch beej, and yauvanamrit vati.
Where to Buy Cenforce D?
Cenforce D helps to solve a complex sexual problem in men. Having said that we should not forget that combining two drugs might also increase the adversity of the drug reaction. So, it is essential to get this drug under the prescription of the doctor. After your doctor prescribes you the medicine it can be bought from a medical store or online drug stores.
We would recommend buying the medicine from online drug stores, as you can compare the price with convenience.
Take Away
Cenforce D is useful for solving problems like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. However, these medical conditions are usually the way our body tells us that there might be some underlying cause for the problems. The cause could be organic or functional. So, it is very important to investigate and find the cause of the problem. Once the cause of the problem is identified, then only an appropriate management plan would be beneficial.
Cenforce D is prescribed as a part of the management plan until the cause of the sexual problem is completely resolved.
You also should note that you must provide information about your past medical history and the medications or supplements that you are taking to your healthcare provider before the prescription.
References Used
- McMahon, C. G. (2012). Dapoxetine: a new option in the medical management of premature ejaculation. Therapeutic advances in urology, 4(5), 233-251.
- Hosseini, M. M., & Yarmohammadi, H. (2007). Effect of dapoxetine alone and in combination with sildenafil in patients with premature ejaculation. Urologia internationalis, 79(1), 28-32.
- Silvestro, S., & Allegretti, G. Viagra (sildenafil): uses, side effects, interactions, and more.
- El-Hamd, M. A., & Abdelhamed, A. (2018). Comparison of the clinical efficacy and safety of the on-demand use of paroxetine, dapoxetine, sildenafil and combined dapoxetine with sildenafil in treatment of patients with premature ejaculation: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.
- Tuken, M., Culha, M. G., & Serefoglu, E. C. (2019). Efficacy and safety of dapoxetine/sildenafil combination tablets in the treatment of men with premature ejaculation and concomitant erectile dysfunction—DAP-SPEED Study. International journal of impotence research, 31(2), 92-96.
Leave a Reply