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You’ve probably heard of the extensive benefits of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors) like Vardenafil (Levitra), Sildenafil (Viagra), and Tadalafil (Cialis) in improving erections. But did you know that these erection-enhancing medications may also be able to boost muscle gains in the gym?

That’s right. Erections may not be the only thing that PDE5 inhibitors can make harder because your muscles will feel the pump after using these versatile chewable tablets.

Although not FDA-approved for this use, research has shown that PDE5 inhibitors may enhance gym performance and boost muscle gains through a variety of mechanisms such as increasing muscle protein synthesis, increasing blood flow, improving muscle oxygenation, reducing fatigue, and balancing vital hormones for muscle production.

We’ll explore the research behind these fitness benefits, discuss how you can optimize your gym performance, and explain how to access these versatile sexual performance enhancers through BlueChew.

What Are PDE5 Inhibitors?

PDE5 inhibitors are a specific class of medications that were originally designed to treat high blood pressure and angina. Patients weren’t noticing such stark improvements in their blood pressure, but they were noticing they were experiencing harder and longer lasting erections. Shortly after, the FDA approved the PDE5 inhibitor Sildenafil for boosting erections. This medication’s approval was followed by the approval of two similar medications, Vardenafil and Tadalafil, to enhance erections.

These medications are also FDA-approved to treat other conditions, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Research has demonstrated they also have a slew of other health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, improving cognitive function, preventing the risk of heart attack and stroke, and more.

Interested in learning more? Check out our blog posts here.

How Do PDE5 Inhibitors Work?

PDE5 inhibitors work by increasing the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the bloodstream. This increase in NO leads to the widening or dilation of blood vessels, which causes an increase in blood flow to the tissues of the body, such as the penis (for harder erections) and muscles.

NO is a key ingredient in many legal bodybuilding supplements; although the exact benefits are still unclear and aren’t completely supported by research, there is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that more NO = more muscle growth.

Besides altering blood flow, PDE5 inhibitors have been shown to have other health benefits that may contribute to improved performance in the gym.

How Do PDE5 Inhibitors Enhance Gym Performance?

It might sound too good to be true—that a pill meant to boost erections could also help with muscle gains—but research suggests that PDE5 inhibitors could provide that extra boost you’re after. Although not FDA-approved for this use, research shows these medications might help enhance your workout performance and muscle growth through a variety of mechanisms

Increased blood flow

Did you know that muscles need a steady supply of nutrient-rich blood to grow? That’s where PDE5 inhibitors come into play.

By dilating blood vessels, these medications allow more blood to flow freely through your body. This increased blood flow could get you a better pump during workouts and more of those essential nutrients reaching your muscles.

The outcome?

Improved muscle strength and function, along with reduced fatigue and soreness.

Better skeletal muscle oxygenation

When you’re pumping iron or crushing a cardio session, your muscles are screaming for oxygen. More blood flow means better oxygen delivery to those hard-working muscles.

Why’s that important? Oxygen is fuel for your muscles, helping them produce energy, kick out waste products, and keep fatigue at bay. This means you can push harder and build more muscle.

A 2014 study shed some interesting light on this topic. They found that Sildenafil helped reduce muscle oxygen shortages during exercise in patients with intermittent claudication (leg pain due to poor circulation). These patients had better muscle oxygenation, thanks to Sildenafil boosting nitric oxide (NO) levels, which opened up their blood vessels.

Better oxygen supply means your muscles get what they need to power through those grueling workouts, which may help you make those gains.

Increased muscle protein synthesis

If you’re on a mission to build muscle, you have to get comfortable with the concept of muscle protein synthesis (MPS). MPS is your body’s way of making new muscle proteins, which is key for bulking up and getting those gains.

Here’s how it works: when you work out, you’re actually causing tiny tears in your muscles. Your body repairs these micro-tears using amino acids from protein, filling in the gaps through MPS. This process battles against muscle protein breakdown (MPB), which happens during exercise. If MPS wins the race against MPB, your muscles grow.

Most of the research on PDE5 inhibitors and muscle mass has focused on individuals with muscle impairments, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. But what about healthy individuals looking to pack on some muscle?

In this 2013 study, researchers wanted to determine if a low daily dose of Sildenafil could pump up skeletal muscle function and protein synthesis in healthy patients. The results? Sildenafil boosted skeletal muscle protein synthesis, helping with muscle remodeling and improving muscle function.

Plus, these patients experienced less muscle fatigue, meaning they could crank out more reps before getting tired. And that’s just the beginning—there are more studies showing similar results in regards to muscle fatigue, which we’ll dig into next.

Reduced muscle fatigue

Muscle fatigue can seriously hold back your gains. When your muscles get tired during a workout, they send signals to your central nervous system that they’re about to call it quits. This changes the signals your brain is sending your muscles to keep going, making it harder to push through your workout.

But here’s some interesting news: Tadalafil has been extensively studied for its potential to reduce muscle fatigue. Research into this topic mostly focuses on slowing down the progression of rare genetic conditions that cause muscle weakness, like Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Both animal and human studies have found that Tadalafil can help reduce muscle fatigue in these individuals.

And it gets better—research on Sildenafil’s impact on muscle fatigue in healthy patients found it also helps them too. After just eight days of treatment, people taking Sildenafil could do more successful repetitions in their workouts compared to those on a placebo.

Less muscle fatigue could mean bigger gains. You might be able to work out harder and longer without hitting that burnout point so quickly.

Reduce estrogen levels

Elevated estrogen levels in men can be a big problem. It can cause erectile dysfunction, hair loss, weight gain, low energy, and, you guessed it, a decrease in muscle mass. If you’re hitting the gym and aiming for those muscle gains, you have to make sure your sex hormones are in check. High estrogen levels might be sabotaging all that hard work.

This is where PDE5 inhibitors, like Tadalafil, could come to the rescue. In a 2020 study, researchers found that 12 weeks of Tadalafil treatment successfully reduced estradiol and balanced sex hormone levels.

A 2006 study showed that Tadalafil can effectively lower estradiol levels, especially in men with a BMI under 27.

This is great news if you’re on a weight loss journey. A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, so the leaner the patients were, the better their response to Tadalafil. This likely happens because men with more body fat have higher aromatase levels, an enzyme in fat that converts testosterone to estradiol.

Combined, these studies suggest that taking PDE5 inhibitors like Tadalafil might help you lower estrogen levels and eventually increase muscle mass, particularly if you’ve got less body fat.

Increase testosterone levels

It turns out that PDE5 inhibitors like Sildenafil and Vardenafil don’t just reduce estrogen—they can actually boost testosterone levels too.

A 2018 study showed that Sildenafil might do so by releasing more testosterone directly from the testes. Another 2016 study found that Vardenafil improved testosterone levels and moved men with low testosterone into the normal range in 24 weeks.

For patients hitting the gym, this is a win-win. Most men know the extensive benefits of testosterone for increasing muscle gains by stimulating protein synthesis and muscle fiber growth, so pumping up testosterone can definitely support muscle gains.

If you can up your testosterone with a bit of help from an erection-enhancing medication, you’re getting double the benefit in the gym and the bedroom.

When Should I Take PDE5 Inhibitors To Reap The Benefits?

Although using PDE5 inhibitors to boost muscle mass isn’t FDA-approved, there’s evidence suggesting that taking them 30-60 minutes before your workout may optimize their benefits. This timing allows the medication to start working, increasing nitric oxide levels, enhancing blood flow, and improving nutrient and oxygen delivery to your muscles.

Expect better vascularity, a more effective muscle pump, and reduced muscle fatigue, which may help you train harder and longer.

Final Thoughts

PDE5 inhibitors like Sildenafil, Vardenafil, and Tadalafil are famous for boosting erections, but they’re also making waves in the fitness world. Their benefits may go beyond just bedroom performance—they could potentially enhance your muscle gains too.

Studies suggest that PDE5 inhibitors can improve your gym performance by increasing blood flow, boosting muscle oxygenation, and reducing fatigue. These effects can lead to a better muscle pump, more effective muscle protein synthesis, and less soreness. Plus, they might help balance important hormones like estrogen and testosterone, which are key to muscle growth.

For the best results, research suggests taking your PDE5 inhibitor about 30-60 minutes before your workout. This timing might maximize their benefits during your session.Remember, while the potential for muscle growth is exciting, PDE5 inhibitors aren’t FDA-approved for this purpose. Always talk to your doctor before adding them to your routine. If you decide to give a PDE5 inhibitor a try, you may see improvements not only in your gym performance but also in your overall fitness journey.

How To Get Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil From BlueChew

BlueChew offers three options of PDE5 inhibitors: Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil.

Select a plan, complete an online patient intake, and you’re done. A healthcare professional will review your information and, if appropriate, prescribe your plan, which will be shipped directly to your door.

No doctor appointments or patient support charges make it a stress-free experience.

With plans starting as low as $25 per month, BlueChew can fit into anyone’s budget. Plus, there’s no commitment – easily cancel or switch plans anytime. Click here to explore all plan options for treatments at BlueChew.

FAQ

Can PDE5 inhibitors really help with muscle gains?

Although not FDA-approved for these uses, research suggests they might also help with muscle gains. These medications may increase blood flow, improve muscle oxygenation, increase muscle protein synthesis, increase testosterone, and reduce muscle fatigue, potentially leading to better workouts and muscle growth.

How do PDE5 inhibitors enhance gym performance?

PDE5 inhibitors work by dilating blood vessels, which enhances blood flow to the muscles. This increased blood flow provides more nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, improving their function and reducing fatigue. Additionally, these medications may help with muscle protein synthesis and hormone balance, which are essential for muscle growth.

Can PDE5 inhibitors impact my blood pressure?

Yes. PDE5 inhibitors, like Sildenafil (Viagra), have been shown to decrease blood pressure in both patients with and without hypertension.

If you are on any blood pressure-lowering medications like alpha blockers or nitrate medications, make sure to tell your doctor before starting a PDE5 inhibitor, as the combination of these medications can lead to dangerously low blood pressure.

What are the potential side effects of PDE5 inhibitors?

Like all prescription medications, PDE5 inhibitors have some potential side effects. Possible side effects include stuffy nose, headache, and muscle pain. Other less common but more serious adverse effects include irregular heartbeat, chest pain, sudden hearing loss, sudden decrease in vision, and allergic reactions, which may include difficulty breathing, hives or rashes, and prolonged erection lasting more than four hours. Call your doctor or pharmacist and seek immediate medical attention if any of these side effects occur.

These medications do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, so be sure to protect yourself before engaging in sexual activity.

Do PDE5 inhibitors interact with other medications?

PDE5 inhibitors can interact with certain medications, such as alpha-blockers, nitrate medicines like butyl nitrate or amyl nitrate, antifungal medications, HIV protease inhibitors, and some herbal supplements. Mixing these medications can result in serious side effects, including dangerously low blood pressure or hypotension. Be sure to discuss your medical history with a healthcare professional before taking a PDE5 inhibitor. Call your doctor immediately or seek medical attention if you experience any new or bothersome side effects.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content provided here is not a substitute for, and should never be relied upon as, professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor to discuss the risks, benefits, and appropriateness of any treatment. BlueChew offers compounded medications prescribed solely for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and sexual performance enhancement. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

References

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