PENTOX - Questions

[nebula]

I am currently taking Accutane for an Acne problem. For those of you who don't know, it's a pretty serious drug that requires monthly blood tests in order to get a renewed prescription. The most important thing they look for on these blood tests are signs of elevated liver enzymes. There's a very real chance that I could be prescribed Pentox soon if I want it, but I can't take it if there is a chance it will increase my liver enzymes. So I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with something like this or knew anything about the affects Pentox can have on your liver enzymes?

I should be done with the Accutane in about 4 months, so if I had to wait to take the Pentox I suppose I could...but I'd still like to take it as soon as possible, which I'm sure is understandable. I've had Peyronie's since around August 2009.  

[Tim468]

Nebula,

Seems like you are a bit stuck between a rock and a hard place. The good news is that you are thinking about this stuff - which is more than many folks do.

Talk it over with the dermatologist. They may stop you early on the Accutane, or they may counsel waiting on the Pentox (or tell you not to worry).

Tim

[alexk]

The advice Tim468 gave you is correct. Your MD will know more about drug interactions than anonymous people on the internet. Pentox is fairly well-tolerated but you really need to ask someone with medical training about this.

[CJ]

I'm a newbie here in the forum.  Not sure I'm posting in the correct thread but here goes.

Got back from my urologist (referral from my local uro).  I was disappointed by his relative lack of knowledge and the fact I knew more about treatment options than he did (and I certainly don't know much). Before the dr. appt I've got a VED on the way and  I'm taking 800units of Vitamin E daily.  The end result of the dr. visit was his agreeing about the VED and Vitamin E.  His protocol regarding the VED was pumping up and maintaining the erection for 20 minutes with a single tube VED.  I'm ignoring this and I'm going to follow the 26 wk protocol with the 3 tube Fitzz that is widely advocated in this forum.

The dr. knew nothing about Pentox or how it's use related to the treatment of Peyronies.  I did show him the studies of Pentox that I obtained from  here in the forum but as soon as he saw that one of the studies took place in Iran, he was dismissive of the results.  I guess medicine does have borders.  He stated the only drug he had seen with any results was Interferon and that the costs did not justify the minimal results.

My history is that I do not suffer from ED, I developed Peyronies after catheterization for prostate cancer surgery.  I'm 48 and in good health otherwise.

The Questions:
I'm want to try Pentox.  What dosages are you guys taking each day?  
The dr. said Cialis, (I did obtain a daily prescription) is of the same family  of drugs as Pentox.  Does anyone have an opinion that Cialis duplicates or is a replacement for Pentox?

Thanks in advance for any responses

[George999]

Well, at least he agreed to the usefulness of the VED, that is something in his favor.  Seriously though, to suggest that Pentoxifylline is in any way related to Cialis is shocking.  Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra are of the same family.  They are known as PDE-5 inhibitors.  They help you have an erection and maintain it longer.  Pentoxifylline is a completely different medication.  It was originally used for things like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.  It is usually prescribed these days for Peripheral Artery Disease.  It has the effect of reducing inflammation and helping with blood flow.  For some not quite clear reason, it is unusually effective in dealing with Peyronie's.  It is helpful to most, but not all Peyronie's patients.  It is NOT a cure, but it can help significantly.  It is usually prescribed for Peyronie's at 400mg 3X per day.  It is best taken with meals.  Cialis is obviously not a replacement since it is a totally different type of drug.  If you don't believe me, ask the same question of your pharmacist.  Personally, I would request a referral to a Peyronie's specialist known to prescribe Pentoxifylline.  Once you are on it and your uro observes the good results, he *might* relent in spite of his apparent bias regarding Iran (weird huh?).  If you tell us what geographic region you are located in, perhaps someone here can provide you with a name.  You also might want to peruse the "doctors" thread and see what info you might be able to find there.  - George

[ComeBacKid]

Did you take the Dr. Lue study from San Francisco?  Isn't that pathetic Iranian doctors verify this works and so did Lue, our own American doc, and this doctor won't even listen to the evidence?!  I'm on pentox and I can honestly say the stuff works!  Find a doc who will give it to you!  

Comebackid

[CJ]

I'm near Bham, Al. The urologist I referred to in the earlier post was at UAB, a teaching hospital, oh well.  I think I remember reading about a dr at Vanderbilt that got favorable mentions on the forum.

I'm thinking of obtaining the Pentox from alldaychemist in India.  I'm not exactly thrilled by this prospect I believe others have done so here in the forum.

I appreciate any observations regarding nearby drs or the self presribing route thru the Indian pharmacy.

One more question:  At what point should a urologists be interested in getting a scan/xray etc of Peyronies.  I've been to two different urologists and neither of them have examined me physically.  The nurse practitioner at the last urology visit conducted the physical exam.  

As of right now, I feel as I've recieved almost zero help from the medical community.  The forum is a godsend.  

Regards

[Fred22]

I'm near Bham, Al. The urologist I referred to in the earlier post was at UAB, a teaching hospital, oh well.  I think I remember reading about a dr at Vanderbilt that got favorable mentions on the forum.

I'm thinking of obtaining the Pentox from alldaychemist in India.  I'm not exactly thrilled by this prospect I believe others have done so here in the forum.

I appreciate any observations regarding nearby drs or the self presribing route thru the Indian pharmacy.

One more question:  At what point should a urologists be interested in getting a scan/xray etc of Peyronies.  I've been to two different urologists and neither of them have examined me physically.  The nurse practitioner at the last urology visit conducted the physical exam.  

As of right now, I feel as I've recieved almost zero help from the medical community.  The forum is a godsend.  

Regards

I think your treatment is pretty much typical.  The last urologist I went to acted like he was afraid to touch my penis and offered no further tests.
Fred

[BrooksBro]

If you're in Birmingham AL you should go see Urology Centers of Alabama.  
http://www.urologycentersalabama.com/

Urology Centers of Alabama, P.C.
3485 Independence Drive
Homewood, Alabama 35209

Phone (205) 930-0920
Toll Free (800) 452-1464

Chris Spivey is a PA there who helped develop the VED protocol.  http://peyroniesprotocol.com/index.cfm  

[CJ]

Thanks for the suggestion regarding Urology Centers.  Should've done that instead of UAB.  In any event, the only reason to go to a dr. now would be to get a script for Pentox.  I just got my VED, taking Vitamin E regularly and now just want to add Pentox to my regimen.

I have today ordered Pentox from alldaychemist in India.  Shortly after my prostate surgery I used them for an order of Levitra.  I took a few of those and in the particular instance, I could not tell any difference between Levitra I purchased here vs. what I got from India.

That being said, I obviously would prefer to purchase Pentox in the US so I may book an appt just to get the script.

Thanks for the advice

[George999]

BrooksBro hit a home run with his suggestion.  If you take a look at the UCA website and drill down to Peyronie's, one of the oral treatment options, in fact the FIRST option they list is "Trental".  Trental is a codeword for Pentox.  CJ, I think your in business.  - George

[Sweating bullet]

Im thinking of combining those 2,but i worry about the interaction between them..all i know is that both improve blood circulation..
Anybody knows if its ok to combine those 2?

[nemo]

I took Pentox (Trental) for several months a couple years ago and felt it helped with mild ED more than anything.  For some reason, I stopped using it (I was taking lots of supps and severely downsized my regimen).  I was getting my Pentox from MexMeds4You and it was kind of a hassle ... couldn't find a Uro that would prescribe it though.

My question is, who here has been taking Pentox for a year or more?  Any long-term effects or risks with the medication?  

Thanks,
Nemo

[George999]

I started taking Pentox in July of 2008.  I stopped taking it late in 2009 due to problems refilling the prescription.  Upon stopping my former Peyronie's issues gradually reemerged.  I was able to get back on it middle of this year and immediately experienced relief.  I am now taking the 400mg of Pentox 3X per day + 100mg of Ubiquinol 3X per day.  The combination is working superbly.  Pentox mainly stopped the pain and the progression of the scarring.  The combination has not only stopped the ongoing pain but has also stopped cold all the pain that previously occurred from minor re-injuries.  The combination has also resulted in significantly further reduction in the size of palpable plaques which is still ongoing but had previously stalled with the use of Pentox alone.  Additionally I am experiencing further regression of the existing deformity than what I was able to achieve with Pentox alone.  Bottom line is that this combination is working out splendidly for me.  The only real issue that I have had with Pentox has been the interaction with Theophylline.  This means I have to be careful with tea, chocolate, etc to keep from messing up my heart.  I has happened once and I recognized the problem immediately and took care of it.  I just have to be careful.  Also I am really careful to take it ONLY with food.  Other than that, no real issues for me.  I know that others here have had serious problems with Pentox so it really does depend on the individual.  - George

[SSmithe]

I have been combining the 2 for about 5 days now with 0 side effect... I'll be sure to write if I notice anything.

[crashbandit]

Hey George999,

That's great you found something that is working so well. I thought pentox had very little sides from what I was reading before. Would you consider pentox to be an anti-inflammatory? I have been getting proliferate injections into my SI joint for the past few months and don't want to suppress this.  

[George999]

Hey George999,

That's great you found something that is working so well. I thought pentox had very little sides from what I was reading before. Would you consider pentox to be an anti-inflammatory? I have been getting proliferate injections into my SI joint for the past few months and don't want to suppress this.

The problem would be that Peyronie's is basically an inflammatory disease.  This would mean that most treatments would be anti-inflammatory in order for them to be effective.  Pentoxifylline effectively weakens certain immune system pathways by blocking certain cytokines.  I would certainly consider it to be anti-inflammatory.  Vitamin D and Coenzyme Q10 would not be directly anti-inflammatory but both would open up natural anti-inflammatory pathways which is how they are effective.  So I think until your injections are complete you are pretty much up a creek in terms of trying to treat both at the same time.  - George

[crashbandit]

Thanks Goerge999,

That's what I thought it sounded like. I just got my trazodone today, 50mg tabs, I'm gonna take 25mg at night. I paid 4 bucks with my drug plan, without the plan it would have been 22 bucks or something... I thougt this stuff was dirt cheap... I hope I can heal up my penis without the anti-inflammatory angle.

[nebula]

George999,

You say when you stopped taking the Pentox, your symptoms returned. Is Pentox something you would have to stay on permanently in order to sustain any potential results from it?

[newguy]

Is Pentox something you would have to stay on permanently in order to sustain any potential results from it?

Just to chip in... personally I don't feel that there is one answer to this question. It likely depends on the nature of the condition. Many mens peyronie's appears to be stable after an initial period, others tend to be more of an ongoing process, a gradual worsening. I would say that more are in the former group than the latter. Maybe the latter is caused by re-injury or simply an inflammatory processes that has no intention of letting up come what may. That's where the logic of taking vitamin D and other supplements that centre around long term health rather than a potential quick fix come in.  Pentox is well tolerated and as such taking it for a long time isn't something I'd worry too much about. Of course, for young people taking it maybe that does bring about problems if someone intends to take it indefinitely.  As every case is individual I would say that following a pro-pentox urologist advice of 'six months' treatment, then evaluation at that time isn't a bad rule of thumb. There's no point staying on something if your condition is stable and you don't need to. Should the condiiton worsen at time of discontinuing treatment or in the coming weeks/months then perhpas consideration can be given to restarting.

Some studies do show plaque imporvements can diminish somewhat in those stopping pentox treatment (not peyronie's specific studies). However, it's worth stating that a great many men who undergo peyronie's surgery to correct penile deformity do not experience problems after surgery. That would suggest that after a period of time it's quite typical for the condiiton to become stable. It would be interesting to know if there is any difference in the success of surgery for men who benefitted somewhat beforehand from pentox, and those who did not take it at all.  

[Skjaldborg]

George999,

You say when you stopped taking the Pentox, your symptoms returned. Is Pentox something you would have to stay on permanently in order to sustain any potential results from it?

I was on pentox for 8 months and I have now been off of it for 7 months with no negative changes. I think it depends on how Peyronies Disease symptoms appear in your body, either via acute injury or gradual progression. I am a younger guy, aged 31, and I had an acute injury and the development of the disease was sudden and probably limited to the inflammation from that injury. Pentox helped stop my inflammation and when I quit the drug my body had more or less healed so there were no further changes. It may be a different story if you have the gradual progression variety.

This disease manifests itself differently in every man so follow your doctor's recommendation on the medication.

-Skjald

[George999]

Please DO note that I did stop taking it for a time.  Part of the reason was that I was having difficulty getting a prescription, but in reality I would have probably tried stopping it anyway.  I really don't like to be on any pills that I don't have to be on, even ones as benign as Pentox.  I would really like to be back to my old pill free days.  For me that didn't work out.  But as others have pointed out, Peyronie's affects every guy in slightly different ways.  There are really know hard and fast rules even though some docs think there are.  So my advice is to take it for a reasonable period of time and try stopping it and see what happens.  The worst thing that could happen is that you would experience negative consequences and have to restart it again.  Eventually I may attempt stopping it again.  The difference is now I am getting some real inflammation relief from Ubiquinol.  So who knows?  You really have to get to know your body and do what works and be willing to leave it behind when it is no longer helpful.  - George

[ComeBacKid]

I've been on the drug for six months twice and stopped, now gearing up for round three.  Once off pentox my penis is good for awhile like months upon months, then the bend starts to worsen slowly.  Everytime I go back on pentox most of the positive results come back.  The sooner you can get on this drug the better I would say though!

Comebackid

[snowydreams]

Should one do any medical testing such as a cardiac workup or blood tests, before starting Pentox or when taking it for a prolonged period of time?  How often should your blood pressure and heart rate checked while taking it?  Is it true that it dilates the blood vessels in the brain and that it could cause internal bleeding?

[George999]

Pentoxifylline does not affect blood pressure.  I also does not affect the heart or heart rate as long as you don't overdose yourself or take something that interacts with it.  It CAN cause bleeding issues in rare cases.  This is NOT because it dilates the blood vessels (which it does not do), but because it makes the cell walls of the blood cells more flexible so that they can pass through smaller openings.  The bleeding risk usually occurs when it is combined with other blood thinners.  If you REALLY want to know the expert answer to these questions, it is as simple as requesting a consult with your local pharmacist.  They are THE experts on these matters.  I am NOT a pharmacist, so mine is a layman's answer that should not be taken as completely precise.  - George

[crashbandit]

I have been combining the 2 for about 5 days now with 0 side effect... I'll be sure to write if I notice anything.

Are you worried about your blood pressure dropping too much at all? do you kow what is your blood pressure with and without these drugs? I

[Rachel]

Hi There.

Since I last posted some months ago I wanted to report in and ask some advice again.

My husband has Peyronies, diagnosed this year and onto Pentox almost within the first 3 months of the onset of pain and curve. He is 38. He has been on Pentox (2 x 400mg) for about 6 months now.

The pain has gone  , and the curvature seems to be stable but the plaque seems to be getting thicker, constricting his member more at the base. There is some loss of width.

He sees the urologist on Thursday, we are based in the UK.

My questions are:

If he stops the Pentox is the pain likely to come back? Is the Pentox to be taken for 'life'?

If he ups the does of Pentox to 3 daily (400mg x3) is there a chance the plaque will diminish?

Would members advise him to now try a VED protocol to help with the girth and strength? As when we have intercourse it is very unstable.

I know everyone here has their own story, but I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

Thank you. Its good to know I have a source to turn to.

Best wishes to all.

R

[George999]

My questions are:

If he stops the Pentox is the pain likely to come back? Is the Pentox to be taken for 'life'?

If he ups the does of Pentox to 3 daily (400mg x3) is there a chance the plaque will diminish?

Would members advise him to now try a VED protocol to help with the girth and strength? As when we have intercourse it is very unstable.

I have been several years on Pentox.  When I tried to stop it, the Peyronie's came back to life again.  My advice is - Don't stop it.  It is considered a maintenance med that is safe to take for years on end.  Ubiquinol is now an additional option, and I think we will see more treatments coming.

The standard treatment IS 3X daily.  Some docs out there are doing 2Xs but Pentoxifylline was really designed as a 3X per day drug.  I would certainly try to get the doc to up it to 3X.  You might also try adding Ubiquinol.  It works synergistically with the Pentox for me.  Its expensive, but for me it has been worth it.  But I would try going to 3X with the Pentox first, then adding 3X 100mg Ubiquinol.  That should certainly stop the progression.

I do not use the VED myself, but I certainly believe that it is a safe and effective treatment.  You should be able to add that to the regimen as well if you like.  I believe it is not only physically effective, but also therapeutically effective in terms of halting progression.

- George

[Skjaldborg]

Rachel,

I stopped pentox after 8 months of use and that was over a year ago and I have had no new symptoms. Dr. Lue, one of the best doctors in the US for treating Peyronie's, said I didn't need to take it anymore unless I noticed new symptoms.

As far as long term use, I think it depends on what "type" of Peyronie's one has. Long term use may be more beneficial for older men who have chronic, slow-progression Peyronie's. Younger guys who have been injured might be OK quitting after a year or so. Talk to a specialist on the disease though, they know best.

I am a younger guy who got it suddenly from an injury. I think the pentox stopped further inflammation and as long as I'm careful and don't re-injure, I'll probably be OK. (I might not improve to 100% but I won't get worse than I am.)

If stability during intercourse is an issue, you might want to try some ED drugs like viagra, cialis or levitra. Some of the problem may be "performance anxiety," because the fear of getting hurt again can take one out of the mood, so to speak.

Best of luck,
-Skjald

[newguy]

I think the best approach with pentox is to view it in terms of six month periods. If your husband is taking it, and the condition is improving/worsening/chaning, it would suggest that the condition could still benefit from pentox use. If he stops at some point and the condition changes again, he might want to resume. I do think that for most men pentox isn't a drug for life. Many probably get around as much benefit as they can out of it over the course of a year or two. However, it depends on your individual case. The below two posters are good examples of approaches to its use, which is in line with their particular experience with peyronie's. It's safe, and it's possible that the pain won't return if he stops taking it, but again, my view is that it should be judged on the physical changes and not just pain. I agree with others that 3x daily doses is the 'standard' and is preferable to 2x daily doses.

I'd definitely take up the VED. It's proven to be successful for a fair proportion of those sticking with it for a few months. Not bad odds to me. When you use it, and get used it to, it kind of "clicks" with you, as to why it can work. Erections in the cylinder are strong, the penis is held in place etc. It's very safe when done correctly, and can, I believe, be of significant help to peyronie's sufferers. As for sexual intercourse, I would urge you to be careful during a stage where the condition is still active.

[George999]

I think the key point here is that "the plaque seems to be thickening".  As long as that is going on, I would NOT try quitting.  When you do quit, observe carefully, because IF the disease is still active, it CAN progress rapidly once you quit.  On the other hand, as Skjald notes, some people CAN quit at the right time and do just fine.  A third alternative if you REALLY want off the Pentox is to slide over onto Ubiquinol and attempt to cover your bases that way.  - George

[Rachel]

Thanks Guys.

That's all really helpful advice.

My man wants to try 3x as the side effects are managable now (mild headaches, sore sinus, restless sleep etc...) and the Uro (private in the UK) is cool with this too.

The Uro is new to the disease, ie; using Pentox, but is very interested and very amazed at the results.

All the info you have provided will help us on the journey, its so great to hear others accuratley discribing what they are going through/ taking.

Cheers all,

R

[newguy]

Here's hoping that the uro has been enlightened to the extent that he tries pentox with more patients. It seems like he's open minded to different treatments at least, and willing to learn. More urologists could benefit from being that way.

[cowboyfood]

Hey all,

Long time no post, but I think things are still looking good.  Right side dent has basically disappeared since several months ago...but, left side dent got a little more noticeable (but, I had taken a break from the VED for a couple of months...I resumed and it the left side dent is slightly less noticeable).

I've been taking Pentox from about May 2009 until about 6 weeks ago.  I still have a prescription, but (for the first time) I kept putting off getting it refilled b/c I was always doing something else.  However, after about a week, I noticed that a lot of anxiety I was experiencing pretty much disappeared.  I'm not sure if stopping Pentox is the cause of losing my anxiety.  

So, I started to reflect about my anxiety...and, I've never had an anxiety problem until after I was on Pentox, when I thought about it...I chalked up my anxiety to other situational stuff, such as working and going to law school at the same time...but, I admit, the anxiety I was experiencing was, IMO, very substantial.

I noticed that anxiety is listed as a side effect, but it looks like it is an effect in a very small number of Pentox users.  I was taking 100mg, 3x per day.  In any event, I'm using the VED everyday and started taking the ubiqunol stuff.  I'm also taking L-Arginine & D3.

Oh, when I say anxiety, I'm not talking about "worrying" now and then, I'm talking serious, arguably irrational thought, type stuff...I'm assuming this is what the makers mean about anxiety as a side effect....not the normal stupid, wasteful anxiety/worry feelings.

Anyone have any thoughts of me either staying off Pentox, or reducing my intake of it?

Thanks!

CF

[newguy]

I have seen the odd report about anxiety. Maybe it's worth taking it again and seeing it you feel the same way. It's all about striking a balance I guess. It may be that it has helped with your condition somewhat and has tailed off in terms of its effectiveness. If so it might be worth staying away if you fear it has unwanted side effects. It all comes down to the individual really.

[lespleen]

Pentox is anxiety producing. period. my generalist advised me to take one a day because in his experience a substantial number of patients are affected by pentox (beyond 400mg)adversely in this way.try one a day, man . anxiety and a barrage of hyper-aggressive thoughts became the norm while i was on this stuff. take care.

[chiguy]

I took it and stopped after about 9 months. It did cause more anxiety than usual, but my overall level went down as the condition got better.

[George999]

Its really an individual issue as with all drugs.  I have had much difficulty with anxiety in the past, but recently it has gone away and being on the full shot of Pentox for 2 years has not aggravated it in the least.  I am sure that that is not true in every case, but that is my experience and I am sure the experience of others around here.  As with any other drug, if the side effects make it not worth it, then look for an alternative, and there are more alternatives now than ever before.  - George

[hornman]

Maybe I'm going crazy but I find myself dwelling on bad things that happened to me many years ago to the point I feel aggravated and can not sleep at night.  Maybe it's from the Pentox.  I have been on it for a month. Who knows. I have no intention of quitting.

[skunkworks]

Peyronie's tends to cause anxiety. Do those taking pentox for non Peyronie's related conditions report anxiety?

[cowboyfood]

Thanks for the replies...

I'm thinking in my case, the Pentox may have caused my typical anxious feelings to be elevated.

I am going to pick up a refill of Pentox today and start back on it, but at a lower dosage, I'll start out at 600 mg per day (1 and 1/2 pills).

I'll let the board know if I notice any changes, or no changes, or whatever.

Also, I think Pentox really helped me out with the Peyronies Disease;  I started on it very early and I will always believe that it mitigated a lot of damage, that and the VED....IMO, those two treatments are great tools to use in the fight.

CF

[George999]

Pentoxifylline IS dispensed in EXTENDED RELEASE form.  If you cut a Pentox tablet, you are asking for problems.  - George

[skunkworks]

Pentoxifylline IS dispensed in EXTENDED RELEASE form.  If you cut a Pentox tablet, you are asking for problems.  - George

That is true, the actual half life of pentox is around an hour which is not very useful. The slow release pills spread the dosage over 15 hours, so if you took  one every 15 hours that'd be 11 pills a week (11.2 rounded down) which is just a touch over the 10.5  you'd take if you took 1.5 per day.

[cowboyfood]

hey, thanks for the advice...I won't cut it, I'll do 400 mg per day.

CF

[nebula]

I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress lately. A friend of mine suggested I take the herb Ashwagandha. He says he's had a lot of success with it, so I ordered some in capsule form last night. However, now I'm reading that you should be cautious when taking Ashwagandha and certain other herbs used for anxiety if you are taking blood thinners. Being that I've been taking Pentox for a little over two months now, should I completely avoid taking the Ashwagandha? If so, does anyone know of any other (legal) herbs/supplements that can be used for anxiety while taking Pentox?

[Skjaldborg]

nebula,

Mixing herbal remedies with prescription drugs is a bad idea unless you have explicit guidance from a doctor. As a sufferer from anxiety myself, I swear by exercise, getting plenty of sleep and caffeine reduction. I suggest doing some sort of cardio to burn off excess energy that can become "nervous energy" if not provided with an outlet. Some people have had success with relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga or Tai chi. These are all good drug-free options.

Also, take note that Pentox can sometimes cause or increase anxiety in some men due to it having a similar molecular shape to caffeine (and thus being interpreted by your body as caffeine). Try to cut out caffeine when on Pentox to see if that helps your anxiety.

In general it's a good idea to stay off medication or herbs unless absolutely necessary. Prescription anti-anxiety drugs can be an option if you really need them but they can sometimes have sexual side effects. Try running first!

-Skjald

[George999]

Alternatively, one can go to places like drugs.com and search for Pentoxifylline and any other prescription drugs you are taking and look for possible interactions.  That is the method that has worked with me.  ADDITIONALLY, if any unexpected symptom pops up, I immediately stop any recently added supplement and note the effect.  I also make sure to get frequent blood tests done to make sure everything is OK or at least improving on a general metabolic level.  I also make sure both my conventional AND naturopathic doctors know what I am using.  Even with all that, I have run into a few situations where I had to stop supplements quickly due to unforeseen issues.  Another option if you are using just a few supplements and prescription drugs is to talk to the pharmacist where you get the prescription drugs and ask him or her about any possible issues with the supplements.  I used to have issues with anxiety, but with lots of exercise, getting my vitamin D in order and a number of other steps, I no longer have anxiety issues.  The supplement that helped more than any other in terms of anxiety was Nature's Way Valerian Nighttime.  I was far more effective for me than other Valerian products.  Additionally, it is VERY important to be aware that the things that often cause anxiety are:  1) Cardiac issues, diagnosed or undiagnosed, 2) Acid reflux issues, diagnosed or undiagnosed, and 3) Sleep apnea issues, diagnosed or undiagnosed.  All of these are major causes of anxiety and any one of them could be the route that Pentox is using to cause your problem.  - George

[lespleen]

I've been on pentox since mid june of 2010 i stopped taking it in september in order to finish work on a paper because the pentox makes me a bit anxious. Can't say i've been blown away by the results. It's been almost six months( cumulatively). at the very least i was hoping for a significant reduction in pain. Most guys on the forum would seem to experience pain relief relatively rapidly once they begin the 400/mg x 3 regimen. Any ideas as to the average time required in order for pentox to begin reducing pain?

[George999]

I don't think anyone can say what is "average" when it comes to Peyronie's.  Every case is unique.  In some cases, Pentox might not be enough to overcome the inflammatory cascade that typifies Peyronie's.  But I would not give up.  If you have not already done so, I would try a combination of Pentox WITH the appropriate form of CoQ10 at 100mg 3X per day.  What I can tell you is that IF whatever you are taking is going to help with pain, you will usually see the results within a few days.  In my case, Pentoxifylline contained the pain AS LONG as I refrained from any stressful sexual activity.  If I did, all bets were off.  But the addition of CoQ10 to the mix fixed that problem for me.  The common Ubiquinone form *should* work for you.  You don't have to limit Ubiquinone to 100mg.  I would take a generous dose of it and see what happens.  If that doesn't work, I would give Ubiquinol at 100mg 3X / day a shot.  It just might do the trick.  - George

[Skjaldborg]

Lespleen,

You mentioned you were on it "cumulatively" for 6 months. If you were only taking it on and off, it may not have had a chance to work properly. It takes time for pentox to work by making your red blood cells more "squishy" so they can fit into small capillaries better. Dr. Lue/Dr. Schindal informed me that you can miss a pill now and again but if you start skipping whole days the effect has to start over again. In fact, it takes pentox a few weeks of steady dosage just to get started.

I was on pentox for 8 months and only missed a day once or twice. It did resolve my pain completely and may have had modest effects in repairing curvature/hourglassing (some changes may have been natural healing/ reduction of inflammation). If the full dosage causes problems, try taking just 800mg per day as outlined in the Iranian study. Consistency is the key.

Best of luck,
Skjald