Will Tadalafil's efficacy change after general anesthesia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been taking Tadalafil 5 mg daily for six months to help with urine flow due to an enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction. The medication has worked great for me, and I have had excellent results until recently. Currently, I am taking Keppra and Trazodone.

A few days ago, I went under general anesthesia for wisdom tooth extraction. Since then, the Tadalafil, which worked until the evening before surgery, has completely stopped working. I doubled the dosage (10 mg) and also no results.

Could my body's ability to stop responding to the medication occur due to general anesthesia?
Could a traumatic brain injury during general anesthesia (GA) cause what I am experiencing now?
For example, could I have suffered some kind of neurological or nerve damage while being under GA?

I am very much concerned. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.co m.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Traumatic brain injury, the name itself suggests trauma- head injury, fall from height, etc.

I am sure traumatic brain injury patients will not have a GCS (The Glasgow Coma Scale, a clinical scale used to reliably measure a person's level of consciousness after a brain injury) of 15/15, wherein they have the insight, consciousness, and ability to ask very specific questions.

I can reassure you that there is no chance of traumatic brain injury, and also, general anesthesia does not cause brain injury.

General anesthesia quietens the brain and induces sleep, and once the anesthetic agent is withdrawn, all the effects are stopped, and the brain is normal.

I suggest you follow the below-mentioned precautions:

Consult your neurologist or psychiatrist, as you are on the anti-epileptic medication Keppra and the anti-anxiety medication Trazodone.
Kindly consult a urologist, talk to them, and take medications with their consent.
Provide us with the details of medications used for general anesthesia.

Please be assured, general anesthesia will not cause these symptoms to worsen.

I hope this has helped you.

Revert if you have any doubts.

Thank you.