How Can PDE5i’s Boost Muscle Gains?

What Are PDE5Is?

PDE5Is are a specific class of medications that were originally designed to treat high blood pressure and angina. Men 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 PDE5I 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 PDE5Is Work?

PDE5Is 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 (for gains in the gym).

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, PDE5Is have been shown to have other health benefits that may contribute to improved performance in the gym.

PDE5Is dilate vessels to enhance blood flow throughout the body.

How Do PDE5Is 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 PDE5Is could provide that extra boost you're after. Through a variety of mechanisms, these medications might help enhance your workout performance and muscle growth.

Increased blood flow

Did you know that muscles need a steady supply of nutrient-rich blood to grow? That’s where PDE5Is come into play.

By dilating blood vessels, these medications allow more blood to flow freely through your body. This increased blood flow means you'll get a better pump during your 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 men with intermittent claudication (leg pain due to poor circulation). These men had better muscle oxygenation, thanks to Sildenafil boosting nitric oxide (NO) levels, which opened up their blood vessels.

If it had these impacts on them, imagine what it can do for you. Better oxygen supply means your muscles get what they need to power through those grueling workouts, helping 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 crafting 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 (don’t worry, that’s a good thing). 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 PDE5Is and muscle mass has focused on individuals with muscle impairments, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. But what about healthy guys 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 men. The results? Sildenafil boosted skeletal muscle protein synthesis, helping with muscle remodeling and improving muscle function.

Plus, these men 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.

Sildenafil may enhance skeletal muscle protein synthesis to boost muscle production.

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 men 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.

What does this mean for you?

Less muscle fatigue could mean bigger gains. With PDE5Is like Sildenafil and Tadalafil, 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 PDE5Is, 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 men 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 PDE5Is 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 PDE5Is 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 men 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.

Taking PDE5i’s before the gym may boost your workout.

When should I take PDE5i’s to reap the benefits?

Although using PDE5Is to boost muscle mass isn't FDA-approved, there’s evidence suggesting that taking them 30-60 minutes before your workout can 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 can help you train harder and longer.

Just keep in mind that while these potential benefits are exciting, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before adding PDE5Is to your pre-workout routine.

Timing is crucial, so if you’re aiming to maximize your gains, consider incorporating these inhibitors into your pre-gym ritual.

Final Thoughts

PDE5Is like Sildenafil, Vardenafil, and Tadalafil are famous for boosting erections, but they’re also making waves in the fitness world. Their benefits go beyond just bedroom performance—they could potentially enhance your muscle gains too.

Studies suggest that PDE5Is 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, try taking your PDE5I 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, PDE5Is aren’t FDA-approved for this purpose. Always talk to your doctor before adding them to your pre-workout routine. If you decide to give a PDE5I a try, you may see improvements not only in your gym performance but also in your overall fitness journey.

Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil are available through BlueChew.

How to get Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil from BlueChew?

BlueChew offers three options of PDE5Is: Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil.

Getting a PDE5I to boost your muscle gains is as easy as selecting a plan, completing a brief online 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 $20 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.