Erectile Dysfunction and its treatment with PDE5 inhibitors(sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil)

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ED affects close to 20 million men in the US. It is often associated with cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, hypertension and smoking.

International index of erectile dysfunction can assist in diagnosis.

Treatment includes ruling out treatable organic causes and sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil (Viagra) is an oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor and works by increasing blood flow to the spongiform tissue of the penis.


PDE5 inhibitors(sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) are relatively safe drugs. Contraindications to their use include cardiovascular disease(severe), heart attack within 3 months, stroke within 6 months, heart failure within 6 months(moderate or severe), unstable angina or coital angina, poorly controlled arrhythmias, poorly controlled blood pressure, and hereditary degenerative retinal disorders. Vardenafil can also cause QT-interval prolongation. Caution is recommended when using other vasodilator drugs because the resulting hypotension may be severe.

Posted in: MEDICAL,USMLE