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Clinical update on phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction

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Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects the sexual lives of millions of men. The first-line oral pharmacotherapy for most ED patients is phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, of which three are available. Sildenafil is the most widely prescribed oral agent for ED and has a very satisfactory efficacy–safety profile in all patient categories. Tadalafil and vardenafil were introduced in the European Union and in the United States in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The three PDE-5 inhibitors share many pharmacological and clinical characteristics, and each has unique features. This review, which is based on the contemporary literature on PDE-5 inhibitors, describes the chemical, pharmacological, and clinical features of sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil. The first section reviews the pathophysiology of penile erection and PDE-5 inhibitor pharmacology. The second section summarizes data regarding efficacy and safety of the three drugs in treating ED in the general population as well as in selected patient categories.

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  1. Department of Urology, Universitá Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Alberto Briganti, Andrea Salonia, Federico Deho’, Giuseppe Zanni, Luigi Barbieri, Patrizio Rigatti & Francesco Montorsi

  2. Cattedra di Urologia, Universitá Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy

    Francesco Montorsi

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  1. Alberto Briganti
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  2. Andrea Salonia
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  3. Federico Deho’
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Briganti, A., Salonia, A., Deho’, F. et al. Clinical update on phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. World J Urol 23, 374–384 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-005-0022-6

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