When ED Drugs Don't Work, Incorrect Use Often to Blame

If popular erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs aren’t working, it may be because they aren’t being used correctly, according to a new study. 

Researchers began attempting to undercover errors in the administration of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i)—which block the effect of certain enzymes to alleviate ED symptoms—when they noticed the high number of patients sent to their unit trying multiple treatments for ED.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Erectile Dysfunction: The Tip of a Vascular Risk Iceberg
Statin Use May Improve Men's Sexual Health
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The researchers recruited 250 patients with a chief complaint of erectile dysfunction despite treatment with PDE5i. Using the International Index of Erectile Function, they ranked the recruits with scores of 1 to 25, with higher scores indicating better function (average score of 13). They also interviewed the participants to determine whether PDE5i drugs were being used correctly. 

Overall, 172 participants were using their medications incorrectly—eg, not taking the appropriate dosage and not taking the drugs for enough time.

These 172 participants were offered a re-education program; 57 men declined. After the program, 88 of the men saw a positive response to treatment and were classified as false nonresponders, with improved ED scores (on average, above 24). The remaining 27 men were identified as true nonresponders.

“Two-thirds of patients remitted to our andrology unit and cataloged as nonresponders were in fact using PDE5i in suboptimal conditions,” researchers concluded. 

“Offering patients more accurate information provided almost 76% with good results using PDE5is and could therefore be successfully treated with these drugs.”

– Michael Potts

Reference

Otero JR, Gomez BG, Polo JM, Alcaide EJ, Cruz EG, Font AS, Antolin AR. Evaluation of current errors within the administration of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors after more than 10 years of use [published online ahead of print April 15, 2014. Urology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2014.02.016