Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have been used as the first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) in recent years. However, with the increased clinical application of PDE5i, the incidence rate of PDE5i-induced adverse reactions is on the rise, which may involve the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Most of the adverse reactions are mild to moderate, occasionally with serious or rare complications. The probability and severity of the adverse reactions are associated with the dosage and frequency of medication as well as with individual differences. Therefore individualized medication is necessitated and, for the patients with cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, psychosis, or anaphylactic conditions, PDE5i should be cautiously given or avoided. This review provides an overview of PDE5i-induced adverse reactions and countermeasures in the treatment of ED.
Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

The concept of muscle rehabilitation after nerve injury is not a novel idea and is practiced in many branches of medicine, including urology. Bladder rehabilitation after spinal cord injury is universally practiced. The erectile dysfunction (ED) experienced after radical prostatectomy (RP) is increasingly recognized as being primarily neurogenic followed by secondary penile smooth muscle (SM) changes. There is unfortunately no standard approach to penile rehabilitation after RP because controlled prospective human studies are not available. This article reviews the epidemiology, experimental pathophysiological models, rationale for penile rehabilitation, and currently published rehabilitation strategies.
Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiopathology ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; innervation ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects

Current available treatment options for erectile dysfunction (ED) are effective but not without failure and/or side effects. Although the development of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors (i.e. sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil) has revolutionized the treatment of ED, these oral medications require on-demand access and are not as effective in treating ED related to diabetic, post-prostatectomy and severe veno-occlusive disease states. Improvement in the treatment of ED is dependent on understanding the regulation of human corporal smooth muscle tone and on the identification of relevant molecular targets. Future ED therapies might consider the application of molecular technologies such as gene therapy. As a potential therapeutic tool, gene therapy might provide an effective and specific means for altering intracavernous pressure "on demand" without affecting resting penile function. However, the safety of gene therapy remains a major hurdle to overcome before being accepted as a mainstream treatment for ED. Gene therapy aims to cure the underlying conditions in ED, including fibrosis. Furthermore, gene therapy might help prolong the efficacy of the PDE5 inhibitors by improving penile nitric oxide bioactivity. It is feasible to apply gene therapy to the penis because of its location and accessibility, low penile circulatory flow in the flaccid state and the presence of endothelial lined (lacunar) spaces. This review provides a brief insight of the current role of gene therapy in the management of ED.
3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; genetics ; therapy ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

We report a case of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with udenafil. A 54-year-old male presented with an acute onset visual field defect of the right eye after udenafil use. Examination revealed a relative afferent pupillary defect and a swollen disc. Automated visual fields revealed an enlarged blind spot and a narrowed visual field. Fluorescein angiography revealed both an inferior choroidal filling delay and an inferior sector filling delay of the optic disc in the arteriovenous phase as well as diffuse leakage of the optic disc in the late phase. Optical coherent tomography revealed increased thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer, especially in the area of the inferior disc. The patient was counseled to discontinue the use of udenafil and to monitor his blood pressure regularly. The disc swelling was resolved with residual optic atrophy one month after discontinuing the use of udenafil.
Acute Disease ; Choroid/*pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/*chemically induced/diagnosis ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/adverse effects ; Pyrimidines/*adverse effects ; Sulfonamides/*adverse effects ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Fields

Since the introduction of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor sildenafil in 1998, there has been a fundamental change in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil has already been used by over 20 million men in over 100 countries, with a death rate similar to that of general population. The success rate of sildenafil amounts to an average of over 80%, and sildenafil has become the first choice for patients with ED. The development of two new PDE-5 inhibitors, vardenafil and tadalafil, has added to the options for the treatment of ED. In this review, a comparison is made of the pharmcodynamics, pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions between the three PDE-5 inhibitors to assess their efficacy and safety.
3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; physiology ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and safety of Wanfeile in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: Totally 100 ED patients received oral Wanfeile at 100 mg, once every 3 days, for a course of 3 months. We compared the IIEF-5 scores of the patients before and after medication and among the patients with different degrees of ED. We evaluated the total clinical effectiveness of Wanfeile and analyzed adverse reactions. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate of Wanfeile was 95.6%. All the patients showed significant improvement in the IIEF-5 scores after treatment as compared with the baseline (P <0.05). Adverse reactions were observed in 5 cases (5.50%), all mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS Wanfeile is safe and efficacious for the treatment of ED.
Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Sildenafil Citrate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

The incidence rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) is reportedly as high as 30-90% after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, which seriously affects the patients' quality of life. Penile rehabilitation is defined as the use of any drug or device at or after radical prostatectomy to maximize erectile function recovery. A variety of treatment options are available for post-prostatectomy ED patients, including oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) , intracorporal injections, vacuum erection device, and penile prosthesis. This article presents an overview of the currently used methods for the drug treatment and penile rehabilitation of the ED patients after radical prostatectomy. It seems proper to recommend daily use of a vacuum erection device plus oral PDE5I in the early postoperative period. For those who fail to respond to this therapy, intraurethral alprostadil, intracorporal injections, or a penile prosthesis could be considered.
Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Penile Prosthesis ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; Quality of Life ; Recovery of Function ; Vacuum

The vacuum erectile device (VED) uses negative pressure to increase blood inflow into the corpora cavernosum, with a ring at the base of the penis to maintain erection for intercourse or without a ring for penile rehabilitation. Owing to the limitation of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) shown in the treatment of refractory erectile dysfunction (ED), the use of VED has resurged and is becoming the first line therapy in the treatment of ED following radical prostatectomy (RP). Currently, the combination therapy of VED with PDE5I and that of VED with intracavernous injection are advocated for post-RP ED. Hereby, we review the role of VED in penile rehabilitation, its underlying mechanisms, and the combination therapies for it.
Coitus ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Prosthesis ; Penis ; blood supply ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; Regional Blood Flow ; Vacuum

Although disease-free survival remains the primary goal of prostate cancer treatment, erectile dysfunction (ED) remains a common complication that affects the quality of life. Even though several preventive and therapeutic strategies are available for ED after radical prostatectomy (RP), no specific recommendations have been made on the optimal rehabilitation or treatment strategy. Several treatment options are available, including phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, vacuum erection devices, intracavernosal or intraurethral prostaglandin injections, and penile prostheses. Urologists must consider more effective ways to establish optimal treatments for ED after RP. ED is an important issue among patients with prostate cancer, and many patients hope for early ED recovery after surgery. This review highlights the currently available treatment options for ED after RP and discusses the limitations of each.
Alprostadil/therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology/*rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Implantation ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Prostatectomy/*adverse effects/rehabilitation ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*surgery ; Risk Factors ; Vacuum ; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use

Prostate cancer has the highest incidence among malignant tumors of the urinary system in China. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the most effective treatment for localized prostate cancer with a good long-term prognosis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication after RP, which seriously affects the patient's quality of life. With the rising incidence and early diagnosis of prostate cancer, the proportion of young cases of RP is increasing, and so is the importance of the treatment of post-RP ED. The restoration of erectile function after RP is closely related to the timing of penile rehabilitation as well as to pre- and intra-operative measures such as surgical strategies and methods. Common options for the treatment of post-RP ED include oral medication of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, application of vasoactive substances in the urethra or corpus cavernosum, use of vacuum erection devices, and implantation of penile prosthesis. Stem cell therapy, nerve transplantation, low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and erythropoietin have shown great potential in penile rehabilitation after RP. At present, the stress is placed on the remission of symptoms in the treatment of ED. Stem cell therapy may reverse the cause of disease or cure ED by reversing its pathophysiological changes. A series of clinical trials of stem cell therapy are underway and have preliminarily confirmed the safety of stem cell therapy and proved that it can improve erectile function in patients with post-RP ED. This review focuses on the progress in the prevention and treatment of ED after RP.
China ; Erectile Dysfunction ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Penile Prosthesis ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vacuum ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use