Chronic low dosing of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have provided non-invasive, effective, and well-tolerated treatments for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). However, many patients with ED are unresponsive to 'on-demand' PDE5 inhibitors. In addition, the lack of spontaneity and naturalness of the on-demand regimen could be a reason for decreased compliance with PDE5 inhibitors. Recently, tadalafil and udenafil were approved for low-dose daily administration for the treatment of ED. Since the introduction of the concept of daily administration of PDE5 inhibitors, several reports have supported the potential benefits of this therapy for disease modification, improvement of the treatment response in difficult-to-treat populations, spontaneity, and safety, although further research is needed to better address these hypotheses. In this article, we reviewed the daily administration of PDE5 inhibitors in terms of pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy, and distinct features.

Keywords: Chronic; Erectile dysfunction; Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.