While we see many studies talking about the potential risk factors for erectile dysfunction, there is not much hearsay related to its therapeutic alternatives. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now approved of a drug called Stendra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
This medication arrives in a tablet form that is supposed to be taken roughly 30 minutes prior to sexual activity. Professionals need to give a prescription with the lowest dose of the medicine that is beneficial.
“This approval expands the available treatment options to men experiencing erectile dysfunction, and enables patients, in consultation with their doctor, to choose the most appropriate treatment for their needs,†commented Victoria Kusiak, M.D., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
This pill is part of a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which works by increasing the blood supply to the penis. Men on nitrates for chest pain are not supposed to take this drug as the combination is likely to result in a blood pressure drop.
Some of the side-effects reported were inclusive of back pain, nasal congestion, symptoms like cold, face redness, flushing in other areas of the body and headache. In rare cases, the drug could lead to hearing or vision loss, or an erection lasting for 4 hours or more that does not cease, also called priapism. During such times immediate medical care needs to be taken.
Participants in a trial who took the medicine were made to fill in questionnaires pertaining to their sexual function like penetration, intercourse and erections.
As per the results, patients taking the tablet seemed to show improvements in terms of the 3 doses evaluated in the study. In a subsequent trial, it was seen that the side-effects of this drug marketed by Vivus, apparently did not elevate over time.