title: Oral phentolamine as treatment for erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For most patients with erectile dysfunction oral agents are a preferred treatment option. Oral or buccal phentolamine has been shown to produce full erections in impotent subsets of study populations. We evaluate the efficacy of oral phentolamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a comprehensive evaluation 44 patients with recent onset (less than 3 years) of erectile dysfunction and a high likelihood of organogenic etiology underwent a prospective, double-blind and placebo controlled trial with oral phentolamine after placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After placebo 4 of the 44 patients who reported full erections were excluded from study. Of the 40 patients in the double-blind phase full erections were achieved by 2 of 10 with placebo, and 3 of 10 with 20 mg., 5 of 10 with 40 mg. and 4 of 10 with 60 mg. phentolamine. There were no serious complications observed during the study, and only a single minor side effect occurred in 1 patient after 60 mg. phentolamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that oral phentolamine may be of benefit for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Further studies are required to corroborate our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medizinsche Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Stief
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machtens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schultheiss
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Truss
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jonas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010646:Phentolamine