Duration of action of sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Viagra (sildenafil citrate) has a rapid onset of action for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, its duration of action has not been thoroughly investigated. Practical knowledge of the time window available for sexual intercourse would be valuable for couples planning sexual activity.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the duration of action of sildenafil in men with ED.


METHODS
This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover study of 16 men, mean age of 55 years (range, 36-68 years) with ED of no known organic cause. Participants received oral sildenafil (100 mg) or placebo 1, 8, or 12 hours before visual sexual stimulation (VSS). Measurements included the duration of erections of >or= 60% rigidity, assessed by penile plethysmography (RigiScan), and the proportion of sildenafil responders, defined as patients with erections of >or= 60% rigidity for >or= 4 minutes and >or= 50% improvement over erections achieved in their placebo arm. Self-assessed duration of grade 3 (hard enough for penetration) or grade 4 (fully hard) erections was also recorded.


RESULTS
At 1, 8, and 12 hours after dosing with sildenafil, the mean duration of erections with >or= 60% rigidity was 26, 11, and 8 minutes, respectively, compared with only 3 minutes after placebo dosing (P < 0.05). However, the mean duration of self-assessed erections was 33, 23, and 16 minutes, respectively, compared with 7 minutes after placebo dosing (P < 0.05), and was greater than that assessed by RigiScan. Of the 69% sildenafil responders at 1 hour, 82% responded at 8 hours and 45% responded at 12 hours after sildenafil administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Sildenafil improved objective and self-assessed erectile function in men with ED, and the duration of action of sildenafil was longer than that previously reported. These data suggest that sildenafil may be effective in a significant proportion of men with ED up to 12 hours after being taken.
Gingell
Clive
C
Department of Urology, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, UK. clivegingell@hotmail.com
Sultana
Stefan R
SR
Wulff
Maria B
MB
Gepi-Attee
Sam
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005483:Flushing / Q000139:chemically induced; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D010991:Plethysmography; D011687:Purines; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate