Beneficial effects of switching from beta-blockers to nebivolol on the erectile function of hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of substituting beta-blockers with nebivolol on the erectile function of patients suffering from essential hypertension.


METHODS
Forty-four young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) with essential hypertension visited our outpatient clinic and took beta-blocker treatment (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) for more than 6 months. All the patients completed a questionnaire regarding erectile function (International Index for Erectile Function). Patients were then switched to an equipotent dose of nebivolol for 3 months and, at the end of this time period, filled out the same questionnaire.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine out of the 44 (65.9%) patients who took beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) had exhibited erectile dysfunction (ED). Their systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly with the treatment switch. In 20 out of these 29 (69%) patients, a significant improvement in the erectile function score was exhibited after 3 months of nebivolol administration, and in 11 of these 20 patients, erectile function was normalized.


CONCLUSIONS
Nebivolol seems to have a beneficial effect on ED (possibly due to increased nitric oxide availability); however, further prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of nebivolol.
Hypertension Outpatient Clinic, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Greece. michalisdoumas@yahoo.co.uk
Michael
M
Doumas
Alexandros
A
Tsakiris
Stella
S
Douma
Alkiviadis
A
Grigorakis
Angelos
A
Papadopoulos
Athina
A
Hounta
Sotirios
S
Tsiodras
Dimitrios
D
Dimitriou
Helen
H
Giamarellou
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068577:Nebivolol; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001578:Benzopyrans; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068577:Nebivolol