title: Evaluation of an alternative dosing regimen with tadalafil, three times per week, for men with erectile dysfunction: SURE study in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the preference for two dosing regimens of 20 mg of tadalafil, on demand or three times per week, in men affected with erectile dysfunction (ED) in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scheduled Use versus on demand Regimen Evaluation (SURE) is a multicenter, crossover and open-label study, involving 94 urology centers in Italy. Patients aged 18 years or older affected with ED for at least 3 months were enrolled and randomized to 20 mg of tadalafil treatment on demand or three times per week for 5-6 weeks. After a 1-week washout, patients were crossed over to the alternate regimen for 5-6 weeks. A treatment preference question was used to determine the preferred treatment regimen. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) questionnaire were used as efficacy measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1 058 men (mean age 54.8 years), were randomized to treatment. Overall, 59.1% of patients preferred the on-demand regimen and 41.9% preferred the three times per week dosing. Both regimens were efficacious and well tolerated. Although a statistically higher improvement of the IIEF erectile function (IIEF-EF) domain score and the SEP questionnaire was reported for the three times per week compared to the on-demand treatment regimen, this difference was numerically minimal and lacking in clinical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tadalafil is effective and well tolerated whether used on demand or three times per week. Patients should be given the option to choose the best treatment regimen according to personal needs and preferences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Federico II of Naples, Via S. Pansini, Naples 5-80132, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirone
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imbimbo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sicuteri
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fusco
mesh_terms: D002243:Carbolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068581:Tadalafil; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D000068581:Tadalafil