EEG abnormalities during treatment with tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.
OBJECTIVE
Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Less is known about the electroencephalography (EEG) effects of PDE-5 inhibitors, and the present study, therefore, examined the risk of EEG abnormalities associated with tadalafil.


METHODS
EEG recordings from 35 erectile dysfunction patients taking tadalafil (20 mg) were graded for severity of EEG abnormalities (at admission, 2 and 48 hours after tadalafil administration).


RESULTS
At admission, there were no EEG abnormalities. At second EEG, abnormalities occurred in 12 (34.3%) of the 35 patients. Eight (22.9%) patients had mild and four (11.4%) patients had moderate EEG abnormalities. At third EEG, one (2.9%) patient had mild and one (2.9%) patient had moderate EEG abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
PDE-5 inhibitors may produce EEG abnormalities. Although the exact role of PDE in altering susceptibility to seizure remains unclear, epileptic seizures may occur during treatment with PDE inhibitors.
Okuyucu
Esra E
EE
Department of Neurology, Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Turkey. esraokuyucu@yahoo.com
Guven
Oguz
O
Duman
Taskin
T
Gorur
Sadik
S
Melek
Ismet M
IM
Akcin
Soner
S
Yilmazer
Serkan
S
D002243:Carbolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068581:Tadalafil; D013997:Time Factors
D002243:Carbolines; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D000068581:Tadalafil