PDE5 inhibitors: From Pulmonary Hypertension to Male ED

Erectile dysfunction is an abnormal condition that happens as an interaction between psychological factors and physiological factors. Erection occurs as the resultant of some physiological factors: increased penile blood flow, increased sinusoidal filling, increased venous outflow.

One of the medicines that used to treat this condition is from PDE5 inhibitors class. Besides apomorphine, alprostadil, papaverine, phentolamine, and phenylephrine; this is the mostly used medicines to treat erectile dysfunction. PDE-5 inhibitors have some advantages rather than other medicines: it can be taken orally, and it only enhance erectile dysfunction as the response against sexual stimulation. But it also has a warning: it cannot be used altogether with nitrates, due to resultant vasodilatation effect that is potentially fatal when these medicines are taken simultaneously.

Off-Label Indications

NOTE:
This article is only for educational purpose. Consult with your physician about using a medicine with its off-label indication first before do anything!

Off-label indications are the usage of medicine out of its own listed indications as approved by local regulatory. Other name for off-label indication is "additional indication". This indication is usually based on empirical experience of some key opinion leaders in an institution or region. Off-label indications can sometimes emerge as on-label indication, has it passed phase IV trial and has it been approved by local or international regulatory.

Legally, the risk or casualty caused by the usage of a medicine for an off-label indication cannot be protected ethically (including that, this use of medicine sometimes not covered by health insurance!). So practically, usage of a medicine with its off-label indications should be conducted more carefully. Ask your physician about safety of the off-label indications before ask them to treat you by that medicine.