New ED Option On Horizon

As you all know, I answer questions at www.healthtap.com (HealthTap).  A topic that frequently comes up, no pun intended, is that of erectile dysfunction.  Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn & Viagra are the mainstay & easy to use oral PDE-5 inhibitors.  However, they don't work for everyone and not everyone is allowed to take them, specifically those who are taking some form of nitrate or nitroglycerin.  Remember the ER scene in "Something's Gotta Give"?  Keanu Reeves warned Jack Nicholson that if he was using Viagra etc, it would interact w/nitroglycerin in IV and potentially kill him.  Of course, Jack adamantly denied needing Viagra but as soon as Keanu left his bedside, Jack frantically pulled out the IV, confirming that he actually did indeed use Viagra.

So what do you do if you have ED but don't respond to Viagra and its competitors?  Alprostadil is available here in the States in either intracavernosal (Caverject or Edex) or intraurethral (MUSE) forms.  Until recently, transdermal alprostadil was only available in Canada as Apricus Bio's Vitaros.  However, as of last month, Vitaros has also been approved for use in the European Union to treat ED.  Currently, phase 3 studies have been completed in the States & were presented at a recent urologic meeting.  In the meantime, if you're feeling risk-tolerant, you & your family doc might attempt to have a compounding pharmacy make transdermal alprostadil for you.  

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