ORAL PHENTOLAMINE AS TREATMENT FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Purpose: For most patients with erectile dysfunction oral agents are a preferred treatment option. Oral or buccal phentolamine has been show n to produce full erections in impotent subsets of study populations. We evaluate the efficacy of oral phentolamine. Materials and Methods: After a comprehensive evaluation 44 patients with recent onset (less t han 3 years) of erectile dysfunction and a high likelihood of organoge nic etiology underwent a prospective, double-blind and placebo control led trial with oral phentolamine after placebo. Results: After placebo 4 of the 44 patients who reported full erections were excluded from s tudy. Of the 40 patients in the double-blind phase full erections were achieved by 2 of 10 with placebo, and 3 of 10 with 20 mg., 5 of 10 wi th 40 mg. and 4 of 10 with 60 mg. phentolamine. There were no serious complications observed during the study, and only a single minor side effect occurred in 1 patient after 60 mg. phentolamine. Conclusions: O ur results indicate that oral phentolamine may be of benefit for the t reatment of erectile dysfunction. Further studies are required to corr oborate our findings.