Oral treatment of erectile dysfunction: Background, spectrum and limitations

The therapeutic spectrum of erectile dysfunction comprises the oral-medical therapy at one end and the implantation of a penile prothesis at the other end. The majority of patients with erectile dysfunction favours the intake of tablets "on demand". In the category of central initiators of erection, apomorphine SL is the most important compound, the clinical trials are now completed. In the category of peripheral conditioners of erection, the cli nical trials with phentolaminmesylate per os are about to be concluded. The true novel substance in this category is sildenalfil, the first phosphodie sterase-5-inhibitor which has been approved in Germany.