Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with Parkinson's disease

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction. Ten men with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (P D) and erectile dysfunction were prescribed 50-100 mg sildenafil citrate to use in eight sexual encounters over a 2-month period. Patients underwent U nified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) evaluations and completed a Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and a Sexual Health Inventory-M version (SHI-M) at baseline and after 8 weeks. There was statistically significant improvement in total SHI-M scores (23.8 +/- 2.0 vs 16.6 +/- 2.8; p = 0.01), overall sexual satisfaction (p = 0.03), satisfaction with sexual desire (p = 0.04), ability to achieve erection (p = 0.02), ability to maintain erect ion (p = 0.03), and ability to reach orgasm (p = 0.04) with use of sildenaf il citrate. UPDRS and BDI scores were not significantly changed. Side effec ts included headache in one patient during three sexual encounters. In this open-label study, sildenafil citrate significantly improved sexual functio n in men with PD and erectile dysfunction.