Men with erectile dysfunction who have not responded well to Viagra may soon have new option - Stendra.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Stendra (avanafil) from Vivus for marketing, the new ED medication is expected to hit pharmacy shelves next year.

Like Viagra, Stendra helps men achieve and maintain erections sufficient for intercourse and ejaculation. The medication works by blocking the action of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5, or PDE5, and increasing the flow of blood into the penis.

In a company press release, Vivus President Peter Tam said, "Patients and treating physicians continue to report significant dissatisfaction with current treatments of ED, such as Viagra. We believe that the PDE5 selectivity and absorption profile of Stendra make it an important new treatment option."

One advantage Stendra may have over Viagra, is that men only need to take the medication 30 minutes before planned sexual activity. Patients should limit themselves to a single tablet per day, however.

Stendra has safety and efficacy profiles similar to the other ED medications currently available in the United States. Men also taking nitrates to treat chest pain should not use the new drug, nor should men taking the antibiotics erythromycin, Biaxin (clarithromycin-Abbott) or Ketek (telithromycin-Sanofi Aventis). Anyone being treated for HIV infection or heart and lung disease should consult with his physician before taking Stendra.

The other standard erectile dysfunction drug disclaimers and warning about erections lasting more than 4 hours and possible changes to hearing and color vision also pertain to Stendra. Despite a brief legislative threat lodged in protest of a law requiring women to undergo sometimes invasive ultrasound examinations and meet other onerous requirements before receiving first-trimester abortions, men in Virginia will not need to complete physicals or have rectal exams before receiving Stendra prescriptions.

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