On 27^th April, the U.S Food and Drug Administrate approved  Stendra (Avanafil) from Vivus for marketing. This is very good news, especially for men with erectile dysfunction who have not responded well to, or suffered unacceptable side effects from the products already on the market, such as Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.

This approval will open up a whole new option for treatments when dealing with erectile dysfunction. Like its predecessors,  Stendra (Avanafil) helps men achieve and maintain erections sufficient for intercourse and ejaculation.  The medication works by blocking the action of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5, more commonly known as PDE5, and in turn 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 the current treatments of ED. We believe that the PDE5 selectivity and absorption profile of  Stendra (Avanafil) make it an important new treatment option.’

One advantage which  Stendra (Avanafil) may have over some of its competitors is that men only need to take the medication half an hour before planned sexual activity.  However, patients should be careful to limit themselves to just one tablet per day. It also has safety and efficacy profiles similar to the other ED medications that are currently available in the United States.

However, men also taking nitrates to treat chest pain should not use this new drug, nor should those taking the antibiotics Erythromycin, Biaxin (Clarithromycin-Abbott), or Ketek (Telithromycin-Sanofi Aventis). Similarly, anyone being treated for HIV infections, or heart and lung disease, should consult with their physician before taking  Stendra (Avanafil), as should any patient when taking a new drug.

 Stendra (Avanafil) also comes with the standard erectile dysfunction drug disclaimers, warning about erections which last more than four hours and possible changes to hearing and colour vision. Luckily, however, despite there having been a brief legislative threat lodged in protest of women who request first-trimester abortions being required to go through sometimes invasive ultrasound examinations, or meet other onerous requirements, men in Virginia will not need to complete physicals or have rectal exams before receiving Strendra prescriptions. 

The new ED medication is not expected to hit the pharmacy shelves just yet as the drug maker has yet to identify a company to package and distribute its  Stendra (Avanafil) tablets.

For more news stories about  Stendra (Avanafil) please click here.