New study shows efficacy of VIGAMED

[Flavio]

I've decided to post this on the new therapies section because VIGAMED is not yet available in the US and Europe.

VIGAMED (oral phentolamine) is a new ED drug that blocks alpha receptors and promotes blood flow to the penis. There are many studies that prove its safety and efficacy:

Long-term safety and efficacy of oral phentolamine mesylate (Vasomax) in men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction

Efficacy And Safety Of Oral Phentolamine (Vasomax) For The Treatment Of MinimalErectile D...( Researchers conducted two multicenter...)


VIGAMED (formerly known as Vasomax) is not a PDE-5 inhibitor, it is an alpha blocker so this new study published at urotoday.com is also interesting:


«alpha-Blocker Use Is Associated With Decreased Risk of Sexual Dysfunction - Abstract


Friday, 26 June 2009
Department of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

To examine the association between alpha-blocker use and sexual dysfunction among men participating in a population-based cohort of men residing in Olmsted County, MN. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men have previously been associated with sexual dysfunction. The use of alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking agents results in an improvement in LUTS for many men. If sexual dysfunction and LUTS share a common etiology, alpha-blocker use might also be associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction.

White men, aged 40-79 years, were randomly selected in 1990 and assessed for alpha-blocker use and LUTS severity. Sexual function was assessed using the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory. Men who used alpha-blockers before any sexual dysfunction were considered "exposed." Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated separately for each sexual function domain using Cox proportional hazard models.

Of the 1724 men with a regular sexual partner included in the present study (mean age 57.74 years), 263 (15.3%) reported alpha-blocker use. alpha-Blocker use was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction across all domains for men >/=50 years old (age-adjusted hazard ratio 0.53-0.69). A decreased risk of erectile dysfunction and low libido remained significant only among those using alpha-blockers who also experienced an improvement in LUTS (P = .01).

The use of alpha-blockers for LUTS was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction. Improvement in sexual function correlated with the improvement in LUTS more strongly among those using alpha-blockers.

Written by:
Kumar R, Nehra A, Jacobson DJ, McGree ME, Gades NM, Lieber MM, Jacobsen SJ, Sauver JL. Are you the author?

Reference:
Urology. 2009 May 8. Epub ahead of print.
doi:10.1016/j.urology.2008.12.080»

[rushing]

Interesting read, thanks Flavio. "open-label study involving more than 2000 patients" Thats allot of men for testing? You sure you were not one of them Flavio LOL

[Flavio]

Originally Posted by rushing

[...] You sure you were not one of them Flavio LOL

I wish I were! I'm constantly looking for new ways to improve my sexual health.

I've tried so many ED drugs, I think I should donate my penis to science

[Flavio]

And another study on oral phentolamine that FDA officials probably didn't read:


«ORAL PHENTOLAMINE AS TREATMENT FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

ARMIN J. BECKER, CHRISTIAN G. STIEF', STEPHAN MACHTENS, DIRK SCHULTHEISS, UWE HARTMANN, MICHAEL C. TRUSS, UDO JONAS


Accepted 3 October 1997.

Abstract
Purpose
For most patients with erectile dysfunction oral agents are a preferred treatment option. Oral or buccal phentolamine has been shown 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 than 3 years) of erectile dysfunction and a high likelihood of organogenic etiology underwent a prospective, double-blind and placebo controlled trial with oral phentolamine after placebo.

Results
After placebo 4 of the 44 patients who reported full erections were excluded from study. 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 with 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
Our results indicate that oral phentolamine may be of benefit for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Further studies are required to corroborate our findings.»

[jaime]

Do you have to subscribe to the first link, because I was not able to read that one? So based on what I have read so far Vigamed is not a PDE-5 but an alpha blocker which means less side effects. My main question is when will it be available in Canada? I have not been able to find any information on pharmacies selling in Canada...