Pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction in diabetic males

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Numerous studies have highlighted the intimate association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the true pathogenesis of ED among diabetic men has not yet been fully discovered. The treatment of ED in diabetic patients remains an interesting area of research. The last two decades have witnessed phenomenal advances in the management of ED with the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for ED in diabetic patients encouraging, especially with introduction of innovative conservative tools for treatment.

Areas covered: The aim of this review is to discuss the currently available information on ED pharmacotherapy in diabetic males and provide an expert perspective on the current treatment strategies.

Expert opinion: Conservative treatment remains the initial step for the treatment of ED in diabetic patients. This kind of therapy consists of different modalities including: oral treatments, intracavernosal pharmacotherapy, and evolving modalities such as soluble guanylate cyclase activators, stem cells (SCs), and alternative treatments such as herbal treatment and transdermal/topical pharmacotherapy. However, it should be noted that the currently available pharmacotherapy is still far from ideal. One hopes to witness new drugs and technologies that may revolutionize ED treatment in the future, especially in such complex cases as DM.

KEYWORDS:

• Erectile dysfunctions
• diabetes mellitus
• pharmacotherapy
• new treatment modalities

Article highlights

• There is an intimate association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

• Conservative treatment remains the initial step in treatment for ED in diabetic patients.

• Conservative treatment consists of different modalities of treatment such as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5-I), melanocortin-receptor agonists, serotonin-receptor effectors, intracavernosal pharmacotherapy.

• Evolving modalities of ED treatment in diabetic patients are promising and include soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activators, stem cells (SCs), and alternative treatments such as herbal treatment, neuromedin B, and transdermal/topical pharmacotherapy.

• The efficacy of emerging pharmacotherapy for ED in diabetic patients is encouraging especially with introduction of innovative tools for treatment.

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Declaration of Interest

AI El-Sakka has received honoraria from Pfizer Inc and Bayer Healthcare for lecturing and/or speaker’s fees. He has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was not funded.