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Sildenafil Works Faster than Expected: Presented at AAPA

By Paul D. Thacker

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- May 28, 2003 -- Although the more than 20 million men who have taken sildenafil citrate (Viagra) have been advised to take the drug 1 hour before sexual activity, researchers found that sildenafil actually causes erection in just over half an hour.

Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study were presented here at the AAPA Annual Physician Assistant Conference.

"The previous recommendations for use were based on blood plasma levels," said investigator Chris Forest, a physician assistant with the Male Clinic in Beverly Hills, California, United States. He added that doctors had also based the 1-hour rule on behavioral studies of when penetration usually occurs after the initiation of sexual activity.

For this study, 228 men who had been successfully treated with sildenafil 100 mg were randomized to either sildenafil (115 patients) or placebo (113 patients) for 4 weeks of double-blind treatment.

To assess the speed of effectiveness, the men started a stopwatch when they took the medications and then began foreplay. When an erection sufficient for penetration was attained, they stopped the watch.

Within 14 minutes, 35% of patients achieved an erection; 51% were successful within 20 minutes (P<0.05). The median time for successful erection was 36 minutes, substantially earlier than expected.

"This is the first time that anyone has measured actual attainment of erection instead of plasma levels," said Mr. Forest.

The research was sponsored by Pfizer.


[Study title: Minimum Time to Onset of Erection after Sildenafil Citrate: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.]

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