A “real life” investigation on the prescriptive habits among Italian andrologists: The “CONSER” survey from Italian Society of Andrology (SIA) on Sildenafil oral film

Even if oral type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i) seem an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), the drop-out is high among patients. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to develop new administration routes, such as the orally disintegrating film. The aim of this study was to analyse the prescription habit of Italian andrologists affiliated to Italian Society of Andrology (SIA) in the era of new oro-dispersible formulation of sildenafil. A 12-items dedicated questionnaire has been distributed to 77 urologists andrologists. As a result of the questionnaire, sildenafil is still the preferred drug of Italian andrologists as it is considered the safest and the most effective. It combines the speed of action and the discretion of the intake that are very important issues for the adherence to the treatment according to the Italian sample. Physicians have also reported the positive feedback of the patients taking sildenafil film as they consider the oro-dispersible formulation either comparable or superior to the old tablet. In conclusion this new formulation has given a new life to an old molecule like sildenafil, and Italian andrologists considered this new pharmaceutical formulation as a good tool to improve the patient’s adherence to the treatment and quality of life.

Approaches to the rational choice of type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors in patients presenting with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases

After the advent of four type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEI 5), viz. sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and udenafil, designed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction both physicians and patients found themselves faced with the problem of choosing an optimal therapeutic option. This paper contains comparative data on the efficacy and safety of different PDEI 5. The approaches to the rational choice of these preparations for the treatment of patients presenting with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases are discussed. Comparative controlled clinical studies failed to yield definitive information about advantages of one or another agent representing this group of pharmaceutical products. Nevertheless, the currently available data permit to draw the conclusion that the use of vardenafil and tadalafil ensures better compliance of patients with the prescribed therapy. Certain authors advocate the desirability of vardenafil application to the treatment of patients presenting with a background pathology. It is emphasized that all available PDEI 5 have a beneficial safety profile, with wardenafil being virtually free from adverse side effects.