Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Why do patients with erectile dysfunction abandon effective therapy with sildenafil (Viagra®)?

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 17, pages 2–4 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

This prospective study determined the rate of abandonment of sildenafil therapy and assessed the reasons for abandonment. Between January 2001 and December 2002, 234 patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) at three independent centers successfully began therapy with sildenafil 50 or 100 mg. The rate of noncompliance was 31%. A telephone survey of these patients was conducted to determine the reasons for abandonment. The majority reported that they had had no opportunity or desire for sexual intercourse or that their partners had shown no sexual interest. Few patients stated that the high cost of the medication or that adverse events were the cause.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

References

  1. NIH Consensus Development Panel of Impotence. JAMA 1993; 270: 83–90.

  2. Kim NN . Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors: a biochemical and clinical correlation survey. Int J Impot Res 2003; 15(Suppl 5): S13–S19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rosen RC, Kostis JB . Overview of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition in erectile dysfunction. Am J Cardiol 2003; 92(Suppl 9): 9–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Eardley I RR, Fisher W, Niederberger C, Sand M . Attitudes toward treatment of erectile dysfunction: results from the MALES study. Eur Urol 2003; 97(Suppl 2).

  5. Aytac IA, McKinlay JB, Krane RJ . The likely worldwide increase in erectile dysfunction between 1995 and 2025 and some possible policy consequences. BJU Int 1999; 84: 50–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ackerman M et al. Behavioral approaches to assessing erectile dysfunction. Behav Therapist 1995; 6: 31–34.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Braun M et al. Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction: results of the ‘Cologne Male Survey’. Int J Impot Res 2000; 12: 305–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC . Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999; 281: 537–544.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Braun M et al. Viagra effect influence of mass media on patient behavior. Urol Int 2001; 66: 145–148.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Thomson Physicians World GmbH for their help in writing this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Weiden, Germany

    T Klotz

  2. Urological Ambulatory, Remscheid, Germany

    M Mathers

  3. Internal Medicine Ambulatory, Munich, Germany

    R Klotz

  4. Department of Urology, University of Cologne, Germany

    F Sommer

Authors
  1. T Klotz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Mathers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R Klotz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F Sommer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T Klotz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Klotz, T., Mathers, M., Klotz, R. et al. Why do patients with erectile dysfunction abandon effective therapy with sildenafil (Viagra®)?. Int J Impot Res 17, 2–4 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901252

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901252

Keywords

  • erectile dysfunction
  • sildenafil
  • PDE5 inhibitor
  • therapy abandonment
  • compliance

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links