The use of a single daily dose of tadalafil to treat signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

Mauro Gacci,¹ Matteo Salvi,¹ Arcangelo Sebastianelli,¹ Linda Vignozzi,² Giovanni Corona,³ Kevin T McVary,⁴ Steven A Kaplan,⁵ Mario Maggi,² Marco Carini,¹ Matthias Oelke<sup>6

1</sup>Department of Urology, University of Florence, Florence, ²Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, ³Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy; ⁴Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, ⁵Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA; ⁶Department of Urology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

Abstract: A strong and independent association between lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been widely evidenced in several clinical epidemiologic studies. Preclinical animal models have provided a great deal of information on potential common pathogenic mechanisms underlying these two clinical identities. Although the efficacy of the most commonly used treatments for LUTS/BPH is well defined, the negative impact of these treatments on sexual function – in particular, on ED – has triggered the search for new treatment options. In this regard, a new role for phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in the treatment of LUTS/BPH and ED has been claimed. Tadalafil is one of the most extensively investigated phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for this new indication. All evidence reported to date suggests that tadalafil 5 mg once daily is a safe and effective treatment option for both LUTS/BPH and ED.

Keywords: phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, LUTS/BPH, ED, sexual function, Cialis