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 Oelke6 1Department 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