INTRODUCTION: Presently there are three PDE-5 inhibitors marketed, Sildenfil, Vardenafil and Tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Despite the fact that the treatment is simple and mostly effective around 50 % cease to use the medication within two years after treatment initiation. One recently described way to improve the compliance is to let the patient try all the three PDE-5 inhibitors and prescribe the drug(s) he and his partner desires. METHODS: The men who during 2003 were enrolled in a treatment regime where they got the opportunity to test all the three drugs and chose the one(s) they preferred were 2006 interviewed by telephone concerning their ongoing ED-treatment RESULTS: 127(92%) of the men, age 60 years ( 36-79 ), who had been enrolled in the three drug regime could be reached. The mean follow up time was 27 months (23-34 months). 109 (86 %) were still using PDE-5 inhibitors. A few (8 %) used > 2 tablets per week. The majority (44 %) used 1-2 tablets per week or 1-2 per month (43 %) the others (5%) less often. The causes for discontinuation were varying. The most common reason (n=7) was return of a satisfactory non- assisted erection. Three fourth (of the men) used only one drug, mostly tadalafil (41 %), the others switched between a short and long acting drug depending on the situation. In 25 % the preference had changed during the three years of PDE-% inhibitor use. CONCLUSION: To let patients with ED test the three available PDE-5 inhibitors results in an extraordinary high compliance even under an extended period of time (>2 years). A significant number want to have access to both a more short acting and a more long acting drug which should be considered when counselling the patient
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: None disclosed
Recorded: Sydney, Australia, April 2007
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