OTC switch of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors

Author

Nora Krogull1, Andrea Stippler2, Niels Eckstein3, Elmar Kroth1

Afilliations

1) German Medicines Manufactures´ Asscociation e. V., Ubierstraße 71-73, 53173 Bonn. 2) Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175 Bonn. 3) University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, site Pirmasens, Carl-Schurz-Straße 10-16, 66953 Pirmasens

Abstract

Summary

More than 50% of men in the 7th decade of life in Germany suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) – a sexual disorder treated with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) as the drug of choice18.

PDE-5 inhibitors are strongly represented in the illegal (online) trade of drugs. This is even though these drugs may be counterfeit or may not contain the desired active ingredient and therefore may endanger patient safety. In several European countries and New Zealand, sildenafil is available in pharmacies without a prescription following training of the pharmacists. In Germany, this is not yet possible and not necessarily desired among doctors and pharmacists. The question remains open as to what a switch from phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors can achieve.

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