Erectile dysfunction drug Stendra approved by FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Friday a new drug to treat erectile dysfunction.

Stendra, from Vivus Inc. is the newest drug in a line of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which include drugs like Viagra and Levitra.

These drugs boost blood flow to the penis, reported the Wall Street Journal, and help men to sustain erection – a common problem in older men.

“This approval expands the available treatment options to men experiencing erectile dysfunction, and enables patients, in consultation with their doctor, to choose the most appropriate treatment for their needs,” said Victoria Kusiak, M.D., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, reported WebMd.

Stendra, the brand name for avanafil, is taken in 50, 100 or 200 milligram doses 30 minutes before sexual activity.

Researchers have said that Stendra worked as early as 15 minutes after taking it in some patients, which would make it work twice as fast as competitor Viagra, said ABC News.

The side effects of Stendra are shared by similar drugs and include headache, flushing and back pain – along with the possibility of an erection that lasts far longer than usual.

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