Tadalafil Not Helpful for ED in PCa Post-Radiotherapy

Among men receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer, daily use of tadalafil is not more effective than placebo in preventing erectile dysfunction, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2014; 311:1300-1307).

Thomas M. Pisansky, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues randomly assigned men undergoing external radiotherapy (63%) or brachytherapy (37%) for prostate cancer to either tadalafil (121 patients) or placebo (121 patients) for 24 weeks.

The researchers found that, between weeks 28 and 30, 79% of the tadalafil group and 74% of the placebo group retained erectile function. At 1 year, no significant difference was observed between the groups. No significant difference was observed between the groups in overall sexual function or satisfaction. Partners of men receiving tadalafil did not report a significant effect on sexual satisfaction. Neither participants nor partners reported significant improvement in marital adjustment with the use of tadalafil.

"Among men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, daily use of tadalafil compared with placebo did not result in improved erectile function," the authors wrote.

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