When it comes to PDE5 inhibitors, many people probably don’t know what medicine this is. However, if you talk about sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil , you will be familiar with it. In fact, these drugs are all PDE5 (type 5 phosphodiesterase) inhibitors.
Why can PDE5 inhibitors be used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction?
It turns out that normal erection is because the human body will first produce NO (nerve mediator) after being stimulated. Under the action of NO, smooth muscle cells of cavernosum will produce a large amount of cyclic guanosine phosphate (CGMP), which causes smooth muscle relaxation and cavernosum expansion. As a large amount of blood enters the cavernosum, erection also occurs.
However, there is also a 5-type phosphodiesterase type that can decompose CGMP in the smooth muscle cells of the cavernous body. When CGMP is decomposed, the smooth muscle of the cavernous body will contract, which may then affect normal erection.
, and PDE5 inhibitors temporarily block and reduce the decomposition rate of CGMP by inhibiting type 5 phosphodiesterase, thereby achieving the purpose of treating erectile dysfunction.
Therefore, when taking PDE5 inhibitors to treat erectile dysfunction, patients must pay attention to the following two points:
1. Take it at least half an hour in advance.
Because it takes a process for the drug to be absorbed from the entrance to the point where it can only work when the drug is absorbed to a certain extent.
2. Be sure to perform sufficient stimulation in advance.
Because PDE5 inhibitors cannot directly promote the blood flow of the cavernosum, patients still need to increase the amount of CGMP through stimulation as usual.
