MED2005, a topical gel containing glyceryl trinitrate, is being studied as a potential topical solution to erectile dysfunction (ED). More clinical trials will have to be concluded before the FDA can review the drug for possible approval.
A new topically applied nitroglycerin gel has shown promise in helping men get erections. The effects weren’t as pronounced as they are with drugs like Viagra, but it appears to work quickly. The active ingredient in this gel is already available in prescription hemorrhoid treatments, but the new nitroglycerin-based substance has an “enhanced absorption topical delivery system.” This means the readers of this article should not grab their over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatment for their erection problems!
Joking aside, while more research needs to be done, could this gel provide a different delivery system for medication that corrects erection problems?
This post describes the gel and the study that was recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. How does this new substance work to relieve erectile dysfunction? What are the side effects? Has the FDA approved it for use?
Let’s see what’s next up in treatment options for erectile dysfunction.
Erection Problems and Treatments
Traditionally, Viagra and other oral medications have been the best treatment for erection problems. Viagra and the other medications that are currently on the market work to inhibit a specific enzyme in the penis that reduces blood flow. These drugs are called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5)inhibitors and they have been revolutionary in the management of male erectile dysfunction.
Medications such as Cialis and Levitra work quickly through the consumption of a single small pill, and some, like Cialis, can last for more than 24-hours. These pills are taken just before sexual activity and, with sexual stimulation, can help men get and achieve an erection.
But a 2017 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine studied the efficacy of a new type of treatment for erection problems. The study, which was conducted at the University College Hospital in London, looked closely at MED2005, a glyceryl trinitrate topical gel that is rubbed on the penis before sex. The .2 percent glyceryl compound is more commonly called nitroglycerin.
The assumptions behind the study included:
- Laying the groundwork for an effective alternative to the traditional oral tablets used to treat erection problems.
- To establish an alternative treatment that would be non-invasive, work quickly, and be easy to use.
- Too, it was anticipated that the topical treatment would not have the negative drug interactions often seen with the type 5 oral medications.
- It was also surmised that the topical gel could even be used as a sort of sexual foreplay, to bring couples together in administering the medication.
The study, conducted over about a month, looked at 232 men suffering from erection problems. The gel was prescribed and applied over a four-week interval. A second group was given a placebo. A placebo is a medication that looks, feels, and smells like the real thing, but is simply fake medication with no real impact beyond the psychological.
In both groups, a pea-sized amount of the medication or placebo was rubbed on the head of the penis before sex.
The effectiveness of the nitroglycerin gel and the placebo were clinically benchmarked, documented, and the results published. They found that only 44% experienced an erection after rubbing the gel over their penis, while 69.5% saw an erection after 10 minutes. Researchers polled the test subjects to determine:
- Their confidence in the ability to perform sexually after using the gel.
- The hardness of their erections.
- Their satisfaction with sex.
Ironically, 14% of the placebo test group also reported positive results.
It’s important to note that the erectile response was much faster with the gel application than taking Viagra or Cialis. Researchers believe the gel works more quickly, first, because it is a site application; instead of waiting for a medication to enter the bloodstream, the nitroglycerin is absorbed in the application site.
The nitroglycerin in MED2005 works by increasing nitric oxide in the penis. This relaxes the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow into the organ. It appears this gel would be most effective for men with mild erection problems, although more studies need to be done before the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves MED2005.
The topical gel was made to be quickly absorbed to minimize transference to the partner during sex. The study did show that earlier trials with a cream application (instead of the gel) were associated adverse events at a high rate of 78%. Side effects noted included headaches, dizziness, mild tachycardia, or application site rashes or reactions. Female partners did experience some side effects but it was very low. The study concluded, “MED2005 is a potentially effective treatment for ED. Further studies including higher doses of MED2005 are warranted.”
Concerns About Topical Gels for Erection Problems
The Sun called out the study in an article called “Sex Bomb.” It’s true that nitroglycerin is a crucial bomb-making ingredient. Jokes aside, the idea of rubbing nitroglycerin onto the penis may cause many men – and their partners – to wonder about the safety of this trial drug. Yet the new medication may work more than 10 times faster than Viagra. While it’s true that Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications can take between 30 minutes to an hour to work, more studies clearly need to be conducted in order to determine if MED2005 is safe for long-term use. Millions of men have safely used Viagra and other oral medications to correct their erection problems; it remains to be seen if MED2005 is a viable substitute to drugs that have worked well for a decade or more.
The Sun article quoted a urologist who said, “Potential advantages include the potential for a fast action and ease of use.” The gel is applied locally, so the effect is not distributed throughout the body. Hundreds of thousands of patients already take nitroglycerin tablets to fight angina or chest pain caused by blood flow to the heart. However, more human tests will need to be conducted before MED2005 would ever be released to the public. It remains to be seen how a long-term use of MED2005 would affect both the male patient suffering from erection problems and their long-term partner.
Erection Problems are Common in Men
Medical and Life Sciences News points out that erection problems in men are fairly common. Men aged 30 to 80 years suffer from the disorder at a rate of more than 19%. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a variety of factors that run the gambit of physical, environmental, and emotional causal factors. Science Daily points out some of the causes of ED include:
- Hypertension
- Heart disorders
- Cancer
- Psychological factors such as depression or anxiety
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Medication interactions
- Heart disease
Viagra has been one of a number of PDE5 medications that the FDA has approved to treat male erection problems. It was the first drug introduced to combat these disorders and remains highly effective. Viagra is the little blue pill for men that have treated millions effectively for three decades.
It’s important to note that just taking a Viagra will not create an erection. Sexual stimulation must be applied to the sexual organ.
Viagra works by increasing the levels of blood flow in the penis. The medication goes into effect when the penis is stimulated. It is rapidly absorbed and works between 30 minutes to one hour with the pill is swallowed. Any remaining medication is excreted through the kidneys or bowels. Viagra was approved for human use in 1998. CNN calls it “The little blue pill that could.” It wasn’t until the release of Levitra in 2003 that an alternative to the little blue pill came on to the market. Today, there are a number of Viagra alternatives, including:
- Cialis is another tablet that starts working about 30 minutes after ingestion. It has a long-term response rate, staying in the bloodstream for up to 36-hours. It can be taken without or with food. One dose should be taken daily.
- Levitra is taken about an hour before sexual contact. The medication provides an effective alternative to the all-time-favorite, Viagra.
- Staxyn is different from Levitra and Viagra because it can be taken without water.
- Stendra in another in the PDE5 family of medications. It works between 15 to 30 minutes after consumption.
Before Viagra, men with erection problems struggled silently with the disorder. Since Viagra’s introduction by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Viagra has cornered around 45% of the overall impotence market to the tune of $2 billion. CNN reported there were eight million prescriptions for Viagra written in the United States in 2012.
Alternatives to Viagra – Are They Even Needed?
Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, and Stendra are all alternatives to Viagra. Each Viagra alternative is a version of the PDEF drugs that is a little better than the last. Each version works more quickly, or lasts longer, or is taken in a slightly different way that is perceived to be better than the reigning champion of medications for erectile dysfunction, Viagra. The real question is whether the nitroglycerin found in the MED2005 product is safe for the long-term use of correcting erection problems.
The answer is that we simply do not know; the FDA has yet to approve MED2005 for widespread use. Time will tell if the gel application is the right choice.
We invite you to check out this ED medication guide for more information on the disorder. And if you want to order Viagra, Cialis, and other prescription ED medications (including FDA-approved generics for Viagra and Cialis), visit eDrugstore.com.
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