[Comparison of efficacy and safety of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in the treatment of erectile dysfunction].

Since the introduction of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor sildenafil in 1998, there has been a fundamental change in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil has already been used by over 20 million men in over 100 countries, with a death rate similar to that of general population. The success rate of sildenafil amounts to an average of over 80%, and sildenafil has become the first choice for patients with ED. The development of two new PDE-5 inhibitors, vardenafil and tadalafil, has added to the options for the treatment of ED. In this review, a comparison is made of the pharmcodynamics, pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions between the three PDE-5 inhibitors to assess their efficacy and safety.