Viagra effective in diabetics
Updated 12:22 PM ET June 18, 1999
SAN DIEGO, Jun 18 (Reuters Health) -- Viagra appears to be
safe and well tolerated by men with diabetes, and is especially
helpful in men who have few diabetic complications, a study
suggests.
In a study of 252 diabetic men, average age 57, who had erectile
dysfunction for more than 6 months, those treated with Viagra
(sildenafil) had a significant improvement in the condition
compared with men treated with placebo (a "dummy" pill).
Compared with published data for men in the general population
who required 100 milligrams of the drug, "diabetics didn't do
quite as well, whether we studied achieving erections or
maintaining erections," said Dr. Stanley Korenman, of the
University of California at Los Angeles in an interview with
Reuters Health. "However, diabetics were as satisfied with the
results of treatment as the general population." Erectile
dysfunction is a common problem in diabetics.
In both the Viagra- and placebo-treated groups, the negative
side effects were mostly mild, and none of the four serious side
effects reported were considered to be Viagra-related,
according to a study presented this week at the annual meeting
of The Endocrine Society.
Korenman and colleagues at the University of Washington in
Seattle and elsewhere randomly assigned each patient to a
placebo or a starting dose of 50 milligrams per day of Viagra,
which could be reduced to 25 milligrams per day or increased to
100 milligrams per day based on response and tolerability. By
the end of the 12-week study, 89% of the patients in the Viagra
group were using 100-milligram doses.
The research team also discovered that diabetics with two or
more complications, such as diabetes-related eye, kidney, or
heart problems, showed no more improvement than
placebo-treated patients. Diabetics with none or only one
complication had more success achieving and maintaining
erections.
Tightly controlling blood sugar levels with diet, insulin or other
medications can help prevent diabetic complications.
"This is another motivation for men with diabetes to really work
at their control," Korenman told Reuters Health. "But I would try
Viagra as the first line of treatment in any diabetic with erectile
dysfunction."
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