Udenafil Dosage and Usage for Erectile Dysfunction
Udenafil should be administered at a dose of 100-200 mg taken as needed approximately 1 hour before sexual activity, with effectiveness lasting up to 12 hours after dosing. 1, 2
Dosing Recommendations
- The recommended starting dose of udenafil is 100 mg taken as needed, which can be titrated up to 200 mg based on efficacy and tolerability 2
- Udenafil demonstrates significant improvement in erectile function at both 100 mg and 200 mg doses compared to placebo 2
- The medication should be taken approximately 1 hour before anticipated sexual activity and is effective for up to 12 hours, providing flexibility and spontaneity 1
- Dose titration is important to provide optimal efficacy, as recommended for all PDE5 inhibitors 3
Efficacy
- Udenafil significantly enhances the rate of maintenance of erection (54.7% vs 28.3% for placebo) when taken 12 hours before sexual activity 1
- The 200 mg dose shows slightly better efficacy than 100 mg, with IIEF-EF domain score improvements of 9.93 and 7.52 points respectively 2
- Positive response to the Global Assessment Question was reported by 81.5% of patients taking 100 mg udenafil and 88.5% of those taking 200 mg 2
- Udenafil is effective for erectile dysfunction of broad-spectrum etiology and severity 2
Special Populations
- For patients with hypertension taking antihypertensive medications, udenafil at both 100 mg and 200 mg doses has been shown to be effective and safe 4
- Similar to other PDE5 inhibitors, caution should be exercised in patients with hepatic or renal impairment, with potential need for lower doses 3
- In men with diabetes or post-prostatectomy, response may be less robust, as observed with other PDE5 inhibitors 3
Safety and Adverse Events
- Most common adverse events with udenafil are facial flushing and headache, which are generally mild to moderate in severity 2
- The overall adverse event rate is approximately 11.3%, with most events being transient 1
- No serious adverse events were reported in clinical trials 1, 2
- Like other PDE5 inhibitors, udenafil is contraindicated in patients taking nitrates due to risk of significant hypotension 3
Important Instructions for Patients
- Sexual stimulation is necessary for udenafil to be effective, as with all PDE5 inhibitors 3
- Incorrect use (lack of sexual stimulation, medication taken with a large meal) accounts for many treatment failures 3
- Multiple trials with the medication may be required to establish efficacy 3
- The medication should not be taken more than once daily 1, 2
Pharmacokinetics
- Udenafil has a relatively rapid onset (Tmax of 1.0-1.5 hours) and a long duration of action (T1/2 of 11-13 hours) 5
- This pharmacokinetic profile makes udenafil suitable for both on-demand and potentially once-daily dosing regimens 5
Comparison to Other PDE5 Inhibitors
- Udenafil offers a middle ground between shorter-acting PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil and longer-acting ones like tadalafil 5
- The 12-hour window of effectiveness provides greater flexibility compared to shorter-acting PDE5 inhibitors 1
- Udenafil may be an alternative for patients who cannot tolerate other PDE5 inhibitors due to differences in phosphodiesterase subtype selectivity 5