What is known about adenafil for treating erectile dysfunction in males with potential underlying health conditions?

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Last updated: February 5, 2026View editorial policy

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Warning: Adenafil is Not an FDA-Approved Medication

Adenafil is not a recognized or FDA-approved medication for erectile dysfunction, and there is no legitimate clinical evidence supporting its use. This appears to be either a counterfeit product, a misspelling of an approved PDE5 inhibitor, or a potentially dangerous unregulated substance being marketed fraudulently.

Critical Safety Concerns

  • No established safety profile exists for any product called "adenafil," meaning risks of cardiovascular events, drug interactions, and other serious adverse effects are completely unknown
  • Counterfeit ED medications frequently contain variable amounts of active ingredients, contaminants, or entirely different substances that can cause serious harm or death
  • The absence of regulatory oversight means no quality control, no standardized dosing, and no accountability for adverse events

FDA-Approved PDE5 Inhibitors for Erectile Dysfunction

If the question refers to a legitimate PDE5 inhibitor, the FDA-approved first-line options include:

Sildenafil (Viagra)

  • Starting dose: 50 mg taken approximately 1 hour before sexual activity, with titration to 100 mg or reduction to 25 mg based on efficacy and tolerability 1, 2
  • Efficacy: 69% successful intercourse attempts versus 35.5% with placebo 1, 2
  • Duration of action: up to 12 hours 3
  • Most common adverse effects: headache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, abnormal vision 2

Tadalafil (Cialis)

  • As-needed dosing: 10 mg taken prior to sexual activity, with option to increase to 20 mg or decrease to 5 mg 4
  • Daily dosing: 2.5-5 mg once daily for spontaneous sexual activity 4
  • Duration of action: up to 36 hours, allowing greater spontaneity 4
  • Efficacy: 69% successful intercourse attempts versus 33% with placebo 1, 4
  • Lower rates of flushing compared to sildenafil 4

Vardenafil

  • Similar efficacy to sildenafil and tadalafil (68% successful intercourse versus 35% placebo) 1
  • Does not inhibit phosphodiesterase-6, avoiding the rare color vision changes seen with sildenafil 5

Absolute Contraindications for All PDE5 Inhibitors

  • Concurrent nitrate use in any form (organic nitrates, nitroglycerin, isosorbide) due to potentially fatal hypotension 4, 2, 6
  • Wait 24 hours after sildenafil/vardenafil or 48 hours after tadalafil before administering emergency nitrates 4, 6

Cardiovascular Risk Stratification Required

Before prescribing any legitimate PDE5 inhibitor:

  • Verify the patient can walk 1 mile in 20 minutes or climb 2 flights of stairs without symptoms 4, 6
  • Refer to cardiology if cardiovascular risk is indeterminate or patient cannot perform moderate physical activity 4, 2
  • High-risk patients requiring cardiac stabilization first: unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension, recent MI/stroke (within 2 weeks), NYHA Class II-IV heart failure 6

Recommendation

Do not use any product marketed as "adenafil." If erectile dysfunction treatment is needed, prescribe FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil) after appropriate cardiovascular screening and verification of no nitrate use 1, 4, 2.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Sildenafil Safety and Efficacy for Erectile Dysfunction

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Guideline

Tadalafil for Erectile Dysfunction

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Viagra Dosing and Administration for Erectile Dysfunction

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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