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Sleep Apnea May Spur Erectile Dysfunction
Sept. 12, 2008 -- Sleep apnea may make erectile dysfunction more likely, and the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis may ease but not erase that problem, new research shows.
Those findings come from lab tests on mice, but the researchers say that erectile dysfunction (ED) is common among men with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops several times per night.
In the new study, male mice showed less sexual activity within a week of being exposed to brief but chronic bouts of oxygen deprivation during sleep. That includes attempts to mate with female mice and spontaneous erections.
The researchers, who included the University of Louisville's Galia Soukhova-O'Hare, ground up Cialis pills and mixed them into peanut butter for the male mice. The mice became more sexually active, but not quite as active as they had been before the study started.
How were sleep apnea and ED linked? Testosterone wasn't the problem; testosterone levels were unaffected by sleep apnea. And there weren't any problems with the mice's anatomy, either.
But the mice did have lower levels of an enzyme needed to make nitric oxide during the experiment, and they may have needed nitric oxide to help with blood flow for erections.
The researchers stop short of recommending ED drugs for men with sleep apnea, and they also note that using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to treat sleep apnea can help with erectile dysfunction.
The findings appear in the Sept. 15 edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
