Purpose: We assessed the efficacy and safety of apomorphine hydrochloride in patients with erectile dysfunction.
Materials and methods: A total of 107 patients who had consultations because of erectile dysfunction between July and November 2001 were assessed. The sample was randomly selected.
Results: Response to apomorphine hydrochloride was assessed in 107 patients complaining of erectile dysfunction, randomly selected at the office. With the 2 mg initial dose the response amounted to 23.5%, with 3 mg it amounted to 28.5% and the global response to the drug amounted to 26.1%. Positive response was obtained in 18.5% of those in whom the dose was increased from 2 to 3 mg. Obtaining an erection with enough rigidity to enable coitus satisfactory for the patient was accepted as a positive response. According to the clinical presentation of the erectile dysfunction, the highest efficacy was found in those cases with early detumescence, and the lowest one in those cases with complete affection. The overall incidence of adverse effects was 8.4%, with nausea being the most frequently reported.
Conclusions: Apomorphine hydrochloride is the first central action erection inducing drug. Its use is encouraged by high tolerability, low rate of adverse effects and virtually nonexistent interaction with other drugs usually administered to patients with erectile dysfunction.