A recently published study* shows that a regular dose of sildenafil (Viagra or its generic equivalent) taken immediately following nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy has significant benefit in restoring erectile function. Men taking just 2 pills per week immediately following removal of their catheter achieved much better recovery than those starting 3 months later. We suggest that men preparing to undergo treatment ask their specialist about this. Currently these pills are not funded but PCFNZ is working on an application to PHARMAC for funding this medication.

CEO Graeme Woodside and Medical Advisory Committee Member Dr Jim Duthie spoke with RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan this morning about this very subject. Click here to listen to the audio.

* Jung Ki Jo, Seong Jin Jeong,* Jong Jin Oh, Sang Wook Lee, Sangchul Lee, Sung Kyu Hong, Seok-Soo Byun and Sang Eun Lee (2018). Effect of Starting Penile Rehabilitation with Sildenafil
Immediately after Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy on Erectile Function Recovery: A Prospective Randomized Trial.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.12.060. Vol. 199, 1600-1606, June 2018. Printed in U.S.A.

Posted: 23 May 2018