A 30 yr old male presents to the OPD with Erectile dysfunction. Basic screening evaluation is unremarkable. The next step in the evaluation/management should be
High-Yield Explanation
Sildenafil citrate has been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is a competitive and selective inhibitor of cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate)-specific PDE-5 (phosphodiesterase type 5). It prevents the rate of breakdown of cGMP causing enhanced relaxationof cavernosal smooth muscle, increase in aerial flow into corpus cavernosa, compression of subtunical veins, and hence penile erection. Other similar drugs include tadalafil and vardenafil. Ref: A Sho Textbook of Psychiatry, Niraj Ahuja, 7th Edition, pg. no. 132