| Neurologic, psychological, and aggressive disturbances with sildenafil. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12086542 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Anecdotal reports and case studies have described psychological disturbances and aggressive behavior in some men taking sildenafil. In the course of assisting the defense in a trial in which a man was alleged to have committed rape and in which sildenafil was implicated, a mechanistic hypothesis was formulated by the first author for central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects associated with the use of sildenafil. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether there was any scientific information available to suggest a possible mechanism for or an association between exposure to sildenafil and aggressive behavior. METHODS: The scientific literature on sildenafil, nitric oxide (NO), and the NO-cyclic-guanosine monophosphate (cyclic-GMP) signaling pathway was reviewed. Adverse event reports that referenced sildenafil and were filed with the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System between January 4, 1998, and February 21, 2001, also were examined. RESULTS: Published studies reported that sildenafil crosses the blood-brain barrier, that it exerts various biochemical and physiologic effects in the brain, and that it affects information processing. Other published reports indicated that phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5), NO synthase, and guanylyl cyclase are present at highest activities in areas of the brain responsible for behavior, sexual drive, and emotion, and that NO modulates aggression and sexual behavior in male mice. In addition, 274 adverse event reports designated sildenafil as the primary suspect of various neurologic disturbances, amnesia, and aggressive behavior. DISCUSSION: Evidence has been presented for an association between sildenafil and various CNS adverse effects, including aggressive behavior. Whether sildenafil causes these effects by inhibiting PDE-5 in the brain, accumulating cyclic-GMP, decreasing NO, and affecting cell-cell signaling and modulation of aggressive behavior requires further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that, before prescribing sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, clinicians should caution their patients and their partners on the possibility of neurologic, emotional, or psychological disturbances; amnesia or loss of consciousness; or aggressive behavior. |
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Authors:
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Harry A Milman; Suzanne B Arnold |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Annals of pharmacotherapy Volume: 36 ISSN: 1060-0280 ISO Abbreviation: Ann Pharmacother Publication Date: 2002 Jul-Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2002-06-27 Completed Date: 2002-11-26 Revised Date: 2007-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9203131 Medline TA: Ann Pharmacother Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1129-34 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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ToxNetwork.com, Rockville, MD 20853-2345, USA. hmilman@erols.om |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems Aggression* Animals Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects* Brain / drug effects* Humans Male Mice Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors* / adverse effects, pharmacology Piperazines* / adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology Purines Sexual Behavior, Animal / drug effects Social Behavior Disorders / chemically induced* Sulfones |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; 0/Piperazines; 0/Purines; 0/Sulfones; 139755-83-2/sildenafil |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Ann Pharmacother. 2002 Dec;36(12):1973-4; author reply 1974
[PMID:
12452766
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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