A new treatment for impotence is being developed which could see men take their treatment using a device similar to an asthma inhaler.
Scientists believe that the new method of taking medication could enable men to achieve an erection in as little as ten minutes. The inhaler would contain the drug apomorphine in powdered form. Apomorphine stimulates chemical receptors in the brain.
The drug was originally developed as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but scientists began investigating its potential as an erectile dysfunction medication after they noticed that it increased male desire.
It is being developed by Vectura Ltd, a drug development firm based in Wiltshire. They have said that they hope eventually the inhaler could become a first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction.
In a study recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, it was shown that of 600 men taking part in trials, most achieved an erection within ten minutes after using the inhaler.
The company are also developing an inhaled treatment for premature ejacuation, using a neuro-active drug already approved for treatment of other conditions. Early, small clinical trials have shown that the inhaler improved erection time for the participants in the trial, with no major side effects.
While oral medications like Viagra are the most popular forms of treatment for erectile dysfunction, they do not work for all men. There are also more invasive procedures available, such as injections and penile implants. As an alternative to oral medications, inhalers could be very appealing, being easy to use, non-invasive and fast-acting.