There's a New Over-the-Counter ED Drug

[reader]

From Men's Health

WHEN YOU’RE DEALING with erectile dysfunction, you usually have to make an appointment with your doctor to get treated. But, soon, you’ll be able to pick up medication at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

The Food and Drug Administration just granted over-the-counter sale marketing authorization for MED3000, a topical gel created to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The medication was developed by U.K.-based Futura Medical and will be the first topical OTC treatment for ED that’s available in the U.S. without a prescription, according to a news release.

“Over-the-counter medications play a significant role in providing accessible and convenient treatment for a wide range of common health conditions—with erectile dysfunction being a very common condition,” says Amy Pearlman, M.D., a Miami-based board-certified urologist specializing in male sexual and hormonal health and co-founder of the Prime Institute.

Eroxon, the brand name for MED3000, is currently available in Belgium and the U.K. It claims to “help you get an erection within 10 minutes.”

But, even with the OTC medication available, it’s still a good idea to see your doctor, Dr. Pearlman says. ED can sometimes signal an underlying medical problem, like heart disease or diabetes, that needs to be treated separately.

Here are five things to know about the new topical gel and how it can help if you’re struggling to get an erection:

1. It Targets the Problem and Works Quickly.

Being a topical means MED3000 targets your penis directly and offers a “quick onset of action,” Dr. Pearlman says.

“People love spontaneity when it comes to having sex. MED3000’s 10-minute onset of action may be a game-changer when it comes to optimizing spontaneity.”

Oral medications, like Viagra and Cialis, which require a prescription and are commonly used to treat ED, can take 30 minutes to take effect, she adds. Injections take less time to work, but they’re invasive and might deter men from using them.

2. Side Effects Are Minimal.

Topicals tend to have a lower risk of side effects compared to oral medications, Dr. Pearlman says.

Clinical trials for MED3000 found minimal side effects. There were some reports of headaches and nausea, however. No side effects were reported in sexual partners.

Oral ED medications are generally well-tolerated, Dr. Pearlman says. But, some side effects, including flushing, heartburn, sinus congestion, and headaches, might prevent some men from taking them even though they work well.

3. You Should Still See Your Doctor.

The OTC gel for ED will help you get relief quickly. But, keep in mind that ED might signal an underlying medical problem, like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone, or sleep apnea.

“The penis is often considered a barometer of overall health,” Dr. Pearlman says. “When men present to a healthcare provider with erectile dysfunction concerns, it allows the healthcare provider to evaluate the man for other health conditions.”

She recommends trying MED3000 while waiting for a doctor’s appointment, which can take time. But, you should still see your doctor to discuss other health issues.

4. It’s Most Beneficial When You're Healthy.

For any ED treatment, you’ll benefit most when you’re generally healthy overall.

That means eating healthy foods, exercising, getting good sleep, limiting stress, and treating other health conditions that might cause ED, like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and low testosterone, Dr. Pearlman says. That’s why it’s always good to talk to your doctor about ED.

5. It’s Unclear When It'll Be Available.

It might be a while before MED3000 is available at your local pharmacy.

A spokesperson from Futura Medical said they’re still working out the details on a specific timeframe for the U.S. release and price tag for the OTC treatment for ED.

“We are currently in discussions with potential commercialization partners,” the representative said.

Dr. Pearlman says the availability of an easy-to-access treatment for men dealing with ED is welcome news.

“As a specialist in male sexual health, I am excited to learn more about this therapy and delve into the research to better understand its safety and effectiveness, as well as which men may benefit from its use,” she says.

[10tazione]

The question is how does it taste? Who wants to suck a cock that tastes like medicine?

[Lucky]

If you suck a guy with this med on his penis, will it make your tongue hard?

[Thomas_88]

About seven US$ for one single use tube is expensive in my opinion.

Edited August 13, 2023 by Thomas_88
Changed my mind

[Phoenixblue]

7 hours ago, Thomas_88 said:

About seven US$ for one single use tube is expensive in my opinion.

Considering the size of the delivery tube the price my be appropriate. 

[dscrtsldnbi]

It is currently on sale at Boots (UK) at a hefty £24.99 for a four-pack. Out of the 477 reviews on the Boots' site, 328 reviewers rated it at 1 (it is a 1 to 5 scale with 1 meaning 'awful' and 5 meaning 'wonderful'). Here are some typical reviews:

 

Quote

 

Didn't work for me

11 days ago

The enormous amount of negative reviews for this product says something about it's effectiveness. As with many other users, I felt nothing at all. No heat; no cooling; no tingling; nothing. Tried 3 times. Nothing. A waste of money in my opinion

 

 

Total scam. Shameless rip off.

18 days ago

How do you get away with this scam??? No more effective than ky jelly. Totally useless.

 

 

Snake oil

27 days ago

It did nothing for me. Tried every tube. Each time nothing. According to the described method of working, hand sanitizer gel work better. Failing that, a hot towel.

 

 

Here is the link: https://www.boots.com/eroxon-erectile-dysfunction-treatment-gel-4-pack-10327183#BVRRContainer

[dscrtsldnbi]

P.S. This review might be of particular interest:

 

 

Quote

 

Taste

2 months ago

As a gay man this is fun to use, but leaves a strange taste.

 

 

Sadly, the reviewer didn't expand on the matters of the palate.

[Riobard]

If you want to impress me as a company you need to decide whether it is success or sucks, and spell correctly. 

[Riobard]

Technically it’s not medicine, medication, or a drug. It is classified as a medical device, the bar set lower for authorization. 

[unicorn]

On 8/13/2023 at 5:06 AM, reader said:

...some side effects, including flushing, heartburn, sinus congestion, and headaches, might prevent some men from taking them even though they work well...

Not tonight dear, I'll have a headache!

[unicorn]

10 hours ago, Riobard said:

Technically it’s not medicine, medication, or a drug. It is classified as a medical device, the bar set lower for authorization. 

According to the reviews on Amazon, not very effective...

[Riobard]

No placebo control group or crossover treatment-placebo arms for either Futura study on which the efficacy and authorization is assessed. The comparator study indicated oral tadalafil 5 mg (lowest dose) worked better.

Endpoint of sustained erection for intercourse: 47% of subjects that did not meet this goal at baseline reported achieving it at follow-up. Outcome of erection sufficient for penetration was a little better; 64% that could not at baseline could achieve this at follow-up.

The premise is evaporative action, cooling then warming effect that apparently increases the smooth muscle relaxant nitric oxide; effective local levels of nitric oxide need to be achieved. It is unlikely that applying the gel alone would do much; it must be combined with the usual measures that promote arousal. What is unknown about public domain reviews is whether some consumers apply the product without concomitant sexualizing.

That said, I am skeptical about Eroxon. It seems to me that after a brief time any temperature effect would wear off and any initial additional burst of nitric oxide and blood flow would be shortlived.