Which medication is a prototypical PDE5 inhibitor commonly used for erectile dysfunction?

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Multiple Choice

Which medication is a prototypical PDE5 inhibitor commonly used for erectile dysfunction?

Explanation:
Erectile function relies on nitric oxide–cyclic GMP signaling to relax smooth muscle in the penis, allowing increased blood flow during arousal. PDE5 normally breaks down cGMP, so blocking this enzyme keeps cGMP available longer and enhances the erectile response to sexual stimulation. The classic agent used for this purpose is sildenafil, the prototypical PDE5 inhibitor. It is taken orally, with onset in about 30–60 minutes and a duration of several hours, and it works best when sexual arousal is present. A key safety point is that it should not be used with nitrates, due to the risk of dangerous blood pressure drop. The other medications act on different targets—leuprolide suppresses testosterone, finasteride inhibits conversion to dihydrotestosterone, and tamsulosin is an alpha-1 blocker for urinary symptoms—so none of them serve as PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile function relies on nitric oxide–cyclic GMP signaling to relax smooth muscle in the penis, allowing increased blood flow during arousal. PDE5 normally breaks down cGMP, so blocking this enzyme keeps cGMP available longer and enhances the erectile response to sexual stimulation. The classic agent used for this purpose is sildenafil, the prototypical PDE5 inhibitor. It is taken orally, with onset in about 30–60 minutes and a duration of several hours, and it works best when sexual arousal is present. A key safety point is that it should not be used with nitrates, due to the risk of dangerous blood pressure drop. The other medications act on different targets—leuprolide suppresses testosterone, finasteride inhibits conversion to dihydrotestosterone, and tamsulosin is an alpha-1 blocker for urinary symptoms—so none of them serve as PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

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