| Medication | Action | Use | Pros and Cons |
| Viagra (sildenafil) | Relaxes smooth muscle in corpora | Taken 1 hour before sex, requires stimulation | Headache, diarrhea, flushing, hypotension, disturbed color vision. Greatest help with partial ED |
| Spontane (apomorphine) In final trials | CNS stimulant that triggers erections (dopa-minergic) | Works in up to one-third of mild cases | Requires stimulation. |
| Vasomax (phentolamine) Under FDA review | Alpha-adrenergic antagonist relaxes smooth muscle and increases blood flow | Taken 20–40 minutes before sex. Helps 60–80% of those tested. | Requires stimulation. Fewer side effects than sildenafil. |
| MUSE (alprostadil) Approved 1997 | Applicator inserted into urethra | Applied 5–10 minutes before sex. Erection lasts 1 hour | Can be used 2 times/day. Not for use with pregnant partner. |
| Caverject (alprostadil) Approved 1997 | Injected into corpus cavernosa. Relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels | Injected 20 minutes before sex. Lasts >1 hour. Effective >50%. | May be very painful. Cannot be used every day. |
| Edex (alprostadil) | Different formulation alprostadil | Injected with smaller needle. Injected 10 minutes to 2 hours before sex. Erections last >1 hour. | Cheaper than Caverject. |
| Invicorp (VIP and phentolamine). FDA submission 1998 | Relaxes smooth muscle | Just before sex. More effective than either agent above. | Requires stimulation. No pain. |
| Vacuum pumps Approved 1982 | Draws blood into corpora by negative pressure | Just before sex. Erections last until elastic ring removed | Clumsy. Interferes with foreplay. Difficult ejaculation. |
| Penile implants Since 1966 | Rigid or malleable rod or inflatable | Bent or pumped into erect state | Destroys erectile tissue. Complications high in diabetes. Rods embarrassing. |
| (from "Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes: Pills for Penile Failure" in Clinical Diabetes journal, 1998, No. 3) | |||