The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved using Eroxon – a novel topical treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Eroxon is an erectile dysfunction (ED) gel designed for topical application on the penis, developed by the British pharmaceutical company Futura Medical. The gel is not a drug, and it is sold over the counter without a prescription. According to the manufacturer, the gel helps men get an erection within 10 minutes – thus, supposedly, its effect is faster than current oral medications, such as Viagra, which can take around 30 – 60 minutes to kick in.
The gel now broadens the treatment options for men with ED, adding to the existing array of prescription drugs, surgical treatments, and medical devices. However, similar to the current ED treatments, the gel does not cure ED but merely offers symptomatic relief.
About Erectile Dysfunction
An estimated 350 million men of different ages worldwide cope with various degrees of erectile dysfunction. In the United States alone, 30 million men are affected by this condition, which is characterized by the inability to attain or maintain an erection hard enough for satisfactory intercourse.
Numerous causes can lead to ED, including older age, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, the degradation and consequently floppiness of the collagen fibers in the penile erectile tissues, the use of certain medications, and psychological conditions such as performance anxiety, as well as certain lifestyle factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, obesity and central obesity in particular. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the prevalence of ED continues to rise globally, affecting approximately one in two men between 40-70 years of age. However, younger men are also increasingly affected by ED.
The brain, nerves, and vascular system all play a role in erectile function, and achieving and maintaining an erection requires a very fine balance between the activities of these systems. In many cases (but not all of them), ED is caused due to a lack of sufficient blood flow inside the penis, and most current treatments focus on enhancing penile blood flow. Medications like Viagra, for example, enhance penile blood flow by relaxing the smooth muscle tissue in the arteries. However, if a patient’s ED worsens over time, the medication might be ineffective. Apart from oral medications, there are injections that are administered directly to the penis just before sexual activity, as well as penile implant surgeries. Vacuum devices can also be helpful for some patients to achieve an erection before sexual intercourse.
A Novel Mechanism of Action
Rather than being classed as a pharmaceutical, Eroxon is classed as a medical device for topical application on the glans penis – the most sensitive part of the organ that contains numerous sensory nerves.
Thus, unlike drugs with active constituents that affect the erection process chemically, Eroxon, in fact, causes an erection by physically stimulating the penis. The gel has a unique physical evaporative action on the skin surface of the penis. When applied topically, the gel evaporates in seconds, producing rapid cooling (skin temperature drops 10 degrees Celsius in 1 minute) and a gradual warming sensation, which stimulates nerve endings in the glans penis. The temperature, touch, and pressure effect enhance penile neural transmission, causing a natural release of a molecule called Nitric Oxide (NO). NO release induces blood vessel relaxation in the erectile body, an increase in penile blood flow, and the hardening of the penis into an erection. In other words, the gel works from the outside in.
From the US clinical trial data, as described on Eroxon’s website, approximately 60% of the patients who used the gel experienced a “clinically meaningful improvement” in their erectile dysfunction. However, as of June 2023, the full results of the clinical trials have not yet been published. In addition, According to Eroxon’s website, users may achieve a rigid erection within 10 minutes of applying the gel.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it’s not entirely clear at this point whether the topical gel will be effective in moderate to severe cases of ED; thus, only future clinical experience will tell.
Finally, it’s important to note that Eroxon is only for use by men who have ED, and it’s not recommended for those who do not have problems with erectile function.
What are the Side Effects of Eroxon?
According to the clinical trial results, 3% of Eroxon’s users reported a headache, while 1% of the men and 0.4% of their female partners reported a “localized burning sensation.”
The Company hereby clarifies that the information contained on the website is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical and healthcare advice, and does not constitute medical advice or opinion. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any medical condition or question you may have regarding a medical condition.
