The impact of formulary replacement of sildenafil by vardenafil at a local VA hospital

• Published in: International journal of impotence research Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 188 - 191
• Main Authors: SINGH, M, SEFTEL, A. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.03.2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Complications and side effects; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Erectile dysfunction; Erectile Dysfunction - drug therapy; Formularies, Hospital; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hospitals, Veterans; Humans; Imidazoles - economics; Imidazoles - therapeutic use; Impotence; Male; Medical sciences; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors - economics; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Piperazines - economics; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Prognosis; Purines - economics; Purines - therapeutic use; Sildenafil; Sildenafil Citrate; Sulfones - economics; Sulfones - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Triazines - economics; Triazines - therapeutic use; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; United States; Andrology; Vasodilator agent; Erection disorders; Enzyme; 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase; Erection; Sexual dysfunction; Enzyme inhibitor; Esterases; Replacement; Vardenafil; Phosphoric diester hydrolases; erectile dysfunction; Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor; Phosphodiesterase inhibitor; Hydrolases; Hospital; Sildenafil; Male genital diseases; phosphodiesterase inhibitors
• ISSN: 0955-9930; 1476-5489
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901606

The National Veterans Administration (VA) changed its formulary agent for the treatment of erectile dysfunction from sildenafil to vardenafil in January 2006 for economic reasons. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of this formulary change on the patients at a local VA hospital. All non-formulary requests for sildenafil between January 2006 and September 2006 were reviewed. A total of 169 non-formulary requests were made for sildenafil while 7657 patients filled vardenafil prescriptions. Overall, the formulary change from sildenafil to vardenafil appeared to be well tolerated by the vast majority of patients at this local VA hospital. The substantial cost savings to the VA seem to be justified by the minimal adverse effects on men treated for erectile dysfunction.