Description
Avana (Avanafil) 200 mg
Avana (avanafil) 200 mg is an oral medicine in the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor class. It is used for erectile dysfunction in adult men. The 200 mg strength is one of the available tablet strengths for avanafil, and it is intended for oral use.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is avanafil. Avanafil belongs to the PDE5 inhibitor class. Medicines in this group help improve erectile response by enhancing the body’s natural nitric oxide–cyclic GMP pathway in penile tissue. Avanafil is described in prescribing information as a selective inhibitor of cGMP-specific PDE5.
Established Medical Uses
Avanafil is established for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men. Prescribing information describes use for this condition only. It is not indicated for women or children.
As with other PDE5 inhibitors, it requires sexual stimulation to produce its effect. The medicine is designed to support erectile function; it does not treat the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
How It Works
During sexual stimulation, nitric oxide is released in the corpus cavernosum of the penis. This activates guanylate cyclase and increases cyclic GMP, which relaxes smooth muscle and allows increased blood flow. Avanafil blocks PDE5, the enzyme that breaks down cyclic GMP. By slowing cyclic GMP breakdown, it helps sustain the blood-flow changes needed for an erection.
Avanafil is selective for PDE5 and has a relatively low activity against several other phosphodiesterase enzymes. That selectivity is part of why it is used for erectile dysfunction, although selectivity does not remove the need for safety precautions.
Important Safety Information
Avanafil should not be used with nitrates in any form, because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. It is also contraindicated with guanylate cyclase stimulators such as riociguat and vericiguat, and in people with known hypersensitivity to avanafil or any tablet ingredient.
Caution is important in people taking alpha-blockers or other blood-pressure-lowering medicines, because combined vasodilatory effects can lead to symptomatic hypotension, including dizziness or fainting. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors can raise avanafil exposure and should be avoided; some moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors may require major restriction of use.
Prescribing information also warns about cardiovascular risk in some patients, rare cases of vision loss related to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and sudden hearing decrease or loss. People with certain eye conditions, severe heart disease, recent stroke or heart attack, very low or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a history of prolonged erections may require special medical caution.
Possible Side Effects
The most commonly reported adverse effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, and back pain. Other reported effects include dyspepsia, nausea, rash, upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, influenza, and sinus congestion.
Serious but less common reactions can include marked low blood pressure, fainting, chest pain, prolonged erection, sudden vision loss, and sudden hearing loss. Although these events are uncommon, they are clinically important because they may require urgent medical assessment.
Scientific Evidence
Human clinical studies and systematic reviews support avanafil as an effective PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction, with improvements seen in erectile function scores and intercourse-related outcomes compared with placebo. Reviews also suggest a dose-response pattern, with the 200 mg strength sometimes showing greater efficacy than lower doses, while adverse events remain consistent with the PDE5 inhibitor class.
The overall evidence base is mainly from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses in men with erectile dysfunction. These studies support effectiveness, but they do not mean every patient will respond equally well, and they do not remove the need to consider contraindications and interactions.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, full prescribing information, or individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: STENDRA (avanafil) tablets, prescribing information
- DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine: Avanafil tablets, full prescribing information
- Yuan-Shan Cui et al. Avanafil for male erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian Journal of Andrology, 2014. View scientific article
- Syah Mirsya Warli et al. The Efficacy and Safety of Avanafil During a Treatment of Male Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 2023. View scientific article
