Description
Avandro (avanafil + dapoxetine)
Avandro is presented as a fixed-dose oral combination of avanafil and dapoxetine. Based on the verified properties of its component medicines, this combination brings together a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) developed for premature ejaculation.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
Avanafil is a PDE5 inhibitor. It belongs to the same general class as other medicines used to improve erectile function by enhancing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.
Dapoxetine is an SSRI. In this setting, it is used as an on-demand treatment for premature ejaculation and is distinguished from conventional antidepressant SSRI use by its short-acting pharmacology.
Established Medical Uses
Avanafil is established for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Dapoxetine is established for the treatment of premature ejaculation in adult men in jurisdictions where it is authorised for that purpose.
Clinical research has also evaluated dapoxetine in men with premature ejaculation and concomitant erectile dysfunction who were already using a PDE5 inhibitor, supporting the scientific rationale for combined management of these two conditions. However, the specific fixed-dose combination should be assessed according to local regulatory status and official product information.
How It Works
Avanafil helps preserve a chemical pathway that relaxes smooth muscle and increases blood flow in erectile tissue. This supports the erectile response to sexual stimulation.
Dapoxetine increases serotonin signalling between nerve cells. In men with premature ejaculation, that effect can help delay ejaculation and improve control over timing.
Important Safety Information
Avanafil must not be used with organic nitrates, because the combination can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure. Caution is also needed with alpha-blockers, other antihypertensive medicines, certain CYP3A4 inhibitors, and alcohol, all of which may increase hypotensive effects.
Dapoxetine has important interaction risks with MAO inhibitors, other serotonergic medicines, and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. It is also associated with fainting risk, which is a recognised safety concern in official reviews.
Because this product combines two active ingredients that can each affect cardiovascular or neuropsychiatric safety, review of concomitant medicines is especially important. The combination may not be suitable for people with certain heart conditions, a history of syncope, significant liver or kidney impairment, or other contraindications listed in official prescribing information.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects of avanafil include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, and back pain. Less common effects can include dyspepsia, nausea, and rash.
Dapoxetine is commonly associated with nausea, dizziness, headache, and diarrhoea. Serious reactions can include syncope, marked dizziness, and serotonin-related toxicity when combined with other serotonergic medicines.
As with other PDE5 inhibitors, avanafil can also rarely be associated with prolonged erection, sudden vision changes, or sudden hearing loss.
Scientific Evidence
Human clinical trials show that avanafil improves erectile function versus placebo, with some men achieving intercourse success as early as 15 minutes after treatment in study settings. Dapoxetine has also been shown in randomized trials to increase ejaculatory latency and improve measures of premature ejaculation compared with placebo.
In men with both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction who were using a PDE5 inhibitor, dapoxetine improved ejaculation-related outcomes and was generally tolerated, although treatment-emergent adverse events were more frequent than with placebo. These studies support the separate clinical roles of the two active ingredients, but they do not by themselves establish the safety or efficacy of every branded fixed-dose combination product.
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 assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. STENDRA (avanafil) prescribing information
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Avanafil tablets prescribing information
- European Medicines Agency. Priligy (dapoxetine) referral overview
- Jacques Buvat et al. Dapoxetine for the treatment of premature ejaculation: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in 22 countries. Eur Urol, 2009. View scientific article
- Irwin Goldstein et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the safety and efficacy of avanafil in subjects with erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med, 2012. View scientific article
- Chris G. McMahon et al. Efficacy and safety of dapoxetine in men with premature ejaculation and concomitant erectile dysfunction treated with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor: randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III study. J Sex Med, 2013. View scientific article
