Can Nitroglycerin Cream Help With Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects nearly 1 in 5 men. ED can make it difficult to achieve or keep an erection, which can interfere with your sex life and relationships.

There are many well-studied and effective treatment options for ED. The most common medications for ED belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. This includes sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Staxyn), and avanafil (Stendra).

But some people prefer not to take pills to manage their ED. This has led to a growing interest in alternative options like creams and gels, including prescription options like nitroglycerin ointment. But does topical nitroglycerin really work for ED? Here's what to know.

Can you use nitroglycerin cream to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)?

Nitroglycerin is a medication that's FDA-approved to treat several medical conditions. It comes in many forms, including topical ointments and gels.

Topical nitroglycerin might work to treat erectile dysfunction. Nitroglycerin works by widening blood vessels. This allows more blood to pass into a specific part of the body.

Nitroglycerin cream releases nitric oxide. In theory, when you apply it to your penis, it should relax the muscles in blood vessels to keep them open so that blood stays in the erectile tissue. This should help you achieve and maintain an erection.

But topical nitroglycerin - like nitroglycerin ointment or cream - isn't FDA-approved to treat erectile dysfunction.

This means it's not clear if topical nitroglycerin will work for most people with ED. It also means that there's no guidance available on how to safely use nitroglycerin for this purpose. Researchers don't know what dose is best or how often it should be applied.

Without this information, healthcare professionals can't give proper advice on using nitroglycerin for ED.

Some healthcare professionals will prescribe medications for off-label use. But they're less likely to prescribe topical nitroglycerin because there isn't a lot of recent information on its safety or effectiveness for ED.

That said, topical nitroglycerin does exist. Some compounding pharmacies will make nitroglycerin cream in different strengths. Nitroglycerin ointment is also available in standard doses.

You'll need to talk with a healthcare professional to determine if topical nitroglycerin is an option for you. This decision will depend on your overall health, specific needs, and the healthcare professional's comfort with prescribing the medication and monitoring your response.

How effective is topical nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It's not clear how well nitroglycerin creams and ointments work for ED.

A recent study looked at whether 0.2% nitroglycerin gel could help people achieve and maintain an erection. About 70% of participants were able to achieve an erection within 10 minutes of applying the gel. That's faster than oral medications like Viagra, which take at least 30 minutes to start working.

Researchers also pointed out that the gel wore off faster than oral medications. So, people may need to reapply the gel during a sexual encounter.

While this study was promising, more information is needed before researchers can say that nitroglycerin can help treat ED.

For now, experts don't recommend topical nitroglycerin as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Is it safe to use topical nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It's not clear whether it's safe to use topical nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction. There isn't enough research on the topic.

But you shouldn't use topical nitroglycerin while taking other medications used for ED like PDE5 inhibitors. Taking these two medications together can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low.

It's also important to know that nitroglycerin ointment may transfer to your partner during sex. So, you shouldn't use topical nitroglycerin if your partner is taking any medications that might interact with the ointment.

Are there any creams that can treat erectile dysfunction?

For now, it's best to avoid nitroglycerin creams and gels to treat ED. This may change as more information becomes available.

Many creams on the market claim to help with ED. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information on these options. Most haven't been tested for safety or effectiveness.

There's one exception: MED3000 (Eroxon), an over-the-counter (OTC) cream for ED. Clinical trials have shown that Eroxon can help treat ED symptoms. The manufacturer suggests massaging the cream on the head of your penis right before sex. They note that most people see results within 10 minutes.

Eroxon has FDA marketing authorization, which means it's likely safe for most people to use. But Eroxon doesn't have FDA-approval to treat ED. This means the FDA hasn't evaluated how well Eroxon works.