Udenafil
Udenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction, listed here as Zudena in a single 100 mg tablet. It relaxes blood vessels to increase blood flow during sexual stimulation.
Key points
- Udenafil belongs to the PDE5 inhibitor class, the same group as sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil.
- Do not take udenafil with nitrates or nitroglycerin in any form; the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
- Use udenafil with caution if you have had a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening arrhythmia in the past six months, or if you take alpha-blockers.
How does Udenafil work?
Udenafil blocks the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. By preventing PDE5 from breaking down cGMP, the drug allows those muscles to relax and widen, increasing blood flow where it is needed.
The liver breaks down udenafil through the CYP3A pathway, and the body excretes it as metabolites in the stool. PDE5 inhibitors do not target only one receptor, so side effects tend to be dose-dependent.