Avanafil
Brand names: Spedra
Avanafil is an oral phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Adult dose
Dose adjustments
No dose adjustment required in mild to moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance >= 30 mL/min). Contraindicated in severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min). Patients with creatinine clearance >= 30 to < 80 mL/min showed decreased efficacy compared with normal renal function in phase 3 studies.
Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients
- Patients using any form of organic nitrate or nitric oxide donors (such as amyl nitrite)
- Co-administration with guanylate cyclase stimulators such as riociguat (risk of symptomatic hypotension)
- Myocardial infarction, stroke or life-threatening arrhythmia within the last 6 months
- Resting hypotension (BP < 90/50 mmHg) or hypertension (BP > 170/100 mmHg)
- Unstable angina, angina with sexual intercourse, or congestive heart failure NYHA class 2 or greater
- Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C)
- Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min)
- Loss of vision in one eye because of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- Known hereditary degenerative retinal disorders
- Use of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin)
Side effects
- Headache (common)
- Flushing (common)
- Nasal and sinus congestion (common)
- Back pain (common)
- Dizziness, dyspepsia and nausea (uncommon)
Interactions
- Organic nitrates / nitric oxide donors - contraindicated (avanafil potentiates the hypotensive effect of nitrates)
- Guanylate cyclase stimulators e.g. riociguat - contraindicated (symptomatic hypotension)
- Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) - contraindicated
- Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (erythromycin, amprenavir, aprepitant, diltiazem, fluconazole, fosamprenavir, verapamil) - maximum dose 100 mg with at least 48 hours between doses
- Alpha-blockers - concomitant use may lead to symptomatic hypotension in some patients
Clinical monograph
How it works
It selectively inhibits PDE5, increasing cyclic GMP in the corpus cavernosum and enhancing nitric-oxide-mediated smooth muscle relaxation and penile blood flow in response to sexual stimulation.
Prescribing in practice
- Contraindicated with any form of nitrate or nitric-oxide donor because concomitant use causes potentially life-threatening hypotension.
- Use with caution and at reduced exposure with alpha-blockers and other antihypertensives owing to additive blood-pressure-lowering effects.
- Avoid or adjust with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, which markedly increase avanafil exposure.
Monitoring
No routine laboratory monitoring is required; assess cardiovascular fitness for sexual activity and response to treatment clinically.
Counselling the patient
- Take before anticipated sexual activity; an erection still requires sexual stimulation to occur.
- Seek urgent medical attention for an erection lasting several hours or for sudden visual or hearing loss.
Evidence & guidelines
Efficacy in erectile dysfunction is established in randomised controlled trials and reflected in the SPC.
Reference: NICE CKS Erectile dysfunction (2023); EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health (2024); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score · Sepsis / Organ Failure
- Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score (MODS) · Organ Failure Assessment
- Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score (LODS) · ICU Scoring
- SCORE2-Diabetes 10-Year CVD Risk in Type 2 Diabetes · Cardiovascular Risk
- Composite Pulmonary Embolism Shock (CPES) Score · Pulmonary Embolism
- EUROMACS-RHF Score for Right Heart Failure after LVAD · Heart Failure