PURPOSE: This study examined the ways by which patients obtain nonprescription sildenafil and the patient predictors associated with nonprescribed use. METHODS: We conducted this descriptive study by distributing an anonymous questionnaire to 231 male sildenafil users (ages 18 to 80) between December 1, 2002 and April 30, 2003 at outpatient Family Medicine and Urology Clinics at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with erectile dysfunction (as defined by their physician) and those without. RESULTS: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in our total study population of sildenafil users (n=231) was 40.3% (n=93); 59.7% (n=138) did not have erectile dysfunction. Of those without erectile dysfunction, 76% (n=105) admitted to cannabis use, compared with 7.5% (n=7) of the subjects with erectile dysfunction. Patients without erectile dysfunction and history of cannabis abuse reported obtaining sildenafil from friends and street vendors significantly more often than non-cannabis users with erectile dysfunction (54.3%, n=57 vs 9.3%, n=8; P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Illicit use of cannabis is a strong predictor of recreational sildenafil use among patients without erectile dysfunction.
PURPOSE: This study examined the ways by which patients obtain nonprescription sildenafil and the patient predictors associated with nonprescribed use. METHODS: We conducted this descriptive study by distributing an anonymous questionnaire to 231 male sildenafil users (ages 18 to 80) between December 1, 2002 and April 30, 2003 at outpatient Family Medicine and Urology Clinics at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with erectile dysfunction (as defined by their physician) and those without. RESULTS: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in our total study population of sildenafil users (n=231) was 40.3% (n=93); 59.7% (n=138) did not have erectile dysfunction. Of those without erectile dysfunction, 76% (n=105) admitted to cannabis use, compared with 7.5% (n=7) of the subjects with erectile dysfunction. Patients without erectile dysfunction and history of cannabis abuse reported obtaining sildenafil from friends and street vendors significantly more often than non-cannabis users with erectile dysfunction (54.3%, n=57 vs 9.3%, n=8; P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Illicit use of cannabis is a strong predictor of recreational sildenafil use among patients without erectile dysfunction.