Economic analysis of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) add-on to treat erectile dysfunction associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use.

The objective of this study was to compare the economic cost of adding sildenafil citrate (Viagra, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY) to treat selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-induced erectile dysfunction with that of discontinuing antidepressant pharmacotherapy, switching patients to another SSRI, or adding a non-SSRI. Based on our real-world experience in an academic medical center, we performed an economic analysis of a hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients taking SSRIs on a course of acute and continuation treatment recommended by the American Psychiatric Association. We used standard costing of antidepressants, sildenafil, and unit costs for physician visits within a managed care environment and cost-of-illness methodology to calculate the annualized cost of depression for different treatment outcomes. After 6 months of SSRI treatment, the sildenafil add-on group had the lowest cost estimates compared with groups that discontinued SSRIs, substituted another SSRI (switching), or added a non-SSRI to the existing SSRI (augmentation). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the physician visit was the single most important cost component in this hypothetical population and relapse/remission the most costly outcome. Sildenafil can be a cost-effective add-on therapy to control SSRI-induced erectile dysfunction. Healthcare payors should consider this when developing optimum treatment strategies for men with depression.

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