This article discusses the physiological mechanisms of erection and the pathophysiological basis of erectile dysfunction. Parameters characterizing the features of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs from the group of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) are presented. The clinical efficacy and possible adverse effects of the most significant PDE-5i are considered. These include sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, udenafil, avanafil. There are also data on less known PDE-5i, which include lodenafil and mirodenafil.

Keywords: erection, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, erectile dysfunction