Beneficial effects of switching from beta-blockers to nebivolol on the erectile function of hypertensive patients.

AIM To investigate the effect of substituting beta-blockers with nebivolol on the erectile function of patients suffering from essential hypertension. METHODS Forty-four young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) with essential hypertension visited our outpatient clinic and took beta-blocker treatment (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) for more than 6 months. All the patients completed a questionnaire regarding erectile function (International Index for Erectile Function). Patients were then switched to an equipotent dose of nebivolol for 3 months and, at the end of this time period, filled out the same questionnaire. RESULTS Twenty-nine out of the 44 (65.9%) patients who took beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) had exhibited erectile dysfunction (ED). Their systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly with the treatment switch. In 20 out of these 29 (69%) patients, a significant improvement in the erectile function score was exhibited after 3 months of nebivolol administration, and in 11 of these 20 patients, erectile function was normalized. CONCLUSION Nebivolol seems to have a beneficial effect on ED (possibly due to increased nitric oxide availability); however, further prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of nebivolol.