What is a PDE type 5 inhibitor?

[Ruben_Miller]

A PDE-5 inhibitors is a class of drugs that are primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition where a man has difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. PDE5 inhibitors work by targeting and inhibiting the action of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme found primarily in the smooth muscle cells of the penis, lungs, and blood vessels. Normally, the enzyme PDE5 breaks down cGMP, causing the smooth muscle in the blood vessels to contract, which limits blood flow to the penis and leads to the loss of an erection. This makes it easier for men with erectile dysfunction to achieve and maintain an erection when sexually stimulated.