7.4.1. Erectile Dysfunction

For the current Erectile dysfunction policy please click here (pdf)

SLS indication

On August 1st 2014, new legislation was introduced removing the restrictions on NHS prescribing of apomorphine hydrochloride, moxisylyte hydrochloride, generic sildenafil and thymoxamine hydrochloride for the management of erectile dysfunction. Prescriptions for these drugs no longer need to be endorsed ‘SLS’ and may be prescribed on the NHS for any suitable patient.

All other products - Alprostadil, Avanafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil and Viagra® - continue to be restricted and can only be prescribed at NHS expense in line with Department of Health guidance (HSC 1999/115,148)4,5. This guidance states that drugs used for the treatment of ED may be prescribed on an NHS prescription for men who:

•Have diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, poliomyelitis, prostate cancer, severe pelvic injury, single gene neurological disease, spina bifida, or spinal cord injury
•Are receiving dialysis for renal failure
•Have had radical pelvic surgery, prostatectomy, or kidney transplant
•Were receiving Caverject©, Erecnos©, MUSE©, Viagra or Virdal© for ED, at the expense of the NHS on 14th September 1998
•Are suffering severe distress as a result of impotence (prescribed in specialist centres only, see British National Formulary). 6

Only patients who meet the criteria specified above must be issued FP10 prescriptions for these drugs (Alprostadil, Avanafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil and Viagra®) and the prescription must be endorsed ‘SLS’ (selected list scheme). If the patient is not eligible for the ED medicines mentioned above on the NHS then a private prescription should be provided