Nitroglycerin Cream for Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Does It Help?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects nearly 1 in 5 men. ED can make it difficult to achieve or keep an erection, which can interfere with your sex life and relationships.

There are many well-studied and effective treatment options for ED, including phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These include sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Staxyn), and avanafil (Stendra).

But some people prefer not to take pills to manage their ED. This has led to a growing interest in options like creams and gels, including prescription options like nitroglycerin ointment. But does nitroglycerin cream really work for ED? Here’s what to know. 

Can you use nitroglycerin cream to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)?

You can use nitroglycerin cream to treat ED. But there’s not a lot of good evidence that it works. Nitroglycerin is FDA approved to treat several medical conditions. But it’s not FDA approved to treat ED. Here’s what that means:

• It’s not clear if topical nitroglycerin will work for most people with ED.

• There’s no guidance on how to safely use nitroglycerin to treat ED. 

• It’s not clear what dose is best or how often it should be applied.

Some healthcare professionals will prescribe medications for off-label use. But they’re less likely to prescribe topical nitroglycerin cream for ED, since there isn’t a lot of recent information on its safety or effectiveness for ED. 

How nitroglycerin works for erectile dysfunction

Nitroglycerin works by widening blood vessels. This allows more blood to pass into a specific part of the body. 

In theory, when you apply nitroglycerin cream to your penis, it should relax the muscles in blood vessels to keep them open so that blood stays in the erectile tissue. This should help you achieve and maintain an erection.

How effective is topical nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It’s not clear how well nitroglycerin creams and ointments work for ED.

A recent study looked at whether 0.2% nitroglycerin gel could help people achieve and maintain an erection. About 70% of participants were able to achieve an erection within 10 minutes of applying the gel. That’s faster than oral medications like Viagra, which take at least 30 minutes to start working.

Researchers also pointed out that the gel wore off faster than oral medications. So, people may need to reapply the gel during a sexual encounter.

While this study was promising, more information is needed before researchers can say that nitroglycerin can help treat ED. 

For now, experts don’t recommend topical nitroglycerin as a treatment for ED.

Can you use nitroglycerin cream with other ED medications like Viagra?

It’s not safe to use nitroglycerin cream with phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor medications like:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)

• Tadalafil (Cialis)

• Vardenafil (Staxyn)

• Avanafil (Stendra)

Using these treatments together can lead to dangerous drops in blood pressure. Experts recommend that people who use any form of nitroglycerin switch to another treatment option before starting Viagra or another ED treatment. Your healthcare team can help you find the safest treatment options for ED. 

Is it safe to use topical nitroglycerin for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It’s not clear whether it’s safe to use topical nitroglycerin for ED. There isn’t enough research on the topic. 

Keep in mind that topical nitroglycerin comes in several forms and strengths. It’s not clear if one form or strength can lead to more side effects than another.  

It’s also important to know that nitroglycerin ointment may transfer to your partner during sex. So, you shouldn’t use topical nitroglycerin if your partner is taking any medications that might interact with the nitroglycerin.

What is the best cream for erectile dysfunction?

For now, it’s best to avoid nitroglycerin creams and gels to treat ED. This may change as more information becomes available. But there’s another option. 

MED3000 (Eroxon) is an over-the-counter (OTC) cream for ED. Clinical trials have shown that Eroxon can help treat ED symptoms. The manufacturer suggests massaging the cream on the head of your penis right before sex. It notes that most people see results within 10 minutes. 

Eroxon has FDA marketing authorization, which means it’s likely safe for most people to use. But Eroxon doesn’t have FDA approval to treat ED. This means the FDA hasn’t evaluated how well Eroxon works.

You can work with a healthcare team to find the right treatment options for ED. Online programs like GoodRx for ED offer access to affordable, clinically proven treatments from licensed healthcare teams.

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Written by:

Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine. Dual-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Tracy possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in both traditional medical practices and innovative lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management and reversal.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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