1. Named treatments for ED can only be prescribed on FP10 prescription for a man with erectile dysfunction who falls into one of a number of groups, which includes

• Is suffering from diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, poliomyelitis, prostate cancer, severe pelvic injury, single gene neurological disease, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, or
• Is receiving treatment for renal failure by dialysis, or
• Has had the following surgery - prostatectomy, radical pelvic surgery, renal failure treated by transplant.
• Any patient  may receive one of the named drugs for treatment of a condition, other than  erectile dysfunction, in respect of which the drug ordered is considered an appropriate treatment.

Full information is in the Drug Tariff Part XVIIIB

Prescriptions must be endorsed SLS. A prescription not containing this endorsement will not be reimbursed by the NHS Business Service Authority Prescription Pricing Division and so should not be dispensed. 

2. HSC 1999 / 177 (see "Important local Documents" above) recommends that treatment for impotence should be available from specialist services when impotence is causing severe distress. Patients who are prescribed treatment for impotence on the NHS following the guidance in this circular need to continue to receive their treatment through specialist services. GPs cannot issue an FP10, endorsed SLS, where treatment has been started by a specialist for a patient suffering severe distress unless they also meet one of the above criteria. 

3. Patients who are not eligible for NHS prescription can be issued a private prescription.

4. HSC 1999 / 148  (see "Important local Documents" above) advises doctors that one treatment a week will be appropriate for most patients treated for erectile dysfunction. If a GP exercising clinical judgement considers that more than one treatment a week is appropriate that amount should be prescribed on the NHS.

5. The treatment of priapism following alprostadil should not be delayed more than 6 hours. The BNF contains full information.

6. Papaverine (unlicensed) is included as a hospital only treatment.