Answer
Jun 13, 2024 - 10:35 AM
Yes—Eroxon gel appears to work for some men, but it is not as reliably proven as prescription ED medications.
Eroxon is a non-medicated topical gel that creates a rapid cooling-then-warming sensation on the head of the penis. The FDA granted it De Novo marketing authorization as a Class II medical device for treating erectile dysfunction in men aged 22 and older.
In the main FDA-reviewed study:
- About 62% experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in erectile-function scores.
- 62.6% noticed an erection beginning within 10 minutes.
- 55.7% were able to have penetrative sex within 15 minutes.
The important limitation
The evidence is promising but not definitive. Only 48 men received Eroxon in the pivotal study, it was open-label, and there was no inert placebo gel. The tadalafil group was exploratory and was not used by the FDA as a formal head-to-head comparison. In an earlier trial, Eroxon had originally been intended as the drug-free control, so part of its benefit could potentially come from massage, sexual stimulation, expectations or the temperature sensation itself.
Bottom line
Eroxon is a reasonable OTC option, particularly when someone wants something fast acting or cannot take oral ED medications. However, it may not work every time, and prescription treatments such as sildenafil or tadalafil generally have stronger supporting evidence.
It requires sexual stimulation and should be massaged onto the head of the penis for about 15 seconds. Stop using it if you or your partner experiences persistent burning, itching or redness, and do not apply it to broken or irritated skin.
New or persistent erectile dysfunction should also be discussed with a healthcare professional because it can sometimes be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or another underlying condition.
