Peyronies disease is a disorder of the connective tissue that affects more than one percent of all men. The causes of this disease are not yet completely known, but it seems that genetic factors, penis injury, circulation disorders and diabetes have a contribution in the etiology of this disease. The symptoms of Peyronies disease include a lump on the penile shaft, pain in the affected area and the deformation of the penis.

Because the exact causes of Peyronies disease are not well understood yet, the treatment for this disease is very controversial. There are many drugs available on the market that claim to have the ability to cure Peyronies disease, but the results of using these medications are still ambiguous. The success of these medications in treating Peyronies disease depends on the severity of the condition and on other elements such as the presence and extent of plaque calcification and the severity of the penile deformation (a curvature that is over 45 degrees is considered severe).

The first medication ever used to treat Peyronies disease was Vitamin E. This treatment was introduced around 1945 and it is still used today with some degree of success. The effectiveness of Vitamin E in treating Peyronies disease has not been proven by clinical trials. However, due to its low costs and few side effects, many people are willing to try it. Vitamin E treatment seems to have no effect on the size of the lump or on the penile deformation, but it can reduce scars associated with Peyronies disease.

Cholchicine is a medication used in the acute phase of Peyronies disease. This drug was initially developed to relieve symptoms in conditions such as gout, but it is currently used to reduce inflammation associated with Peyronies disease. Just like in the case of Vitamin E, controlled studies have failed to show the effectiveness of this drug in treating or relieving the symptoms of Peyronies disease. The side effects of Cholchicine can vary from stomach problems and diarrhea to the suppression of white cells production.

Aminobenzoate Potassium or Potaba is another medication traditionally used in the treatment of Peyronies disease. This drug is also used to treat fibrosis. Even though this treatment is considered ‘possibly effective’ for Peyronies disease by the FDA, its side effects and its large dosage make it relatively unpopular.

Verapamil injections are an invasive treatment for Peyronies disease. This treatment requires an urologist to inject a calcium channel blocker (Verapamil) directly into the affected area of the penis. The results of this treatment for Peyronies disease are very controversial and recent results of controlled studies show that this treatment seems to be relatively ineffective.

Other medications used in the treatment of Peyronies disease include Collagenase, Tamoxifen, steroid injections and Pentoxiphylline. Unfortunately, there are not enough studies yet that prove the effectiveness of these medications. Radiation therapy is another method used to treat Peyronies disease. It seems that this method is very effective in reducing pain, but it has no effect on the lump and scars. In addition, this method can have serious side effects.