Sustengo
Encyclopedia
Sustengo is a fictional drug featured in the 2010 film Little Fockers
. In the film, the drug is marketed for the indication of erectile dysfunction
in the setting of heart disease. The drug is marketed by the fictional Boston Pharmaceuticals.
, vardenafil
, and tadalafil
as evidenced by its promotion of an erection. When taken by Jack Byrnes, the drug induced priapism
which responded to an injection of epinephrine (as would be expected with high-flow priapism
secondary to PDE5 inhibitor
use). Andi's character attempts to seduce Greg after the consumption of Sustengo. Increased libido would be a pharmacodynamic property that is inconsistent with PDE5 inhibitors. However, this behavior may be better explained by Andi's prior admiration of Greg and alcohol consumption rather than a direct effect of the Sustengo, though it does seem to be implied that the observed behavior is attributable to her consumption of Sustengo.
In the film, the drug is advertised as safe and effective for "heart patients" as it not only increases penile blood flow, but also acts as a beta-blocker to keep the heart rate down during intercourse. Theoretically, this would seem to be beneficial as beta-adrenergic blockade would not drastically reduce penile blood flow. However, a theoretical concern with this concomitant effect is therapeutic duplication of beta-blockers (most MI patients will have been prescribed a beta-blocker after experiencing a myocardial infarction
). In addition, the selectivity of the beta-blockade is not mentioned; non-selective beta blockade could trigger respiratory distress in certain susceptible patients. Furthermore, "heart patient" encompasses a number of other potential cardiac disease states for which Sustengo's beta-blockade effects would potentially be unsuitable or dangerous.
Little Fockers
Little Fockers is a 2010 American comedy film and sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers . It stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand...
. In the film, the drug is marketed for the indication of erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
in the setting of heart disease. The drug is marketed by the fictional Boston Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacology
As observed in the film, the drug appears to have effects analogous to PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafilSildenafil
Sildenafil citrate, sold as Viagra, Revatio and under various other trade names, is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension . It was originally developed by British scientists and then brought to market by the US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer...
, vardenafil
Vardenafil
Vardenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor used for treating erectile dysfunction that is sold under the trade names Levitra and Staxyn.-History:...
, and tadalafil
Tadalafil
Tadalafil is a PDE5 inhibitor, currently marketed in pill form for treating erectile dysfunction under the name Cialis; and under the name Adcirca for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension...
as evidenced by its promotion of an erection. When taken by Jack Byrnes, the drug induced priapism
Priapism
Priapism is a potentially harmful and painful medical condition in which the erect penis or clitoris does not return to its flaccid state, despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation, within four hours. There are two types of priapism: low-flow and high-flow. Low-flow...
which responded to an injection of epinephrine (as would be expected with high-flow priapism
Priapism
Priapism is a potentially harmful and painful medical condition in which the erect penis or clitoris does not return to its flaccid state, despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation, within four hours. There are two types of priapism: low-flow and high-flow. Low-flow...
secondary to PDE5 inhibitor
PDE5 inhibitor
A phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, often shortened to PDE5 inhibitor, is a drug used to block the degradative action of phosphodiesterase type 5 on cyclic GMP in the smooth muscle cells lining the blood vessels supplying the corpus cavernosum of the penis...
use). Andi's character attempts to seduce Greg after the consumption of Sustengo. Increased libido would be a pharmacodynamic property that is inconsistent with PDE5 inhibitors. However, this behavior may be better explained by Andi's prior admiration of Greg and alcohol consumption rather than a direct effect of the Sustengo, though it does seem to be implied that the observed behavior is attributable to her consumption of Sustengo.
In the film, the drug is advertised as safe and effective for "heart patients" as it not only increases penile blood flow, but also acts as a beta-blocker to keep the heart rate down during intercourse. Theoretically, this would seem to be beneficial as beta-adrenergic blockade would not drastically reduce penile blood flow. However, a theoretical concern with this concomitant effect is therapeutic duplication of beta-blockers (most MI patients will have been prescribed a beta-blocker after experiencing a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
). In addition, the selectivity of the beta-blockade is not mentioned; non-selective beta blockade could trigger respiratory distress in certain susceptible patients. Furthermore, "heart patient" encompasses a number of other potential cardiac disease states for which Sustengo's beta-blockade effects would potentially be unsuitable or dangerous.