Side effects include diarrhea, and it has been associated with erectile dysfunction as well. For years people have used intralesional steroids where they have actually injected long-acting steroids into the plaque of the penis to prevent the fibrosis from occurring. Again, there is no long-term data available with regard to this procedure. Unfortunately, at this time there is no definitive treatment for Peyronie's disease. In my own clinical practice, I tend to shy away from Potaba as a first-line therapy because of the large doses required and the side effects.
People complain of gastrointestinal distress as well as the cost of the medication.
I recommend vitamin E as the first-line medical therapy because it has been shown to have other benefits in the body, and it is not harmful in the recommended doses. There is, however, no control study that demonstrates its benefit. Before considering a surgical procedure, the disease should be stable for one year. This avoids surgery on the man who may get a spontaneous resolution of the disease. Surgery should only be performed on men who have difficulty inserting the penis during intercourse because of angulation.