Could a common ED drug help veterans breathe easier?
NCT ID NCT05937854
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether tadalafil, a drug often used for erectile dysfunction, can reduce shortness of breath in 126 veterans who have both COPD and high blood pressure in the lungs. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either tadalafil or a placebo for six months, and neither they nor their doctors will know which they receive. The researchers will track breathing, daily activity, and quality of life to see if the drug offers real benefit.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- tadalafil (also known as Adcirca or Cialis)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to reduce breathlessness and improve daily activity for people with COPD and pulmonary hypertension.
- What could go wrong
- This is a mid-stage trial with only 126 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Tadalafil can cause side effects like headache or muscle pain, and it may not improve symptoms at all.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
RECRUITINGDecatur, Georgia, 30033-4004, United States
-
Omaha VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE
RECRUITINGOmaha, Nebraska, 68105-1850, United States
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Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI
RECRUITINGProvidence, Rhode Island, 02908-4734, United States
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Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
RECRUITINGAurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
-
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02130-4817, United States
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