About Caverject Alprostadil
Alprostadil belongs to a group of medicines called vasodilators that can increase blood flow by expanding blood vessels. Alprostadil is used to produce erections in some men who need treatment for erectile dysfunction (sexual impotence). This medicine causes an erection because it increases the blood flow to the penis.
Alprostadil injection should not be used as a sexual aid by men who do not have erectile dysfunction. If the medicine is not used properly, permanent damage to the penis and loss of the ability to have erections could result.
Alprostadil is used alone or with medical tests to help diagnose erectile dysfunction that may be caused by nerve or blood vessel problems in the penis.
Usage
Special patient directions come with the suppositories and some of the injection medicines. Read the directions carefully before using the medicine .
Caverject must be mixed with a solution called Bacteriostatic Water for Injection USP. The solution for mixing comes with your product and may be already loaded into a syringe or contained in another injection bottle (vial).
It is important to follow several steps to prepare your alprostadil injection correctly. Before drawing up the medicine into the syringe:
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Set the bottles on a clean surface. Wipe the top of the injection bottles with an alcohol swab. Do not wipe the needle . Throw away the alcohol swab.
- You may need to attach the needle to the syringe. Do not take the cap off yet.
How to mix Caverject:
- If the syringe already contains the Bacteriostatic Water for Injection USP, then you need only add the plunger to the syringe. To do this:
- Pick up the rod-like plunger and place it within the barrel of the syringe until it touches the rubber piece. Gently screw the plunger into the rubber piece until it seems secure. Do not use a lot of force.
- Hold the syringe by the barrel (not the plunger) and take the cap off the needle.
- You are now ready to mix the water and the powder. Skip to the directions under the title, “ To mix the water and powder .”
- If the syringe does not already contain the Bacteriostatic Water for Injection USP, you must withdraw 1 milliliter (mL) of it from the bottle provided. To do this:
- Pick up the syringe and take the cap off the needle.
- Pull the plunger back to the 1-mL mark on the syringe. This pulls air into the syringe. Insert the needle into rubber top of the bottle while it is upright and inject the 1 mL of air into the bottle.
- Turn the bottle upside down using one hand. Be sure the tip of the needle is covered by solution.
- With your other hand, pull the plunger back slowly to withdraw 1 mL of solution into the syringe. Remove the needle and skip to the directions under the title, “
How to draw your dose into the syringe (for all injection products) :
- Check the solution to make sure it is clear. Do not use the mixture if you can see anything solid in the solution or if the solution is cloudy or colored .
- After the alprostadil solution is mixed and the needle is inserted into the alprostadil bottle, turn the bottle with the syringe as a unit upside down in one hand. Be sure the tip of the needle is covered by the solution. With your other hand, pull the plunger back slowly to draw the correct dose of the medicine into the syringe.
- Hold the syringe with the measuring scale at eye level to see that the proper dose is withdrawn and to check for air bubbles. To remove air bubbles, tap gently on the measuring scale of the syringe to move any bubbles to the top of the syringe near the needle.
- If your dose measures too low in the syringe, withdraw more solution from the bottle. If there is too much medicine in the syringe, put some back into the bottle. Then check your dose again.
- Remove the needle from the bottle, holding the barrel of the syringe, not the plunger.
- Place the cover back on the needle. You are now ready to inject your dose. Follow the directions below,
How to give the alprostadil injection:
- Choose a spot on your penis as directed by your doctor where you will give the injection.
- Clean the injection site with alcohol. Sitting upright or slightly reclined, hold your penis against the side of your thigh so that it cannot move.
- Remove the cover from the needle and hold the needle at a 90-degree angle to the place of injection.
- Insert the needle until almost all of the metal part of the needle is inserted into the penis.
- Do not inject the medicine just under the surface of the skin, at the top or head of the penis, or at the base of the penis near the scrotum or testes. Avoid injecting the medicine into blood vessels that you can see.
- Press the plunger down slowly, taking 5 to 10 seconds to release the dose into the penis.
- The injection is usually not painful. If the injection is very painful or if you notice bruising or swelling at the place of injection, that means you are injecting the medicine under the skin. Stop, withdraw the needle, and reposition it properly before continuing with the injection.
- Remove the needle and recap it.
- After you have completed the injection, put pressure on the place of injection for about 5 minutes or until any bleeding stops. This will prevent bruising. Then massage your penis as instructed by your doctor. This helps the medicine spread to all parts of the penis, so that the medicine will work better.
Choose a different place of injection each time you use the medicine to prevent skin problems. This includes switching the place of injection from the right side of the penis for one injection to the left side for the next injection.
After a single-use injection is mixed, the medicine must be used immediately. Throw away any unused mixture in the syringe. It cannot be stored for a later injection.
Dosing
The dose of alprostadil will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of alprostadil. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For the treatment of erectile dysfunction:
- For injection dosage form:
- Adults—1.25 to 60 micrograms (mcg) as a single dose once a day. Your exact dose will be determined by your doctor. Inject this medicine very slowly into your penis as shown to you by your doctor ten to thirty minutes before intercourse. Allow five to ten seconds to completely inject the dose. Do not inject more than one dose within twenty-four hours. Also, do not use this medicine for more than two days in a row or more than three times a week.
- For suppository dosage form:
- Adults—125, 250, 500, or 1000 mcg as a single dose once a day. Your exact dose will be determined by your doctor. Insert this medicine into the urethra of your penis as shown to you by your doctor ten to thirty minutes before intercourse. Do not insert more than two doses within twenty-four hours.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if the following side effects occur:
Curving of penis with pain during erection; erection continuing for 4 to 6 hours; erection continuing longer than 6 hours with severe and continuing pain of the penis; swelling in or pain of the testes
- Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body
Dizziness; faintness; pelvic pain; flu-like symptoms
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Bleeding at place of injection, short-term; mild bleeding or spotting from urethra (suppository only); pain at place of injection; painful erection; stinging of urethra (suppository only)
Bruising or clotted blood in penis at place of injection, usually caused by an incorrect injection
Female partners may experience itching or stinging of vagina when you first begin using the alprostadil suppository. These side effects may not be caused from the medicine but may result if female partner has not had frequent or recent sexual intercourse.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Other names
- Edex
- Muse
- Prostin VR Pediatric
- Prostin VR
