What is the most important information I should know about alprostadil?
This medication guide addresses only the adult male use of alprostadil in erectile disorders.
You should not use alprostadil if you have sickle cell anemia, leukemia, a bone marrow tumor, a curved or deformed penis, penile fibrosis or Peyronie's disease, a penile implant, or if you must avoid sexual intercourse for health reasons.
Seek emergency medical attention if you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 hours or longer.
What is alprostadil?
Alprostadil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) and to help diagnose certain causes of this disorder. Alprostadil is also used to improve blood flow in newborn babies with heart problems. This medication guide addresses only the adult male use of alprostadil in erectile disorders.
Alprostadil relaxes blood vessels and muscles in the penis which increases blood flow, causing an erection.
Alprostadil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using alprostadil?
You should not use alprostadil if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait;
- leukemia;
- a tumor of the bone marrow (multiple myeloma);
- a curved or deformed penis;
- penile fibrosis or Peyronie's disease;
- if you have a penile implant; or
- if you must avoid sexual intercourse for health reasons.
To make sure alprostadil is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease;
- high or low blood pressure; or
- bleeding problems.
Caverject, Caverject Impulse, Edex, or Muse should not be used by women or by anyone under 18 years old.
While using alprostadil pellets, use condoms during sex if your partner is pregnant or able to get pregnant. The effects of alprostadil on an unborn baby at conception or during pregnancy are unknown.
How should I use alprostadil?
A healthcare provider will give your first dose and teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Alprostadil is used only when needed. An erection should occur within 5 to 20 minutes and last up to 60 minutes.
Alprostadil injection is injected into the side of the penis.
Alprostatil transurethral pellet is a very small suppository to be inserted into the opening of the penis (the urethra).
Do not use more than 2 pellets in one day. Do not use more than 3 injections per week. Wait at least 24 hours between each injection.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine.
Do not use alprostadil if you do not understand the instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Prepare your injection only when you are ready to use the medicine. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
Use a needle and syringe only once and place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
Call your doctor if a needle breaks while you are injecting alprostadil. If you can grasp the broken end, remove the needle right away.
Your doctor should check you every 3 months to be sure alprostadil is not causing harmful effects on your penis.
Storing this medicine:
- Keep pellets in their original foil pouch in the refrigerator. You may store a pouch at cool room temperature for up to 14 days. Protect from freezing or extreme heat. Do not store in a closed automobile or in luggage while traveling.
- Store alprostadil injection vials at cool room temperature. The 40-microgram strength should be used within 3 months or before the expiration date on the label.
- After mixing a Caverject injection, keep it at room temperature and use within 24 hours.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since alprostadil is used when needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause fainting, or a painful and prolonged erection.
What should I avoid while using alprostadil?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity if you feel light-headed.
Using alprostadil will not protect you from sexually transmitted disease. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent disease transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What are the possible side effects of alprostadil?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using alprostadil and call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- bleeding after an injection;
- a painful erection that lasts 4 hours or longer;
- new or worsening pain in your penis; or
- redness, swelling, tenderness, lumps, unusual shape or curving of the erect penis.
Common side effects may include:
- mild pain in your penis, urethra, or testicles;
- redness of the penis; or
- warmth or burning in your urethra.
Your sex partner may have side effects such as burning, itching, or irritation of body areas that come into contact with your penis.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect alprostadil?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- other medicines injected into the penis; or
-
a blood thinner --heparin, warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with alprostadil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about alprostadil.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 10.01. Revision date: 1/30/2018.
