INTRACAVERNOSAL THERAPY (PENILE INJECTIONS) |
Penile injection therapy is effective in about 80% of patients.
Originally thought to be a temporary treatment for Erectile
Dysfunction, many couples have been using penile injections for
several years.
Several drugs have been used for this purpose. These vasoactive drugs include the smooth muscle relaxants papaverine, alprostadil, and VIP and the vasodilator, phentolamine. In 1995, the FDA in the USA issued governmental approval of Upjohn’s synthetic alprostadil injectable, Caverject; since then Prostaglandin has also become available.
Penile injection therapy involves learning the self-injection technique
so that this treatment is performed by the patient himself or with
the assistance of his partner if necessary for his convenience. The
patient and/or partner is trained in this injection method. It is often
facilitated by an auto-injector in the medical clinic by the physician
or his assistant.
The most troublesome side effect of this form of treatment is the
possibility of overdosing the medication, causing priapism, which is
an erection that lasts too long. This problem can be corrected by
injecting an antidote into the erect penis but is best prevented by
proper training and dosing in the Doctor's office before actually
learning the self-injection technique.
Other side effects of this treatment include the possibility of scar
tissue at the injection site, hematoma formation or bruising and the
remote possibility of infection. Pain in the penis may be a factor
with Caverject, especially at higher doses. |
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