Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksBefore UseDosageSide EffectsWarningsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Before Use
Dosage
Side Effects
Warnings
Frequently Asked Questions
Verywell / Joules Garcia
Other prescription medications commonly used in penile injection therapy are Trimix, Bimix, and papaverine, but most people start with Trimix, which contains three main ingredients: alprostadil, phentolamine, and papaverine.
This article will review how these injectable medications are used and what to know about dosage and side effects before you begin treatment.
Penile injectable therapy is a quick, highly effective, and mostly pain-free way to relieve your ED. It is also useful for those who cannot take traditional ED pills or have not had success taking them.
Before using the drug therapy on your own at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to inject the medication, usually on a urological model of the pelvis or on a video. The process of injections usually follows these steps:
If you prefer, you can use an auto-injector, which is a spring-loaded device that inserts the needle into the penis very quickly, minimizing discomfort.
The thought of injecting a needle into your penis may sound intimidating, but many people with ED find that the treatment works. Research shows that 70% of people who use penile injection therapy are happy with their results.
Do not take any ED drugs for at least 24 hours prior to your appointment, especially Cialis or Viagra. Traditional ED drugs like these should never be taken with penile injections.
Also, prepare any questions you may have for your urologist or healthcare provider beforehand. It’s worth noting that if you plan on having your partner assist with or perform the injections, they should be present at your teaching appointment.
The slogan often used with penile injection therapy dosing is to go low and slow. This means that your healthcare provider will probably start with a low dosage and increase your dose each time until you get the effect you want.
Adults should only take one single dose per day 10 to 30 minutes before intercourse. The maximum recommended number of injections per week is three.
Occasionally, penile injections may cause a dull ache at the injection site, as well as fainting, dizziness, and low blood pressure, but these side effects usually resolve quickly and on their own. Pain can also occur as a side effect of alprostadil, in which case the medication Bimix (papaverine, phentolamine) may be prescribed instead.
If any of these side effects persists, contact a healthcare provider. If your erection persists for more than four hours (a condition calledpriapism), seek immediate medical attention. It is advised that you call your urologist and seek care at a local emergency department.
Priapism is more common in formulations that contain papaverine and phentolamine, but once the dosing is established, it rarely occurs.
You should never take an injection if you have taken Viagra, Cialis, or any other oral erectile medication the night before or the morning of your penile injection therapy. The same is true of your teaching appointment with your urologist if they will be administering your first injection.
The medication should be stored in a refrigerator and used within 90 days. Also, always make sure that you keep your medication and syringes out of the reach of children and safely dispose of outdated medicine.
Lastly, a cardiologist should be consulted before using penile injections to ensure safety, especially if a patient has a pre-existing heart problem.
A Word From Verywell
Penile injection therapy is a safe and effective tool to solve your ED problems, but it isn’t for everyone. Injections are less effective in people with vascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or high blood pressure.
If injections don’t work after three months of use, contact a healthcare provider. Additional treatment options are available that they can help you explore.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can expect an erection to develop five to 20 minutes after injection. Erections usually last 30 minutes to an hour or up to orgasm.Injections are about 80% effective, although some studies have found this number to be as high as 89%.When injections are performed correctly, they cause minimal pain. Using an auto-injector may also reduce the amount of pain and psychological hesitancy that you experience. Ask your healthcare provider if an auto-injector option is available to you. If there is a reaction to alprostadil with penile pain, then an alternative medication regimen can be selected.
You can expect an erection to develop five to 20 minutes after injection. Erections usually last 30 minutes to an hour or up to orgasm.
Injections are about 80% effective, although some studies have found this number to be as high as 89%.
When injections are performed correctly, they cause minimal pain. Using an auto-injector may also reduce the amount of pain and psychological hesitancy that you experience. Ask your healthcare provider if an auto-injector option is available to you. If there is a reaction to alprostadil with penile pain, then an alternative medication regimen can be selected.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Coombs PG, Heck M, Guhring P, Narus J, Mulhall JP.A review of outcomes of an intracavernosal injection therapy programme.BJU Int. 2012;110(11):1787-1791. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11080.xUCSF Health.Patient guide to penile injections.Bearelly P, Phillips EA, Pan S, et al.Long-term intracavernosal injection therapy: treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction.Int J Impot Res. 2020;32(3):345-351. doi:10.1038/s41443-019-0186-zMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Penile injection therapy.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Coombs PG, Heck M, Guhring P, Narus J, Mulhall JP.A review of outcomes of an intracavernosal injection therapy programme.BJU Int. 2012;110(11):1787-1791. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11080.xUCSF Health.Patient guide to penile injections.Bearelly P, Phillips EA, Pan S, et al.Long-term intracavernosal injection therapy: treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction.Int J Impot Res. 2020;32(3):345-351. doi:10.1038/s41443-019-0186-zMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Penile injection therapy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Coombs PG, Heck M, Guhring P, Narus J, Mulhall JP.A review of outcomes of an intracavernosal injection therapy programme.BJU Int. 2012;110(11):1787-1791. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11080.xUCSF Health.Patient guide to penile injections.Bearelly P, Phillips EA, Pan S, et al.Long-term intracavernosal injection therapy: treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction.Int J Impot Res. 2020;32(3):345-351. doi:10.1038/s41443-019-0186-zMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Penile injection therapy.
Coombs PG, Heck M, Guhring P, Narus J, Mulhall JP.A review of outcomes of an intracavernosal injection therapy programme.BJU Int. 2012;110(11):1787-1791. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11080.x
UCSF Health.Patient guide to penile injections.
Bearelly P, Phillips EA, Pan S, et al.Long-term intracavernosal injection therapy: treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction.Int J Impot Res. 2020;32(3):345-351. doi:10.1038/s41443-019-0186-z
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Penile injection therapy.
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