Alprostadil Drug Forms: Cream or Injections

Alprostadil refers to vasodilator drugs that enhance the blood flow in the body. Thus, increasing the blood flow to the penis, alprostadil promotes the occurrence of an erection.

Alprostadil can be used in the form of suppositories, injections, or a cream. If it is used in the form of a suppository, then it is injected into the external opening of the urethra. To perform the injection, you need a syringe and a needle, with which the drug is injected into the male organ. If you’re using a cream, you just need to squeeze the contents of the tube and rub it into the penis.

Alprostadil should be applied only by men suffering from impotence. If you use this drug for other purposes, you can cause irreparable damage to the penis.

The Difference between Injections, Suppositories, and Cream

Alprostadil used in the form of injections promotes the occurrence of an erection that lasts during the whole sexual intercourse in 80% of men suffering from sexual dysfunction, regardless of their age and the reasons for the problem. Alprostadil used in the form of suppositories is less effective than the injections and leads to an erection in 30–40% of men suffering from impotence. The most recent form of Alprostadil is a cream. The cream causes an erection within 5 minutes after its application and has no side effects, unlike the injections and suppositories.

The Effect of Alprostadil

The effect of the drug usually begins from 5 to 20 minutes after its application. Sexual intercourse should start 10–30 minutes after taking the medicine. This will provide an erection that will last about an hour. It can also continue after ejaculation. It is recommended to use the drug no more than three times a week making a 24-hour break between the intakes.

Who Shouldn’t Take Alprostadil?

This medication is not suitable for everyone.

Before taking alprostadil, inform your doctor of the following:

• If you’ve ever had an allergic response to alprostadil
• If you’re allergic to any medications, preservatives, foods, or dyes
• If you apply any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, including herbal medications and dietary supplements
• If you have a penile prosthesis
• If you’ve had cases of priapism

It is also necessary to inform your physician if you have the following health problems:

• Pathologies of the male organ, such as bending or birth defects.
• Problems with the bleeding.
• Sex infections.
• Redness or itching of the penis.
• Diseases that lead to blood clots or slow blood circulation. For example, leukemia (blood cancer), sickle cell disease or its signs, or thrombocytosis (increased platelet count).
• Peyronie’s disease.

If taking Alprostadil is contraindicated to you, the doctor will prescribe you another treatment appropriate to your health condition and medical history.

How Does Suppositories Work?

A small pill is placed in the urethra (an opening in the head of the male organ). Inside the penis, it dissolves and relaxes the blood vessels. Thus, more blood enters the penis causing an erection.

Before taking alprostadil in the form of a suppository, carefully read the instructions. Do not exceed the dosage recommended by your doctor. Otherwise, you might cause serious damage to your penis.

How Does Alprostadil Work in the Form of Injections?

When using alprostadil in the form of injections, the drug is injected through the wall of the penis with a syringe and a needle. The needle is injected into the spongy tissues of the penis. Once inside, the drug acts the same way as the suppository: the blood vessels expand and let the blood flow to the male organ, which leads to an erection.

How Do You Perform an Injection of the Drug?

There are several drugs, the active ingredient of which is alprostadil. The method of giving the injection is the same. The only difference is the ways for preparing the mixtures. Make sure that you know which drug you are taking and how you can mix it. As with suppositories, injections cannot be used more often or in larger quantities than it is prescribed by your doctor.

Before you take the medicine into the syringe, wash your hands with soap and put the ampoules on a clean surface. It is necessary to wipe the tops of the ampoules with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Do not use the same cotton swab for the needle.

Alprostadil should be administered immediately after the drug is mixed. If there is liquid in the syringe after the injection, discard it. The mixed drug cannot be stored for future use. Do not reuse the needles.

If you have any questions about the application of the medicine, contact your physician or pharmacist.

How to Choose the Most Appropriate Form of the Drug?

It all depends on personal preferences, as well as the advice of the doctor and your partner. Each method has its pros and cons. For example, injections are more painful, but at the same time, they are more effective than suppositories. The main advantage of the cream in comparison with suppositories is that there are no side effects.

Alprostadil Side Effects

Side effects of alprostadil are not very common but still, they might happen.

Contact your physician if you notice that any of these symptoms have a pronounced or incessant nature:

• Bleeding or discharge from the urethra
• Burning in the urethra
• Pain in the penis

Adverse effects associated with the injections include:

• Bleeding at the injection place
• Pain at the injection place (usually present, but of a moderate nature)
• Painful erection
• Bruising or gore at the place of the injection

If any of the side effects are clearly expressed and do not go away for a long time, contact your doctor.

Also, seek immediate medical assistance if any of the following side effects happen:

• Curvature of the penis, accompanied by pain during erection
• The erection lasts from 4 to 6 hours and is accompanied by a strong and incessant pain in the penis
• Itching or pain in the testicles
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Pain in the pelvis
• Symptoms similar to those of influenza

Advantages of Using Alprostadil Cream

Scientists from leading pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe realized that injections and suppositories do not help everyone and have side effects. The solution was to create a drug for topical application because it would sharply reduce the manifestations of side effects.

Alprostadil in the form of a cream was designed for rubbing into the penis and reducing the discomfort of patients from the injection.

The main disadvantage of alprostadil in the form of injections is the fact that patients need to inject the drug into the penis with a syringe right before the sexual intercourse. This severely restricted the use of alprostadil, since not every man would want to do this before they about to have sex.

The cream greatly simplified the task. Now, all you need to do is to squeeze the contents of a tiny disposable tube and rub it into the penis. The cream leads to the occurrence of an erection 5–30 minutes after its application. The cream is safe and effective with no side effects. It is a great alternative to the conventional treatment of sexual dysfunction.