Intracavernosal Injection Instructions

What you should know about this treatment

  • Medication must be kept refrigerated in order to maintain effectiveness.

  • You may use the medication up to every second day.

  • It is advisable to alternate sides each time you inject.

  • The medication may be given along the shaft of the penis, but never in the head (glans) is of the penis.

  • The goal is to induce and direction lasting 30 to 60 minutes.

  • Do not alter the dose of your medication.

  • Incorrect technique may result in partial or no direction. It does not cause you any harm.

  • The erection should never last more than 4 hours.

  • If the erections does last more than four hours, then it often starts to get painful and is not relieved within a reasonable period of time will do damage to the penis. This condition is known as PRIAPISM and does require urgent treatment.

Technique

  • Wash your hands before starting the injection sequence.

  • Wipe off the rubber stopper on the vial with the alcohol swab.

  • Pull back the pond on the syringe to the dose you are told to inject.

  • Place the needle at a right angle into the bottle.

  • Hold the vial upside down and checked the air into the vial.

  • Pull back the plunger on the syringe slowly to the dose you are to inject.

  • Remove the syringe from the vial.

  • Holding the syringe upright, tap to move the air towards the top of the syringe and then expel.

  • Wipe the penis with the alcohol swab, where you plan to inject.

  • Hold the penis with your non-injecting hand, stretch it out fully.

  • Place the needle inside the corpora cavernosum and inject the dose.

  • Remove the needle and apply pressure for 30 seconds.

  • Massage the penis a few times.

  • Continue with normal foreplay and erection should be achieved within 5 to 15 minutes.

What are the potential side effects?

  • Pain or discomfort at the injection site.

  • Possible infection sterile technique is not used.

  • Scarring, which may cause a lump or curvature in the penis.

  • Priapism - a prolonged erection that could cause damage and loss of future erections.

What to do in case of a priapism

If the erection lasts more than four hours, pain and permanent damage to the penis can occur.

The following action plan should be followed:

  • Take two Sudafed tablets.

  • Wrap a cold compress around the penis and gently squeeze the penis to see if this helps.

  • Go for a walk (or jog) for 15 minutes.

  • If the direction is not gone down after 30 minutes take another two Sudafed tablets.

  • If the erection has been present for six hours without signs of going down, you should call your Urologist or proceed immediately to your local hospital Emergency Department.

  • Doctors at the Emergency Department would usually be able to draw the blood from the penis and give you more medication to keep the penis placid.

  • The dose of your medication will need to be adjusted.