Caverject

Caverject^® is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps with getting and maintaining an erection. Its active ingredient is alprostadil, a drug that belongs to a class of medications called vasodilators, which work by relaxing blood vessels and smoothing muscle tissue in the penis. 

Caverject is injected directly into the penis and typically begins working within 5 to 20 minutes, producing an erection that lasts up to an hour. It’s not recommended for men with penile implants and should not be used more than three times per week, or on consecutive days.

Common side effects include mild to moderate pain, irritation, or slight bleeding at the injection site. More serious side effects, such as persistent redness, swelling, lumps, or unusual curvature of the penis, require medical attention. Caverject may also increase the risk for priapism, a prolonged and painful erection lasting four or more hours, which can cause permanent damage. Seek immediate medical attention right away if you experience symptoms of priapism.

Caverject (alprostadil) is indicated:

• For the treatment of erectile dysfunction

• As an adjunct to other diagnostic tests in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction

Prostaglandin E1 agonist

The most common (≥10%) adverse reaction is:

• Penile pain

The cost of Caverject injections may vary depending on factors such as your pharmacy, insurance plan, prescribed dosage, and quantity of doses.

Without insurance, the average retail price of six 40 microgram doses of Caverject may be about $1,000, but coupons and discount cards are available that may bring the price down to about $800. Insurance plans may cover all or some of the cost of this medication.

You can get a prescription for Caverject after being evaluated by your primary care provider or another specialist who can determine if the medicine is right for you based on factors like your symptoms and medical history.

• Men who have known hypersensitivity to the drug

• Men who have conditions that predispose them to priapism, such as sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

• Treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with fibrotic conditions of the penis, such as anatomical deformation, angulation, cavernosal fibrosis, or Peyronie's disease

• Men with penile implants

• Drug interactions: The potential for pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions between alprostadil and other agents administered orally or intracavernosally has not been formally studied

• Prolonged erection and priapism have occurred in patients receiving Caverject

• Penile fibrosis has occurred in patients receiving Caverject

• Low blood pressure

• Injection site bleeding may occur in patients taking anticoagulants, such as warfarin or heparin

• Cardiovascular risk related to underlying medical conditions

• Risks of use in combination with other vasoactive medications injected intracavernosally

• Needle breakage

• Benzyl alcohol: Serious and fatal adverse reactions can occur in neonates and low birth weight infants treated with benzyl alcohol-preserved formulations in infusion solutions, including Caverject

• Counsel patients about sexually transmitted diseases

There are other medications prescribed to treat ED. Some of these drugs may be better suited to you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Caverject, talk with your provider to learn about medication alternatives that may work well for you.

Other penile injection medications for ED include:

• Edex^® (alprostadil)

• Papaverine

• Phentolamine

• Combination medications such as Bimix, Trimix, and Quadmix

Oral medications that can treat ED include:

• Viagra^® (sildenafil)

• Cialis^® (tadalafil)

• Stendra^® (avanafil)

• Vardenafil

• Chewable ED meds available through Hims that contain one or more of the active ingredients in Cialis and Viagra

As an alternative or in addition to ED medications, your healthcare provider may suggest therapy for mental health issues that may be contributing to your ED symptoms. They may also suggest you consider making lifestyle changes that support sexual health, like following a healthy diet, exercising, and cutting back on alcohol.

Other treatments for ED include a topical gel, a penis pump with or without a constriction ring, penile implant surgery, and testosterone therapy (if you have low testosterone).

*This information is from the label for brand name Caverject^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Alprostadil, the active ingredient in Caverject, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient alprostadil.