Alprostadil Intravenous. Brand names, warnings and dosing
Alprostadil is an endogenous steroid that causes vasodilation by acting directly on vascular and ductus arteriosus (DA) smooth muscle, preventing or reversing the DA’s functional closure, which occurs shortly after birth.
In infants, this results in an increase in pulmonary or systemic blood flow.
In neonates with congenital heart defects who rely on the patent ductus for survival, it is used as a palliative, rather than a definitive, therapy to maintain the patency of the ductus arteriosus until corrective or palliative surgery can be performed.
It is used to treat erectile dysfunction in adults caused by neurogenic, vasculogenic, psychogenic, or mixed etiologies.
Uses
Men with erectile dysfunction (also known as sexual impotence) are treated with alprostadil injection. It belongs to a class of drugs known as vasodilators, which expand blood vessels to increase blood flow. Because alprostadil increases blood flow to the penis, it causes an erection. Men who do not have erectile dysfunction should avoid using alprostadil as a sexual enhancer.
Permanent damage to the penis and the loss of the ability to have erections may occur if the medicine is not used properly.
Alprostadil is a medication that is used alone or in combination with medical tests to diagnose erectile dysfunction caused by nerve or blood vessel problems in the penis. Only with a doctor’s prescription can you get alprostadil.
Warnings
If you have a penile implant, you should not use alprostadil unless your doctor recommends it. When too much alprostadil is used, the erection lasts longer than it should and does not reverse when it should. Priapism is the medical term for this condition. The blood supply to the penis could be cut off if the erection is not reversed, resulting in permanent damage.
If your erection lasts more than four hours or becomes painful, see your doctor right away. This could be a symptom of priapism, which should be treated as soon as possible to avoid long-term consequences. If bleeding occurs where the medicine was injected, apply pressure to the area until the bleeding stops. Check with your doctor if it does not stop after 5 minutes. If you have a blood-borne infection, you may be more likely to pass it on to your sexual partner.
Alprostadil has no effect on the ability to conceive. If you don’t want to become pregnant, use birth control. You or your partner will not be protected from sexually transmitted diseases by taking alprostadil.
Dosage
Alprostadil is a liquid that is injected directly into the side of the penis for administration. It’s critical that you understand how to do this correctly. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions. Always choose a less visible blood vessel to inject this medication into. To avoid bruising, apply pressure to the affected area with an alcohol swab for about 5 minutes after injecting the medication. The injection must not be given near the skin’s surface, at the top or head of the penis, or near the scrotum or testes at the base of the penis.
Interactions
Although some medicines should never be taken together, in other cases two different medicines can be taken together even if an interaction is possible. Your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions in these situations. It’s especially important to let your doctor know if you’re taking any of the medicines listed below while taking alprostadil. The interactions listed below were chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily exhaustive.
Alprostadil should not be taken with any of the medicines listed below, but it may be necessary in some circumstances. If both medicines are prescribed at the same time, your doctor may change the dose or frequency with which you take one or both of them. Heparin is a medication that is used to prevent bleeding Because interactions may occur, certain medicines should not be taken at or near the time of eating food or eating certain types of food. Interactions can also happen if you combine alcohol or tobacco with certain medications. Discuss the interaction of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your healthcare provider.
Storage
Children should be kept out of reach. Keep out-of-date or no-longer-needed medications out of the house. Inquire with your doctor about how to get rid of any medicines you aren’t using. Foil pouches that haven’t been opened should be kept in the fridge. Keep the medicine out of the sun and out of direct sunlight. If exposed to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, it may not function properly. You can keep the suppositories in the refrigerator for up to 14 days before using them.
