How does penile injection work

Check with your local drug store for the non-prescription simple auto-injector. Many men prefer the auto-injector that does not inject the medications for them, because they maintain the necessary feel to know that they have injected in the right place and to the right depth. Occasionally, penile injections can cause fainting, dizziness and low blood pressure.

In rare instances, priapism or prolonged erections can occur. Patients who are not trained properly may experience pain, infection, bruising and scarring. After inserting medication, self-stimulation may be necessary to increase blood flow to your penis. If your erection persists for more than four hours, seek medical care at a local emergency room or from your urologist. Penile injections may be ineffective in patients who have vascular disease or blood flow problems.

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. In one-third of the cases, the cause of priapism is unknown. A variety of medications or recreational drugs also can lead to priapism. Find a list here. Generally, it is not advisable to take oral ED medications and TriMix within 18 to 24 hours of each other to minimize the likelihood of developing significant side effects.

Recommendations and advice from a health care provider should be obtained before taking these two classes of medications together. To ensure that TriMix does not quickly lose its potency and effectiveness, it should be stored under its labeled conditions. Lyophilized freeze dried TriMix can be stored at room temperature. Once reconstituted, TriMix should be stored under refrigeration. In its liquid form TriMix should not be stored at room temperature as this may alter the stability and the potency of the drug.

If traveling over long distances, liquid TriMix should be stored in an ice pack, whereas it can be stored at room temperature if the drug is still in its powdered lyophilized state. TriMix is an odorless, colorless, and slightly yellow liquid. If the medication becomes cloudy-looking, or particles become present in the liquid, it should not be used further. If this occurs patients should have a discussion with their health care provider or pharmacist.

As has been mentioned previously, TriMix is an injectable that can be self-administered locally into the penis. It may be injected up to three or four times a week but there must be an interval of at least 24 hours between injections.

Even though some men may feel anxious or squeamish about self-injecting themselves, this is a relatively painless procedure if done properly with correct technique. Discussed below are the steps that are needed to safely self-administer the TriMix injection.

The effects of TriMix become evident about 5 — 15 minutes after its injection into the penis as it induces a penile erection.

Its duration action typically varies depending on the individual, ranging anywhere between half an hour to an hour. However, its effects should not last longer than 3 hours; the prescribing physician should be consulted immediately if the erection becomes prolonged. Compared to other drugs that are used in the treatment of ED, some benefits of using TriMix injections include the following:.

Even though TriMix can be a generally safe medication to administer, some men may experience some side effects with its use. Some side effects that may occur are:. A prescription is required from a healthcare provider before TriMix may be used. This medication is a compound drug that has to be specially prepared by a pharmacist at a compounding pharmacy or outsourcing facility.

The ratio of the various components of TriMix used in its preparation may vary depending on the needs of the individual and the prescription written by the healthcare provider. It also helps us determine the correct dose for your needs. We typically start you off at 15 units. You may increase your dose by five units each time until you get the effect you want. If you are using 50 units and not getting the erection that you need, call us and we will prescribe you a stronger dose.

We allow a maximum of three injections per week, but you must wait 24 hours before taking another dose. And make sure you alternate between sides of the penis for each injection. However, injection therapy is not always a good long-term option for some men and that is when they may want to consider the penile implant. Below are step-by-step instructions detailing how to properly use your penile injection at home without a doctor.

Peel open the syringe carefully and remove the protective cover from the needle. It is important that you do NOT contaminate the needle with anything but the rubber bottle cap. Push the needle through the rubber stopper, then flip the ampule the glass container of medication upside down.

Pull on the plunger until you withdraw 1. As you continue to hold the ampule upside down, inject whatever air remains in the syringe into the ampule. Withdraw the fluid until there are no more air bubbles in the syringe and the correct amount of medication is in the syringe. Pull the needle out of the ampule and lay the syringe on the edge of a flat surface.

Make sure the needle hangs over the edge to keep it from touching anything. Grasp the head of the penis between the index finger and thumb and gently pull the penis away from your body until the skin is taut. When choosing an injection site, avoid any area where a vein is clearly visible.

We recommend changing injection sites from left to right as well as up and down the shaft and back again to ensure that you do not develop scar tissue at one specific site. Pick up the syringe with the other hand and position your hand like you're about to throw a dart. Touch the spoint of the needle to the place you want to inject. Only inject your penis while you're sitting or standing.

Hold the syringe at a degree angle and push lightly to penetrate the skin near the base of your penis. Once you've poked through the skin, you will feel some resistance. Push firmly forward until a distinct "give" is felt. The needle should now be in the right place within erectile bodies. The whole length of the needle should be also be in up to the hub. Hold the syringe between your index and middle fingers and place a thumb on the plunger to inject the entire contents of the syringe. Then take the needle out of your penis.

Immediately apply pressure to your penis with your thumb and index finger for two to three minutes using the alcohol swab. Wait until there is no bleeding. Your penis should swell within five to 15 minutes after injection. It may be erect. However, many men will not achieve an erection until sexual foreplay is started.

Some men have even noticed decreased sensation in their penis or have trouble ejaculating. This is usually part of the impotence condition which we are treating with the penile injections, although inadequate foreplay and excitement may play a role in this as well.