What is this medicine?
ALPROSTADIL (al PROS ta dil) is a natural protein. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). This medicine helps to create and maintain an erection.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.
| Caverject 20MCG Solution | PFIZER U.S. | 6/$248.38 or 18/$712.74 |
| Caverject 40MCG Solution | PFIZER U.S. | 6/$291.57 or 18/$842.33 |
| Edex 10MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$204.41 or 3/$593.4 |
| Edex 10MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$72.17 or 3/$207.77 |
| Edex 20MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$246.76 or 2/$493.51 |
| Edex 20MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$91.09 or 3/$253.56 |
| Edex 40MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$126.38 or 3/$357.13 |
| Edex 40MCG Kit | SCHWARZ PHARMA | 1/$338.44 or 3/$982.9 |
| Muse 1000MCG Pellets | VIVUS | 6/$195.82 or 18/$567.45 |
| Muse 125MCG Pellets | VIVUS | 6/$162.43 or 18/$462.84 |
| Muse 250MCG Pellets | VIVUS | 6/$169.11 or 18/$479.53 |
| Muse 500MCG Pellets | VIVUS | 6/$180.24 or 18/$522.91 |
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- prolonged or painful erection (lasting longer than 4 hours)
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- bleeding, bruising, or pain at site of injection
- change in blood pressure
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for injection into the penis. You will be taught how to use this medicine. Use exactly as directed. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.
It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or healthcare provider to get one.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.
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What may interact with this medicine?
- medicines for blood pressure
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injection: Conditions predisposing to priapism (e.g., sickle cell anemia or trait, multiple myeloma, leukemia, thrombocythemia, polycythemia, propensity to develop venous thrombosis, hyperviscosity syndrome).
- Intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injection: Anatomic deformation of penis (e.g., angulation, cavernosal fibrosis, Peyronie’s disease).
- Intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injection: Men for whom sexual activity is inadvisable (e.g., underlying cardiovascular status). (See Assessment of Patients with Erectile Dysfunction under Cautions.)
- Intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injection: Women and children, including neonates.
- Intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injection: Use with penile implants.
- Intraurethral suppository: Certain GU tract disorders (e.g., urethral stricture or obstruction, balanitis, acute or chronic urethritis, severe hypospadias and curvature, anuria).
- Intraurethral suppository: Use with indwelling urethral catheter.
- Intraurethral suppository: Unprotected sexual intercourse with pregnant women. (See Pregnancy under Cautions.)
- Known hypersensitivity to alprostadil or other prostaglandins.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Contact your doctor or health care professional immediately if the erection lasts longer than 4 hours or if it becomes painful. This may be a sign of priapism and must be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage.
Do not change the dose of your medication. Call your doctor or health care professional to determine if your dose needs to be changed.
This medicine does not protect you or your partner against HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- an abnormally formed penis
- have been advised not to engage in sexual activity
- leukemia
- penile implant
- sickle cell disease or trait
- tumor of the bone marrow (multiple myeloma)
- an unusual or allergic reaction to alprostadil or other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
Even though you may feel better you should not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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