Other Oral Erectile Dysfunction Medication
Oral testosterone can reduce
erectile dysfunction in some men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often an ineffective form of treatment and may cause liver damage.
Patients have also claimed that other oral drugs -- including yohimbine hydrochloride, dopamine and serotonin agonists, and
trazodone -- are effective types of erectile dysfunction drugs, but the results of scientific studies to verify these claims have been inconsistent.
The improvements seen after using these medications may be examples of the placebo effect, that is, a change that results simply because the patient believes that an improvement will occur.
Injectable Medications for Erectile Dysfunction
Many men achieve stronger erections by injecting erectile dysfunction medication into the penis, causing it to become engorged with blood. These injectable medicines work by widening blood vessels.
A few types of injectable medicines for erectile dysfunction include:
- Papaverine hydrochloride
- Phentolamine
- Alprostadil (marketed as Caverject®).
These drugs may create unwanted side effects, however, including persistent erection (known as priapism) and scarring.
Nitroglycerin, a muscle relaxant, can sometimes enhance an erection when rubbed on the penis.
Another way of using alprostadil as an erectile dysfunction medication is through a system known as MUSE
®. This system is used to insert a pellet of alprostadil into the urethra. MUSE uses a prefilled applicator to deliver the pellet about an inch deep into the urethra. With this type of
ED drug, an erection will begin within 8 to 10 minutes and may last 30 to 60 minutes.
The most common side effects of this medication are:
- Aching in the penis, testicles, and area between the penis and rectum
- Warmth or burning sensation in the urethra
- Redness from increased blood flow to the penis
- Minor urethral bleeding or spotting.
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