Other Oral Medications
Oral testosterone can reduce
erectile dysfunction in some men with low levels of natural testosterone, but it is often ineffective and may cause liver damage.
Patients also have claimed that other oral drugs -- including yohimbine hydrochloride, dopamine and serotonin agonists, and
trazodone -- are effective for erectile dysfunction treatment, but the results of scientific studies to verify these claims have been inconsistent. The improvements seen after using these drugs may be examples of the placebo effect, that is, a change that results simply because the patient believes that an improvement will occur.
Injections
Many men achieve stronger erections by injecting drugs into the penis, causing it to become engorged with blood. These medications for erectile dysfunction treatment widen blood vessels. Injectable
erectile dysfunction medications 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.
Pellets
A system for inserting a pellet of alprostadil into the urethra is marketed as MUSE®. This system uses a prefilled applicator to deliver the pellet about an inch deep into the urethra. With this erectile dysfunction treatment, an erection will begin within 8 to 10 minutes and may last 30 to 60 minutes.
The most common side effects of this erectile dysfunction treatment 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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