Caverject Impulse
- Generic Name: alprostadil dual chamber system for injection
- Brand Name: Caverject Impulse
- Drug Class: Prostaglandins, Genitourinary
Caverject Impulse (Alprostadil Dual Chamber System for Injection) side effects drug center
Caverject Impulse Side Effects Center
What Is Caverject Impulse?
Caverject Impulse (alprostadil dual chamber system for injection) is a vasodilator that works by helping the blood flow into the penis to achieve and maintain an erection used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) and to help diagnose certain causes of this disorder. Alprostadil is also used to improve blood flow in newborn babies with a certain genetic heart condition. This medication guide addresses only the adult male use of Caverject Impulse in erectile disorders.
What Are Side Effects of Caverject Impulse?
Common side effects of Caverject Impulse include injection site reactions (mild/moderate pain, irritation, or slight bleeding), unusual discharge from your penis, mild pain in your penis/urethra/testicles, headache, dizziness, back pain, a rash on the skin of your penis, itching/warmth/numbness of your penis, cough, stuffy nose, cold symptoms, or flu symptoms.
Dosage for Caverject Impulse
The dose of Caverject is individualized by careful titration under supervision by the physician. Doses of greater than 60 mcg are not recommended.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Caverject Impulse?
Caverject Impulse may interact with nitroglycerin, hydralazine, or blood thinners. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Caverject Impulse During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Caverject Impulse should not be used by women, therefore, it is unlikely to be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Men should use a condom to prevent transfer of this medication to a sexual partner if she is pregnant or could become pregnant.
Additional Information
Our Caverject Impulse (alprostadil dual chamber system for injection) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Caverject Impulse Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using alprostadil and call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- bleeding after an injection;
- a painful erection that lasts 4 hours or longer;
- new or worsening pain in your penis; or
- redness, swelling, tenderness, lumps, unusual shape or curving of the erect penis.
Common side effects may include:
- mild pain in your penis, urethra, or testicles;
- redness of the penis; or
- warmth or burning in your urethra.
Your sex partner may have side effects such as burning, itching, or irritation of body areas that come into contact with your penis.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Caverject Impulse (Alprostadil Dual Chamber System for Injection)
Caverject Impulse Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
The following are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling:
- Prolonged Erection and Priapism [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Penile Fibrosis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
CAVERJECT IMPULSE was evaluated in 87 patients in an open-label crossover study of 6 weeks treatment duration that compared the formulation of alprostadil for injection contained in CAVERJECT IMPULSE with the formulation contained in CAVERJECT Sterile Powder. Doses used in this study ranged from 2.5 mcg to 20 mcg. Adverse reactions reported for the CAVERJECT IMPULSE formulation included: penis disorder (4.6%), prolonged erection (1.1%), injection site erythema (1.1%), rash (1.1%), dizziness (1.1%), and hematospermia (1.1%). Penis disorder included penile pain, post-injection pain, and pain with erection.
CAVERJECT IMPULSE was also evaluated in 63 patients in a single-dose, double-blind, crossover study that compared CAVERJECT IMPULSE with CAVERJECT Sterile Powder. Doses used in this study ranged from 2.5 mcg to 20 mcg. Adverse reactions reported for the CAVERJECT IMPULSE formulation included: penile pain (1.6%) and pruritus (1.6%).
In addition to the adverse reactions observed for CAVERJECT IMPULSE in these two studies, the following adverse reactions have been reported in clinical studies of CAVERJECT Sterile Powder:
Local Adverse Reactions
Local adverse reactions derived from 1861 patients in clinical studies of CAVERJECT Sterile Powder, including an 18-month, open-label study, are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Local Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Patients Treated with CAVERJECT Sterile Powder for up to 18 Months
| Penile pain | 37% |
| Prolonged erection | 4% |
| Penile fibrosis | 3% |
| Injection site hematoma | 3% |
| Penis disorder* | 3% |
| Injection site ecchymosis | 2% |
| Penile rash | 1% |
| Penile edema | 1% |
| * Penis disorder includes: numbness, irritation, sensitivity, pruritus, erythema, skin tear, discoloration, itching. | |
The following local adverse reactions were reported in < 1% of patients: injection site hemorrhage, injection site inflammation, injection site itching, injection site swelling, injection site edema, urethral bleeding, penile warmth, numbness, irritation, sensitivity, pruritus, erythema, painful erection, and abnormal ejaculation.
In these studies, no local adverse reactions were reported in the 294 patients who received placebo, except for penile pain (2%).
Penile Pain
In the majority of the cases, penile pain was rated mild or moderate in intensity. Three percent of patients discontinued treatment because of penile pain
Prolonged Erection/Priapism
Prolonged erection was defined as an erection that lasted for 4 to 6 hours; priapism was defined as an erection that lasted 6 hours or longer. In clinical studies, the frequency of prolonged erection after intracavernosal administration of CAVERJECT Sterile Powder was 4%, while the frequency of priapism was 0.4% [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Penile Hematoma/Ecchymosis
In clinical studies the frequency of penile hematoma and ecchymosis was 3% and 2%, respectively.
Systemic Adverse Reactions
Systemic adverse reactions reported by ≥ 1% of subjects in clinical studies of CAVERJECT Sterile Powder included: dizziness (1%).
The following systemic adverse reactions, were reported in < 1% of patients: testicular pain, scrotal edema, hematuria, pelvic pain, hypotension, vasodilation, vasovagal reaction, diaphoresis, rash, and non-application site pruritus. Three patients (0.2%) discontinued due to symptomatic hypotension.
No systemic adverse reactions were reported in the 294 patients who received placebo.
Post-marketing Experience
The following additional adverse reactions have been reported: device malfunction/failure, drug ineffective and drug effect decreased.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Caverject Impulse (Alprostadil Dual Chamber System for Injection)
© Caverject Impulse Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Caverject Impulse Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.