Papaverine belongs to a group of medicines called
vasodilators, which cause blood vessels to expand, thereby
increasing blood flow. Papaverine is used in MS to treat
erectile dysfunction. When papaverine is injected into the
penis, it produces an erection by increasing blood flow to the
penis.
Proper Usage
Papaverine should never be used as a sexual aid by men who
are not impotent. If improperly used, this medication can
cause permanent damage to the penis.
Papaverine is available by prescription and should be used
only as directed by your physician, who will instruct you in
the proper way to give yourself an injection so that it is
simple and essentially pain-free.
Precautions
Do not use more of this medication or use it more often
than it has been prescribed for you. Using too much of this
medicine will result in a condition called priapism, in which
the erection lasts too long and does not resolve when it
should. Permanent damage to the penis can occur if blood flow
to the penis is cut off for too long a period of time.
Examine your penis regularly for possible lumps near the
injection sites or for curvature of the penis. These may be
signs that unwanted tissue is growing (called fibrosis), which
should be examined by your physician.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects you should report to your physician so that
he or she can adjust the dosage or change the medication:
bruising at the injection site; mild burning along the penis;
difficulty ejaculating; swelling at the injection site.
Rare side effects that require immediate treatment:
erection continuing for more than four hours. If you cannot be
seen immediately by your physician, you should go to the
emergency room for prompt treatment.
