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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This section contains answers to common questions about erectile dysfunction (ED), CAVERJECT (alprostadil for injection), and CAVERJECT IMPULSE (alprostadil for injection).

About CAVERJECT

Q. What should I do if I have an erection for more than 4 hours?
A. Get medical attention right away. A persistent, long-lasting erection (4 hours or more) is called priapism. Priapism requires immediate medical attention.

Q. Who should not use CAVERJECT?

A. CAVERJECT should not be used by men who:

  • May be allergic to alprostadil—tell your healthcare provider about your allergies
  • May be at risk for having very long-lasting erections (4 to 6 hours) that could be dangerous
  • Have sickle cell anemia, sickle cell trait, leukemia, and/or tumor of the bone marrow (multiple myeloma)
  • Have implants in the penis
  • Have physical deformities of the penis
  • Have been advised not to have sex

CAVERJECT should not be used by women or children.

Q. What is the most common side effect of CAVERJECT?

A. The most common side effect is mild to moderate pain after injection. A small amount of bleeding at the injection site may also occur.

You should call your healthcare provider if you notice your penis:

  • Has pain that was not there before, or that increased in intensity
  • Has any nodules or hard tissue

Or if your erect penis has:

  • Any redness
  • Lumps
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Or curving of the erect penis
Q. After the injection, how long does it take for CAVERJECT to work?

A. Everyone is different. However, after CAVERJECT is injected it should give you an erection in 5 to 20 minutes. The erection that you get should last no longer than 1 hour.

Q. How often can I use CAVERJECT?

A. CAVERJECT should not be injected more than 3 times a week. You should also wait at least 24 hours before you take another dose of CAVERJECT.

Q. Before I prepare CAVERJECT, how do I know if a new vial is okay to use?

A. Vials with precipitates (anything solid floating in the solution) or discoloration should be discarded safely, away from children.

Q. What do I do if the needle is bent or crooked?

A. If the needle is bent at any time, do not use it to inject CAVERJECT. Do not try and straighten the needle to use it for injection either. What you should do is carefully remove the needle from the syringe and throw it away. Then, attach a new, unused sterile needle to the syringe. To learn how to attach the needle, go to prepare the dose. Do not re-use or share needles or syringes.

Q. Can I reuse CAVERJECT that is left over in the vial for another treatment?

A. No. CAVERJECT is designed for one use only. After you have loaded your proper dose of CAVERJECT solution, the unused solution should be properly thrown out.

Q. How do I store CAVERJECT? Should it be refrigerated?

A. Unused vials should be stored at or below room temperature (over 77ºF/25ºC) for 3 months, or until the expiration date. Do not freeze. You should also be aware:

  • Once mixed, CAVERJECT should be used within 24 hours when stored at or below over 77ºF/25ºC, and it should never be refrigerated or frozen
  • If you are taking a trip:
    • Keep CAVERJECT from freezing, and do not allow it to be in excessive heat (over 77ºF/25ºC)
    • CAVERJECT should not be left in a closed car or truck
    • Always store CAVERJECT in your carry-on luggage

General questions about ED

Q. Should I see a healthcare provider about ED?

A. If ED makes your sex life a problem, talk to your healthcare provider. Most men have ED at some time in their lives as a result of being tired, stressed, or because of another health problem. ED that does not go away may be a sign of another health issue, so be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider.

Q. What can be causing my ED?

A. The first thing to do is look at your lifestyle. Make healthy choices. Don't smoke, don’t eat foods high in fat, and don’t drink too much alcohol. In many cases, ED may be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, or other diseases. Go to your healthcare provider at least once a year for a checkup.

Q. I’ve tried one treatment for ED, and it didn’t work. Does that mean other treatments won’t work?

A. Absolutely not. ED treatments work in different ways. Remember, there are many treatment options that may be able to help.

Q. I'm 72 years old. Am I too old to use treatments for ED?

A. Almost any man, at any age, can be treated for ED. As long as your physician says you're physically fit enough for intercourse, you can be treated for ED. So ask your healthcare provider.


I used to use CAVERJECT IMPULSE. What happened?

Q. Why is CAVERJECT IMPULSE no longer available?

A. Pfizer is working to improve the design of the CAVERJECT IMPULSE delivery system. That way, the device will be easier to use.

Q. When will I be able to get CAVERJECT IMPULSE again?

A. Right now, we do not know. Making the delivery system easy to use takes time. As we get closer to finishing the delivery system, we will let you know. Be sure to look for progress updates on www.caverject.com.

Q. What other options do I have since CAVERJECT IMPULSE is not available?

A. CAVERJECT Sterile Powder vials are available in 5,10, 20, and 40 micrograms. This form of CAVERJECT is also an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). So ask your healthcare provider if CAVERJECT Sterile Powder vials are an option for you.




CAVERJECT is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) due to neurogenic, vasculogenic, psychogenic, or mixed etiology.


Important Safety Information

CAVERJECT should not be used in men hypersensitive to alprostadil, men with conditions that may predispose them to priapism (such as sickle cell anemia or trait, multiple myeloma or leukemia), men with anatomical deformities of the penis (such as angulation, cavernosal fibrosis or Peyronie’s disease), men with penile implants, or men for whom sexual activity is inadvisable or is contraindicated.

CAVERJECT should not be used in women, children or newborns.

Patients should be instructed to immediately report to his physician any erection lasting 4 hours or longer. If unavailable, patient must seek immediate medical assistance.

CAVERJECT can cause penile fibrosis or Peyronie’s disease.

Use of Caverject in patients who take anticoagulants, such as warfarin or heparin, should be with precaution as they may have increased tendency for bleeding after Caverject injections.

The most common side effect of CAVERJECT® (alprostadil for injection) was penile pain, reported by 37% of patients in clinical studies. Other side effects were prolonged erection, penile fibrosis and injection site hematoma. To lower the risk of prolonged erections or priapism, Caverject should be titrated slowly to the lowest effective dose.

For Full Prescribing Information for CAVERJECT®, including Instructions for Use, please click here.