Invicorp (Phentolamine) injections to treat erectile dysfunction

What is Invicorp?

The active components in Invicorp (aviptadil and phentolamine mesilate) affect the flow of blood in and out of the penis. The phentolamine mesilate increases the flow of blood into the penis, while aviptadil reduces the flow of blood from the penis. If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, you can use Invicorp to help you to obtain an erection more easily.

Effectiveness

Invicorp can even be effective when other treatments have failed - 73% of men who had failed to get an erection with other treatments found Invicorp effective. It has been shown to work no matter what the cause of the erectile dysfunction (e.g. blood vessel disease, diabetes, and problems with the nerves to the penis).

Clinical trials in over 1500 patients have shown that Invicorp is effective and safe when used as directed.

Side effects

Invicorp can cause side effects, although not everybody experiences them. In clinical trials, only 2-5% of men reported pain on injection and there were no reports of pain after the injection. It has been shown to be less painful than Caverject.

Serious side effects

Rare side effects (expected in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 patients)

• Long lasting painful erection. Contact your doctor or a hospital if your erection has lasted for more than 4 hours.

Very rare side effects (expected in less than 1 out of 10,000 patients)

• Heart Cramps (angina), chest pain. Contact your doctor or a hospital.
• Heart thrombus with shortness of breath, anxiety, possible severe pain radiating into left arm and chest pain. Call 999 if these symptoms arise.

Non serious side effects

Common side effects (expected in 1 to 10 out of 100 patients)

• Flushing of the face and upper part of the body.
• Bruising around the injection site. You can lower the risk of bruising by avoiding injecting Invicorp into a visible vein.

Uncommon side effects (expected in 1 to 10 out of 1,000 patients)

• Headache, dizziness.
• Increased heart rate or palpitations.
• Stop using Invicorp if you get some of these side effects.
• Accumulation of blood under the skin at the injection site.

Rare side effects (expected in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 patients)

• Small lumps on the penis caused by repeated injections.
• Pain at the injection site.

For a full list of potential side effects and other important information, please read the patient leaflet provided in the pack before starting any course of treatment. The leaflet can also be viewed online here.

How does Invicorp work?

The active components in Invicorp (aviptadil and phentolamine mesylate) influence the flow of blood in and out of the penis. Phentolamine mesylate increases the flow of blood into the penis, while aviptadil reduces the flow of blood from the penis. This causes more blood to stay in the penis thus forming an erection.

The Invicorp injection should ensure that your erection will be adequate to enjoy sex. The erection will normally last no longer than an hour. Contact your doctor or a hospital if your erection has lasted for more than 4 hours.

How long does Invicorp take to work?

Invicorp works rapidly after sexual stimulation. Erection occurs about 5 to 10 minutes after the injection. After ejaculation, the effect subsides in a natural way. Another erection may be possible with further sexual stimulation.

Do not re-inject after you have injected, even if you think that the medicine was not injected; only take the dose recommended by your doctor; and inject no more than once a day and three times a week.

How do you take Invicorp?

It's important to read the enclosed leaflet carefully before using Invicorp. It should only be used after obtaining a prescription from a UK registered doctor and you must not take any other medicines for erectile dysfunction at the same time as Invicorp.

Invicorp is intended for direct injection into the spongy tissue on either side of the shaft of the penis (intracavernous injection). A doctor or nurse will show you how to carry out the first injection and you must check the instructions in the patient information leaflet for information on preparing for the injection. If you cannot remember how to administer the injection, you should consult your doctor. You must not try to use the injection if you are unsure what to do.

The usual dose is the injection of one ampoule (25 micrograms of aviptadil (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) and 2 mg of phentolamine mesilate). You must inject the whole of the contents of the ampoule each time the product is administered.

You must not administer more than one ampoule per day, and not exceed three injections per week. Each ampoule contains the correct amount for a single injection.

Who should use Invicorp?

The Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service can only supply Invicorp to men subject to an online consultation, and importantly who have already been prescribed this before and who have been shown how to use the treatment. Invicorp is only appropriate for patients who have tried the oral medicines for ED without any success, and who may also have had little or no success with Caverject or other alprostadil injections.

Who should not use Invicorp?

• if you have or have had leukaemia (cancer of the blood), multiple myeloma (bone cancer) or sickle cell anaemia or trait (a blood disease), as you may experience a painful, long lasting erection
• if your doctor has advised you not to have sex because of your health condition
• if you have a penis which is scarred or not straight which may sometimes be referred to as Peyronie’s disease or if you have abnormal fibrous tissue in the erectile tissue of the penis (cavernosal fibrosis)
• if you have an implant in your penis.

Can I use Invicorp with other medications?

Do not use Invicorp:

• if you are allergic to aviptadil or phentolamine mesilate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• if you are taking blood thinning medicines such as warfarin or heparin, including oral blood thinning medicines such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban

Some men find counselling helpful as a means of exploring and treating psychological causes for ED. If Invicorp does not work for you, consult our doctors, who may be able to advise an alternative treatment or course of action. Please see our Erectile Dysfunction page for more information on treatment options.