These are usually used when oral medications don’t work. Also, unlike oral medications, there is no need for erotic stimulation to achieve an erection. The injection is made using a small needle and injecting the medication at the base of the penis that is relatively insensitive to pain.

There are three main injectable medications: Prosagladin E1 (alprostadil; Prostin VR), which were approved by the FDA. Alprostadil can also be found in the form of an urethral suppository under the name of MUSE.

The potential side effect of penile injections, besides priapism, is scarring at the injection site. However, this is a problem that rarely occurs in men that are properly trained correct injection techniques.