Trimix Injections

Erectile dysfunction (ED) injections are usually an effective alternative treatment for people who cannot use other ED medications.

They can also help those with severe ED due to underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Doctors tend to prescribe three main types of injectable ED medications:

• papaverine;
• phentolamine;
• alprostadil (prostaglandin E1).

Most men begin their therapy with Trimix, which is a mixture of alprostadil, phentolamine, and papaverine.

Other injectable medications that include the above are also available as part of a single or dual combination treatment.

How do penile injections like Trimix work?

Injectable ED treatments work by relaxing the smooth muscle of the blood vessel walls, causing them to dilate and fill the penis with blood. ED injections, in most cases, should not be used in combination with oral ED medications, which work in the same way.

Experts state injectable therapies trigger a spontaneous erection without the need for sexual stimulation. Injectables also overcome drug absorption issues that may occur with certain oral medications.

Erections typically take 10–15 minutes to develop, lasting for roughly 30–60 minutes.

How is Trimix injected?

Pharmacies will typically send a person an injection kit, which includes needles, medication, and alcohol wipes. However, clinics provide guidelines to their patients before they can self-inject Trimix, or offer them to get the injections done by a medical expert.

Preparing medication

The first steps are to prepare the medication for injection. To do this, a person should:

1. Wash their hands with soap and warm water.
2. Wipe the top of the medication bottle with an alcohol wipe.
3. Remove the syringe from the container.
4. Carefully remove the syringe cap, making sure nothing touches the needle.
5. Pull back the syringe to around the 20-unit mark and insert it into the top of the medication cap.
6. Inject the air into the medicine to release the vacuum.
7. Turn the medication bottle upside down.
8. Pull the plunger down beyond the prescribed dose level by about 5 units.
9. Slowly expel any air bubbles from the syringe by pushing the plunger towards the correct dose by roughly 1–2 units.
10. Remove the syringe and tap the side a few times to release any additional air.
11. Push the plunger to the correct number of units, which will cause the medication to expel from the needle.
12. Carefully put the cap back on the needle.

Injecting the medication

Once a man prepares the syringe, they should take the following steps to administer a dose:

1. Hold the penis firmly at the head and pull it taut over the left or right thigh.
2. Look for visible veins in the penis — avoid hitting these during the injection.
3. Clean the penis base with an alcohol wipe.
4. Pick up the syringe and remove the cap.
5. Pull the penis tight without twisting it.
6. Hold the syringe similar to a dart, placing it at a 90-degree angle to the penis.
7. Slide the syringe into the penis quickly.
8. Use the thumb to push the plunger into the syringe.
9. Remove the syringe rapidly and apply an alcohol wipe to the injection site, putting pressure on both sides of the penis for about 5 minutes.
10. Place the syringe in a sharps container for disposal.

Where will a man have the injections?

A person can administer ED injections at home following two visits to the doctor’s office, where they learn how to administer the injections.

To inject, a man should insert the needle directly into his penis on the left or right side of the shaft, avoiding the base and head of the penis.

It is important not to inject the top of the penis shaft where the nerves are, as well as the bottom, which contains the urethra.

Are Trimix shots painful?

You may feel a pinch or sting when you insert the needle. However, the medication should not cause pain in the penis.

Pain as a side effect is most common when using a medication that only contains alprostadil. People should let their doctor know if they feel pain after the injection.

Penile Injections: A Brief History

The discovery of intracavernous injection therapy (into the base of the penis) for erectile dysfunction is thought to have started with a 1982 publication discussing the use of papaverine injected into the penis to improve erections in men experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED).

Since that time, there have been further investigations into various active ingredients administered by intracavernous injection that resulted in the discovery of effective new therapies for treating erectile dysfunction.

Despite strong supportive evidence on the effectiveness of these agents, only two commercial products have been developed. Caverject Impulse and Edex are FDA-approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Both products contain only prostaglandin as a single ingredient.

The limited commercial options led physicians to seek compounded formulations using active ingredients known to cause an erection when administered by injection. Trimix has become an option.

Trimix: An Effective and Reliable Treatment for ED

Trimix is a compounded medication consisting of three ingredients in a sterile injection dosage form. Ingredients include an alpha-Adrenergic antagonist (phentolamine), prostaglandin (Alprostadil), and vasodilator (papaverine) combined into a single injection.

The combination of these ingredients has been found reliable and effective for treating ED.

Several compounding pharmacies that specialize in sterile compounding and men’s health offer a wide selection of strengths and combinations that were developed based on the collective input of expert sexual health practitioners and urologists over many years.

Experienced practitioners know how to start low and adjust dosing carefully to avoid priapism until the right dose is identified.

When the right dose is administered, Trimix results in an immediate erection (5 – 20 minutes) with increased hardness and retention (stamina) that patients can rely on with confidence. Most men who take Trimix report positive effects and strong erections.

If you are about to try Trimix or want to learn more about any other treatment option, feel free to get in touch!