Patient Information for Prostin VR Pediatric
CAVERJECT
[KAV-er-jeckt]®
(alprostadil) for injection, for intracavernosal use
Read this Patient Information before you start using CAVERJECT and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.
What is CAVERJECT?
CAVERJECT is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
- with other medical tests to diagnose ED
CAVERJECT is not meant for use in women or children.
Do not use CAVERJECT if you:
- are allergic to alprostadil or any of the ingredients in CAVERJECT. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in CAVERJECT
- have certain medical problems that might cause you to have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, such as sickle cell anemia, sickle cell trait, multiple myeloma, leukemia
- have a deformed penis shape
- have a penile implant
Before you use CAVERJECT, tell your healthcare provider about all your other medical conditions, especially if you:
- have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
- have sickle cell trait or sickle cell anemia
- have or have had a blood cell cancer called multiple myeloma or leukemia
- have a deformed penis shape
- have a penile implant
- have low blood pressure (hypotension)
- have bleeding problems
- have or have had heart problems such as a heart attack, irregular heartbeat, angina, chest pain, narrowing of the aortic valve or heart failure
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
CAVERJECT may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way CAVERJECT works causing side effects.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any other medicines that are treatments for ED, other medicines injected into your penis (intracavernosally), or certain medicines called anticoagulant medicines (such as heparin or warfarin).
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use CAVERJECT?
- See the detailed INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE that comes with your CAVERJECT for information about how to prepare and inject CAVERJECT the right way.
- You should receive your first dose of CAVERJECT in your healthcare provider's office.
- Use CAVERJECT exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much CAVERJECT to use and when to use it.
- Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed. Do not change your dose of CAVERJECT without first talking to your healthcare provider.
- Your healthcare provider should show you how to prepare and inject CAVERJECT the right way before you inject it for the first time.
- CAVERJECT should not be used more than 3 times per week.
- CAVERJECT should not be used more than 1 time every 24 hours.
- Change the exact place and side of the penis that you inject CAVERJECT each time you use it.
- CAVERJECT is for 1 time use only and should be thrown away properly after each use.
You should see your healthcare provider every 3 months for check-ups to be sure that CAVERJECT is working the right way and to change your CAVERJECT dose if needed.
What are the possible side effects of CAVERJECT?
CAVERJECT may cause serious side effects, including:
- an erection that will not go away (priapism). If you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. If it is not treated right away, this condition can permanently damage your penis.
- deformed penis shape (penile fibrosis). Your healthcare provider should check your penis regularly for signs of penile fibrosis. You should not continue to use CAVERJECT if you get penile fibrosis.
- low blood pressure (hypotension).
- injection site bleeding. People who take certain medicines called anticoagulants (such as heparin or warfarin) may have a risk for increased bleeding at the injection site.
- increased risk of heart problems. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is weak from a heart attack or heart disease.Ask your healthcare provider if your heart is healthy enough to handle the extra strain of having sex. Stop sexual activity and get medical help right away if you get symptoms of a heart problem such as chest pain, dizziness or nausea.
- needle breakage. There is a possibility of needle breakage with use of CAVERJECT. To best avoid breaking the needle, you should pay careful attention to your healthcare provider's instructions and handle the syringe and needle properly. If the needle is bent at any time, do not attempt to straighten it and do not use it. A bent and re-straightened needle is more likely to break. If the needle breaks during injection and you are able to see and grasp the broken end, you should remove it and contact your healthcare provider. If you cannot see or cannot grasp the broken end, you should promptly contact your healthcare provider.
- benzyl alcohol toxicity. Benzyl alcohol is a preservative that is present in CAVERJECT when it is mixed. Benzyl alcohol has caused serious side effects, including death, in children, especially premature and low-birth weight infants, who have received the preservative benzyl alcohol. CAVERJECT is not meant for use in children.
CAVERJECT does not protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV-the virus that causes AIDS.
The most common side effect of CAVERJECT is penile pain
These are not all the possible side effects of CAVERJECT.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of CAVERJECT
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. Do not use CAVERJECT for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give CAVERJECT to other people even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about CAVERJECT that is written for health professionals.
What are the Ingredients in CAVERJECT?
Active ingredient: alprostadil
Inactive ingredients: lactose, sodium citrate, benzyl alcohol (contained in the final solution) and hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment.
This product's labeling may have been updated. For the most recent prescribing information, please visit www.pfizer.com
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
CAVERJECT
[KAV-er-jeckt]® (alprostadil)
for injection, for intracavernosal use
Your healthcare provider should show you how to prepare and inject CAVERJECT the right way before you inject itfor the first time. Do not try to inject yourself until you have been shown the right way to give your injections by yourhealthcare provider.
Information about how to safely inject CAVERJECT:
- Read and follow these instructions so that you inject CAVERJECT the right way. Call your healthcare provider if youhave any questions about the right way to inject CAVERJECT.
- Separate needles should be used for reconstitution and administration. Do not use damaged or bent needles to injectCAVERJECT.
- If you accidentally bend a needle, do not attempt to straighten it.
- Using bent or re-straightened needles may cause part of the needle to break off and remain in the penis. Some peoplehave reported needle breakage in their penis during the injection and, in some cases, had to go to hospital for surgery toremove the needle.
- If you accidentally bend the needle while preparing your CAVERJECT injection, remove it from the syringe, throw itaway, and attach a new, needle to the syringe as described under "Prepare the Dose" below. ( See"Dispose of your usedCAVERJECT syringe and needle" at the end of these Instructions).
- Do not share your needles or syringes with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other peoplea serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
- Use the needles, syringe, alcohol swabs, and vials only 1 time then safely throw away the supplies and any unusedsolution in a puncture resistant container (See"Dispose of your used CAVERJECT syringe and needle" at the end ofthese instructions). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist where you can get a puncture resistant or sharpscontainer.
Supplies you will need to give yourCAVERJECT injection (Figure A)
- 1 CAVERJECT sterile powder vial
Figure A: Supplies you will need for your Injection
Supplies you will need to give your CAVERJECT injection
These items are needed for injection and are not supplied with CAVERJECT
These items are needed for injection andare not supplied with CAVERJECT
- 1 - diluent vial (bacteriostatic water forinjection)
- 1 - sterile 1 milliliter (mL) to 3 mLsyringe
- 1 - 21 to 27 gauge sterile needle to mixthe medicine
- 1 - 29 or 30 gauge one-half inch needlefor injection
- 2 - alcohol swabs
- 1 - puncture-resistant or sharpscontainer (not shown) for throwingaway the used CAVERJECT syringeand needle. See "Dispose of your usedCAVERJECT syringe and needle" at theend of these instructions
Follow the instructions below to prepare andgive your injection. Figure B explains theparts of the needle and syringe that arereferred to in the instructions
Figure B: Parts of the needle and syringe
CAVERJECT comes in 20 mcg or 40 mcg strengths. Make sure you have the right strength vial of CAVERJECT that yourhealthcare provider prescribed for you.
Prepare the Syringe
Step 1
Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them with a clean towel.
Step 2
Assemble the needle and syringe as follows:
Figure C: Remove the syringe
- Remove the syringe from its sterile wrapping. (Figure C)
Figure D: Open the needle wrapper
- Use a 21 to 27 gauge needle. Carefully pull the wrappertabs back enough to expose the sterile open end of theneedle assembly. Do not completely remove thewrapper.
- Do not touch the open end of the needle (Figure D).
Step 3
Keeping hold of the needle assembly, remove the plasticsyringe cap from the syringe tip (Figure E). Do not touch thesyringe tip.
Figure E: Remove the syringe cap
Step 4
Hold the needle assembly (still in the paper wrapper). Firmlyattach the needle to the syringe tip. Turn it clockwise, liketightening a screw to lock it in place (Figure F).
Figure F: Attach the needle to the syringe
- With the needle cover in place, set the syringe andneedle down on a clean, level surface, like a table
Mixing the powder and liquid to prepare the dose
Step 5
Figure G: Remove the vial cap
Remove the plastic cap from the vial of CAVERJECT andremove any cover from the diluent (Figure G).
Step 6
Wipe the rubber stoppers on the vials of CAVERJECT and diluent with 1 alcohol swab. Throw away the alcohol swab.
Step 7
Carefully hold the syringe by the barrel and remove the needlecover (Figure H).
Figure H: Remove the needle cover
- Do not discard the needle cover, you will need to use itagain (see step 13)
- Do not touch the needle.
Step 8
Hold the syringe with the needle attached and push the needlethrough the center of the diluent vial's rubber stopper (FigureI). Be careful not to bend the needle.
Figure I: Push the needle into the diluent vial
Figure J: Remove the liquid from the vial
- Keeping the needle in the vial, firmly hold the vial andsyringe upside down in one hand (see Figure J).
- Keep the needle tip below the level of the liquid and pullback on the syringe plunger until all the diluent isremoved from vial.
Step 9
Push the syringe plunger to the 1mL mark on the syringe. Thiswill remove air and extra liquid back into vial.
Grasp the side of the syringe barrel (not the plunger) and pullthe needle from the diluent vial in a straight line to avoidbending the needle (Figure K).
Figure K: Adjust the amount of liquid in the syringe
Step 10 Holding the syringe with the needle attached in a straight linewith the vial of CAVERJECT, push the needle through thecenter of the rubber stopper of the vial of CAVERJECT. Becareful not to bend the needle
Figure L: Push the needle into the CAVERJECT vial
- Push the syringe plunger all the way down to move allthe liquid into the vial. Go immediately to step 11
Step 11
Without removing the needle or touching the needle or stopper, gently swirl (do not shake) the vial until all the powder isdissolved in the liquid. Then turn the vial and needle/syringe upside down and gently swirl the vial to dissolve any powder inthe neck of the vial. Do not use the solution if it is cloudy, colored, or contains particles.
Step 12
Keeping the needle in the vial, firmly hold the vial and syringeupside down in one hand.
Figure M: Remove the liquid from the vial
- Keeping the needle tip below the level of the liquid,slowly pull back on the syringe plunger until all theliquid is removed from the vial (see Figure M).
Step 13
If there are air bubbles, gently tap the syringe barrel until thebubbles float to the top of the liquid (see Figure N).
Figure N: Tap the syringe barrel to remove air bubbles
- Holding the syringe upright, push the syringe plunger tothe correct volume mark for the dose prescribed by yourhealthcare provider. This will remove any air and extraliquid into the vial.
- Grasp the syringe barrel (not the plunger) and pull theneedle/syringe straight out of the vial of CAVERJECT ina straight line to avoid and be sure not to bend theneedle.
- Carefully replace the needle cover over the needle thatyou used to mix the liquid
Step 14
Carefully replace the needle used to mix the liquid with a new 29 to 30 gauge one half inch needle for your injection.
- Remove the old needle from the syringe and immediately throw it away in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container.
- Unwrap the new needle as in step 2.
- Attach the new needle as in step 3.
Set the syringe down on a level surface.
How to give the injection
- Make yourself comfortable. You should be sitting upright or slightly reclined when injecting CAVERJECT.
- Make sure that the needle is not bent. If it is,do not use it. Do not attempt to straighten the needle out. Properly throwaway any bent needles.
STEP 15
The injection will go into the part of the penis shown as theshaded area in Figure O. Do not inject CAVERJECT into thewhite areas because there may be blood vessels in the whiteareas. (See Figure P).
Figure O: Top view of the penis showing injection sites(shaded areas).
- The correct injection angle and depth of injection isshown in Figure P.
- With each injection of CAVERJECT change the side ofthe shaft of the penis, and choose a different location foreach injection, as shown in the shaded area in Figure O.
Figure P: Cross-section of the penis
Step 16
Wipe the area for injection with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
Step 17
Do not throw away the swab; you will need to use it again after you give your injection. (See Step 23
Step 18
If your penis is not circumcised, pull the foreskin back. Take hold of the tip of your penis with your thumb and forefinger;stretch it lengthwise along your thigh.
Step 19
Gently squeeze your penis between your thumb and finger so that the injection site bulges out
Step 20
Remove the cover from the needle. Position your penis firmly against your thigh to keep it from moving during the injection.
Step 21
Keeping a firm grip on your penis, take the syringe in yourother hand, and push the needle straight into the selectedinjection site (See Figure Q).
Figure Q: Insert the needle into the injection site
- Refer to Figure P for the correct angle and depth ofinjection.
- Do not inject CAVERJECT into veins or other bloodvessels (the white areas in Figure O).
Step 22
Holding the syringe barrel between two fingers, move yourthumb or finger to the top of the plunger and, with a steadymotion, push down on the plunger so that the entire contents ofthe syringe is slowly injected (Figure R).
Figure R: Inject the contents of the syringe.
Step 23
After completing the injection, carefully pull the needle out of your penis. Press gently on the injection site with the alcoholswab for about 5 minutes or until bleeding stops
After your injection:
Dispose of your used CAVERJECT syringe and needles.
- Put your used CAVERJECT syringe and needles in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do notthrow away loose needles and syringes in your household trash.
- If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is:
- made of a heavy-duty plastic
- can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out
- upright and stable during use
- leak-resistant
- properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container
- When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right wayto dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away usedneedles and syringes. Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. For more information about thesafe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA'swebsite at: https://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal
- Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permitthis. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container
How should I store CAVERJECT?
CAVERJECT 20 mcg vial storage information
- Store CAVERJECT 20 mcg vials between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).
- The reconstituted solution should be used within 24 hours when stored at or below 25°C (77°F) and not refrigerated orfrozen.
CAVERJECT 40 mcg vial storage information
- Store CAVERJECT 40 mcg vials between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) until dispensed. Once dispensed, vials should bestored at or below 25°C (77°F) for up to 3 months or until the expiration date, whichever occurs first.
- The reconstituted solution should be used within 24 hours when stored at or below 25°C (77°F) and not refrigerated orfrozen.
Keep CAVERJECT and all medicines out of the reach of children.
This Patient Information and Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.