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All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
Viridal Duo is a medicine for the management of impotency, otherwise known as erectile dysfunction. This medicine assists a man who has difficulties to produce and maintain an erection so that he and his partner can enjoy a full sexual relationship.
Viridal is one of the class of medicines known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are produced naturally in the body and have a vasodilatory function, meaning that they widen the blood vessels. Viridal is comparable to prostaglandin E1. Viridal acts on the blood vessels to and from your penis causing them to widen. This action enables more blood to flow into the penis, which helps you to achieve and keep an erection sufficient for sexual performance. Your doctor will prescribe Viridal if your body is not producing enough prostaglandin E1 or if you are having a test to diagnose impotence.
Viridal is an injection available in three concentrations, 10, 20 or 40 μg of alprostadil. You will use a low dose at first, which will be increased until you reach the correct dose for you, which is the dose that gives you an erection for not more than one hour. It is provided in a two–chambered glass cartridge; the medicine in powder form is in one chamber and a solution of sodium chloride is in the other chamber. The powder and solution are combined to make the final liquid to inject into your penis.
Your doctor will teach you exactly how to prepare and administer Viridal. In brief, the needle is screwed onto the plunger. The plunger is then unscrewed from the injector, the cartridge inserted into the injector, and the plunger screwed back onto the injector. Holding the device needle uppermost, the plunger is pushed until the cartridge’s grey stoppers touch. This moves the solution into the powder, and the injector is shaken to mix the two. The needle’s two protective caps are then removed, and the injector is tapped to move air bubbles upwards. The bubbles are expelled by pushing the plunger until a globule of solution is discharged. In final preparation, move the plunger so that the top of the forward end of the grey stopper comes to the dose that you have been prescribed.
After cleaning your penis, and holding the needle straight, insert the needle into the base of the penis. You should inject into alternative sides of your penis on each occasion. Slowly push the plunger to inject the medicine into the penis, taking about 5 to 10 seconds. Take the needle out and, if your penis starts to bleed, press on the site of injection with a clean pad until it stops bleeding. Dismantle the needle, cartridge, and injector, disposing of the needle and cartridge, along with unused medicine responsibly as you have been instructed. Clean and keep the injector for reuse.
Your erection will occur about 5 to 15 minutes after the injection, and be maintained for around one hour. You will have to have regular check-ups, when you should tell your doctor if your erection continues for 2 to 4 hours or any problems you are having; if you have an erection for 4 hours or longer contact your doctor immediately.
Viridal is for use by adult men. It is not suitable for men who have an allergy to the constituents of this medicine, including alprostadil. It must also not be used if you have a deformity or disease of the penis, a penile implant, or have been warned to avoid sexual intercourse because of your health. Additionally, do not use this medicine if you have sickle-cell disease, or blood or bone cancer, and check with your doctor that it is safe for you to use Viridal if you have/have had any lung or heart or blood clotting problems, episodes of fainting, or changes in your vision, speech, or hearing.
Mention all medicines that you are taking for erectile dysfunction and depression, or to lower blood pressure, thin your blood, and treat blood clotting. This medicine will not prevent the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, so you must still wear a condom. A condom is also advisable to prevent your partner getting vaginal irritation, or her baby being born pre-term or harmed.
Many men report penile pain with Viridal. A short-term burning feeling during the injection or pain, bruising, tension, and uncontrollable muscle ‘fluttering’ in the penis, or longer, more frequent erections commonly occur. Use over a long time may induce lumps at the injection site or on the testicles, or a bend in the penis. Less common is that the site of injection becomes tender, red, swollen, itchy, or bleeds; your penis, foreskin, and testicles become painful, swollen and red; you have erection or ejaculation problems; your touch sensation is altered; or that there is a change in your usual urination habits. You may also suffer headache, feeling sick, dry mouth, sweating, and changes in heart beat. Rarely, allergic or skin reactions, dizziness, fainting, and internal scarring of the penis occur, while abnormalities in blood composition and blood flow, and heart attack, are very rare. If you have any side effects that are serious, contact your doctor immediately.
