Injection Prescription Questions

[LuisFernandez]

Hi,

Dr. Eid has prescribed me injections to help me with my erectile dysfunction. He prescribed me just PGE-1 (Edex, Caverject.)
Unfortunately, it seems that my insurance does not cover that medication (there's an exclusion.)

So i'm thinking of buying them out of my own pocket. First, it seems that each package contains 2 cartridges, which is about 200 dollars.

My starting dosage is 0.5mcg. I plan on having sex 2-3 times a week.

How many times can i use a single cartridge of edex? Do i have to buy the needles separately. I believe my doctor said very sternly to use .30 gauge needle. Do i re-use needles?

I tried asking my pharmacist about this, but they really had no idea. They said i can only use one cartridge one time. They said i can only use one needle one time.

Do i have to 'reconstitute' the medication? I'm just very confused. If i can only use the cartridge one time and two cartridge is $200 then that's way too expensive.

Additionally, I have Peyronie's. Has anyone injected after being diagnosed with Peyronie's? Did it help improve/restore their girth?

Thanks!

[flyingduck2019]

The first thing I would do is go back to your URO and explain that your insurance won't help with your RX. Ask if there is an alternative RX that you can use.

[notaes]

Injection Prescription Questions

I used Trimix for several years before getting my implant. My insurance did NOT cover any of my prescription medicine. It was expensive sex but worth it. I do not know of anyone whose insurance covered the trimix injections. This is strictly out of pocket medication.

[LuisFernandez]

Thanks. I'm still going to double check with my insurance and doctor. Let's assume i'll have to pay for it for now.

However, my main question is how many doses per box can i use? If i can only use it twice for 200$ then i think it's strictly out of the question.

It seems i should be able to use it more than twice based on my dosage - but I'm not sure.

[LuisFernandez]

So one thing that Dr. Eid mentioned is to find a compounding pharmacy in which i can buy alprostadil (PGE1) by itself.
I live in California. I called a couple compounding pharmacies but none seem to offer just caverject/edex by itself because "it's commercially available."

I've been doing some research here on old Franktalk threads.

search.php?keywords=alprostadil+pharmacy+mono

It seems that there are pharmacies that offer PGE1 as a mono-mix at the fraction of the price. I'm still trying to wrap my head around dosage. The document Dr. Eid gave me is a little hard to read. The only pharmacy i found recently on Franktalk is in Florida and does not seem to ship outside of Florida.

Here's a picture of the dosage information from the paper the Dr. gave me: https://imgur.com/4x7PXPI

Would really love some help from someone more experienced in getting a mono-mix prescription filled, specially in California. Will keep digging and will be calling a ton of compounding pharmacies until i find one that can help me.

Worse case scenario, looks like i'll be shelling out ~1k / month just to have a good sex life with EDEX

[bldoink]

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[LuisFernandez]

Hi bldoink,

Thanks so much for his this very helpful information. I think my mistake was in asking for edex and caverject specifically. I will call around and ask for alpostradil monomix instead. I’ll start my search when things open back up after Christmas. I’ll post my findings here. Thanks again. Sorry for your loss. And have a good Christmas!

[Stew52]

I had to switch to TriMix and MonoMix (PGE) after Caverject (20mcg) when I went to Medicare in the US as no boner treatments were covered. Under my previous private insurance Caverject was reasonable but went sky high after (as you found) I had to switch. SO I went to TriMix/MonoMix via a compounding lab which is quite reasonable. Last batch was 10ml of 60mcg/ml PGE for $195. At ~0.25/dose(15mcg) that is 40 doses which is about $5/dose. Plus the syringe. Cheaper than pills.

Caverject has dry crystalline PGE inside the tube and when manipulated per instructions brings that together with contained bacteriostatic water to make the mix which you gently shake and then use. You do not need to use the whole 20mcg. It feels like a 30 gauge needle but I could never find out for sure. If you have a tough spot, a 30 ga may bend. I still have some leftover Caverjects and they are great for traveling as you do not need to keep it cold.

I would NOT reuse a partially used tube/syringe. The needle can be contaminated and introduce contamination directly into your bloodstream. You just have to find a cheaper source.

Add PS: there are two types of compounding pharmacies - sterile and non-sterile. Since this shot goes inside you, especially your bloodstream, you need a sterile lab.

[LuisFernandez]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I have a bit of an update.

So, i was able to find a pharmacy that supplies PGE1 as a mono-mix. They're called empower pharmacy in Texas: https://www.empowerpharmacy.com/drugs/p ... -injection

I am very happy with them so far. My doctor sent over the prescription and a few days later they gave me a call to say that it was ready. They even communicated behind the scenes with the doctor to verify dosage and syringe gauge.

So, I will be receiving powder, a bacterium? solution, and syringes along with all the instructions. One vial of powder would create 100ml @ 10mcg/ml. The package only has one vial of powder. I'm getting a big needle to mix the solutions. After mixing i have to put in the fridge. I'm getting 31 gauge needles for injecting.

My dosage is 5mcg/ml, which means i get 20 doses per vial.

The cost per vial is $75, plus $10 shipping. VERY cost effective and *much* cheaper than Caverject/EDEX.

I'm now waiting for the package so i will probably have more questions and comments once i receive it.

[bldoink]

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