MANAGEMENT OF IMPOTENCE DUE TO SPINAL-CORD INJURY USING LOW-DOSE PAPAVERINE

Erectile dysfunction is a common complication of spinal cord injury. O f the 68 spinal cord injured men in whom treatment with papaverine was initiated a therapeutic dosage was determined in 50 (74%). Papaverine was injected into the base of one corpora cavernosum. The dose starte d at 3 mg and was increased at weekly or longer intervals until an eff ective dose was determined. There were 15 (30%) men with tetraplegia a nd 35 (70%) men with paraplegia. The dosage of papaverine did not rela te to the level or extent of injury. Doses of 12 mg or less were used in 56% of patients. Low dose papaverine is a safe and effective means of restoring erections in spinal cord injured men.