Phentolamine (Injection)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 4, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• OraVerse
• Regitine

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antihypertensive

Pharmacologic Class: Alpha-Adrenergic Blocker

Uses for phentolamine

Phentolamine given by injection causes blood vessels to expand, thereby increasing blood flow. When injected into the penis (intracavernosal), it increases blood flow to the penis, which results in an erection.

Phentolamine should not be used as a sexual aid by men who do not have erectile dysfunction. If the medicine is not used properly, permanent damage to the penis and loss of the ability to have erections could result.

Phentolamine may also be used to reverse the effects of an anesthetic medicine in soft tissues, such as the lips and tongue. It may be used to help quickly restore normal sensation and function in patients who have received local dental anesthesia .

Phentolamine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using phentolamine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For phentolamine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to phentolamine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of phentolamine for the reversal of soft-tissue anesthesia in children younger than 6 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of phentolamine for erectile dysfunction in the elderly, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking phentolamine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using phentolamine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may cha...