What is Invicorp?

Invicorp is usually used when all else fails for erectile dysfunction. But what is Invicorp, and how does it work when the likes of Viagra and Cialis come up short? Invicorp is a penile injection (yikes!), so you are going directly to the source of the problem. Unlike oral medications, Invicorp’s approach is fast-acting because it bypasses the digestive system and gets to work right where it’s needed. It works differently from Viagra, Cialis and the other PDE5 inhibitors. It contains two ingredients, aviptadil and phentolamine, which work synergistically to cause an erection  (Dinsmore et al., 2008). In this article, we will go over how Invicorp works, talk about the out-of-stock issues and introduce a new compounded erectile dysfunction combination product to try when all else fails.

You can use the navigational table below to skip to topics that interest you.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, means regularly struggling to get or keep an erection firm enough for sex (Muneer et al., 2014). This can impact more than just your physical health—it often affects self-confidence, relationships, and quality of life for you and your partner.

According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, around 52% of men aged 40-70 who live independently experience erectile dysfunction (Feldman et al., 1994).

How Does Invicorp Work?

Invicorp contains two main ingredients: aviptadil and phentolamine. These work together to improve blood flow to the penis, leading to an erection when sexually aroused.

What is Aviptadil?

Aviptadil is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide called vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). VIP is a natural neurotransmitter made up of 28 amino acids with strong blood vessel-widening effects, playing an important role in promoting erections. (Ehmke et al., 1995).

Aviptadil works by enhancing blood flow to the penis.

VIP has been studied for its role in erectile function, as seen in research showing that, during an erection, VIP levels in the penis can increase significantly without affecting overall circulation. This localised action suggests that VIP directly contributes to the erection process by relaxing smooth muscle tissue, which allows more blood flow. It has also been suggested that low levels of VIP could be the cause of ED ( Shirai et al., 1990).

Further research has found that VIP works by boosting cAMP levels in penile tissue, a molecule that helps relax smooth muscle. While injecting VIP on its own doesn’t typically cause a full erection, combining it with other drugs like papaverine or phentolamine has been shown to enhance erectile response (Kiely et al., 1989).

Clinical studies found that the combination of VIP with phentolamine was safe and effective in men with erectile dysfunction (Dinsmore et al., 1999).

This finding led to the development of Invicorp, a combination of VIP and phentolamine, which has been proven safe and effective in treating erectile dysfunction (Mitidieri et al., 2020).

How does phentolamine work?

Before we describe how phentolamine works, we have to explain how an erection is ended. The sympathetic part of the nervous system, the one responsible for fight or flight, is activated to end the erection. It kinda makes sense; I mean when you are running for your life, you want the blood to be directed to your legs, not your penis.

The sympathetic nervous system releases a chemical called noradrenaline (NA), which then acts on alpha adrenoceptors (ARs), which then contract the smooth muscles in the penis, squeezing the blood out and ending the erection. When there is more NA (ending erection) than nitric oxide (NO) (a potent vasodilator that starts and maintains the erection), it can contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED). Because of this, blocking alpha receptors (using alpha AR antagonists) could be a helpful approach for treating erectile dysfunction (Andersson et al., 2001).

The dynamic duo, aviptadil and phentolamine

All this research culminated in the development of Invicorp, a combination of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) 25 mcg and phentolamine mesylate 2 mg for Intracavernosal injection (ICI) in the management of moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.

As mentioned earlier, aviptadil was more effective when combined with phentolamine (Dinsmore et al., 1999). By working together, these two active ingredients cause an erection in resistant erectile dysfunction when the highest doses of PDE5 inhibitors, like Viagra 100mg and Cialis 20mg, have failed.

What to do when Invicorp is out of stock?

Unfortunately, Invicorp tends to go out of stock. So, what do you do if you can’t get hold of Invicorp? A potential option to try would be a compounded solution.

Medical Mojo offers the UK’s first triple combination erectile dysfunction therapy. It contains the three following active ingredients:

• Sildenafil
• Tadalafil
• L-arginine

It is compounded as a soluble oral patch, which exploits the absorption via the buccal mucosa in the mouth. This provides direct, VIP access to the bloodstream without going through the tortuous route through the stomach, small intestine and liver. This means:

• More of the active drug reaches the circulation.
• Faster onset of action

The compounded soluble oral patch contains sildenafil (35mg), tadalafil (10mg), and l-arginine (2.5mg). The film is placed in the mouth, where it dissolves and is absorbed through the lining of the cheek, known as buccal absorption.

Why is buccal absorption beneficial?

Taking sildenafil through the buccal route (absorbed through the lining of the mouth) offers several key benefits (Chinna et al., 2011):

• Easy to take
• Faster absorption rate
• Skips liver metabolism, allowing more of the drug to enter your bloodstream (only 41% of oral sildenafil reaches circulation due to liver processing) (Nichols et al., 2002). 
• Avoids low absorption in the digestive tract
• Fast-acting

The problem with oral absorption of L-arginine

Orally taken L-arginine tends to get stuck in the digestive system and liver, where it’s mostly broken down by an enzyme called arginase (Morris et al., 1992). So by exploiting the buccal absorption or absorbing medication through the mouth lining, we can deliver more L-arginine to the bloodstream, where it can exert its vasodilatory effects, increasing blood flow to the penis.

Benefits of the compounded erectile dysfunction soluble oral patch

1. Faster onset: By avoiding the digestive tract, the erectile dysfunction soluble oral patch can work more quickly than pills.
2. Multi-ingredient power: Combining sildenafil, tadalafil, and l-arginine offers a synergistic effect, which means each ingredient enhances the other, leading to a potentially stronger effect.
3. Gentle on the stomach: This delivery method reduces the chance of stomach upset, which can sometimes happen with oral pills.
4. Better L-Arginine absorption: Since l-arginine struggles to survive the digestive process, buccal absorption is a more effective way to get this ingredient where it’s needed.

Summary

So, whether you want to try Invicorp when it’s back in stock or explore alternatives, understanding how these medicines work is a step toward finding the best solution for you.

If Invicorp shows out-of-stock on the website, please contact us for an estimated delivery date.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.

References:

1. Dinsmore WW, Wyllie MG. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/phentolamine for intracavernosal injection in erectile dysfunction. BJU Int. 2008 Sep;102(8):933-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.07764.x. Epub 2008 May 15. PMID: 18485029.
2. Muneer A, Kalsi J, Nazareth I, Arya M. Erectile dysfunction – clinical review. BMJ 2014;348:g129.
3. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts male aging study. J Urol 1994;151:54-61.
4. H. Ehmke, K.P. Jünemann, B. Mayer, W. Kummer. Nitric oxide synthase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide colocalization in neurons innervating the human penile circulation. International Journal of Impotence Research, 7 (1995), pp. 147-156
5. M. Shirai, A. Maki, M. Takanami, K. Ando, K. Nakamura, N. Yanaihara, et al. Content and distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in cavernous tissue of human penis .Urology, 35 (1990), pp. 360-363
6. E.A. Kiely, S.R. Bloom, G. Williams Penile response to intracavernosal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide alone and in combination with other vasoactive agents. British Journal of Urology, 64 (1989), pp. 191-194
7. W.W. Dinsmore, C. Gingell, G. Hackett, P. Kell, D.. Oakes, et al. Treating men with predominantly nonpsychogenic erectile dysfunction with intracavernosal vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and phentolamine mesylate in a novel auto-injector system: a multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled study. British Journal Urology International, 83 (1999), pp. 274-279
8. Mitidieri, E., Cirino, G., di Villa Bianca, R.D.E. and Sorrentino, R., 2020. Pharmacology and perspectives in erectile dysfunction in man. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 208, p.107493.
9. Andersson, K.E. and Stief, C., 2001. Oral ? adrenoceptor blockade as a treatment of erectile dysfunction. World journal of urology, 19, pp.9-13.
10. Chinna, R.P., Chaitanya, K.S.C. and Madhusudan, R.Y., 2011. A review on bioadhesive buccal drug delivery systems: current status of formulation and evaluation methods.
11. Nichols, D.J., Muirhead, G.J. and Harness, J.A., 2002. Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after single oral doses in healthy male subjects: absolute bioavailability, food effects and dose proportionality. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 53, pp.5S-12S.
12.  Morris, S.M., 1992. Regulation of enzymes of urea and arginine synthesis. Annual review of nutrition, 12(1), pp.81-101.