2) Medical treatment
In Peyronie’s disease, oral drugs don’t have a significant role because they didn’t show significant results in clinical studies. Thus, your doctor may inject some medications in your penis to destroy the scar tissue. These injectable medications include:
- Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (Xiaflex®): Collagenase is an enzyme produced in the body and by other bacteria; this enzyme destroys the collagen protein, which is the main component of the scar tissue. Doctors use this medication in moderate and severe cases of penile curvature. It improves the curving of the penis. To get a better outcome, your doctor may do modeling with the collagenase injection. Modeling means stretching and straightening against the direction of the curve.
- Verapamil: It is an antihypertensive drug, but it is showing efficacy in Peyronie’s disease. It interferes with collagen synthesis, which disrupts the main component of the scar tissue; thus, it improves the penile curving. It also relieves the penile pain.
- Interferon: It is a protein that inhibits the scar tissue formation and may help in its destruction. It also relieves the penile pain.
From the previous medications, collagenase is the only one approved by food and drug administration (FDA), while others need more studies to confirm their efficacy.
The role of vitamins in Peyronie’s disease:
Vitamin E didn’t show significant benefits compared to placebo (An empty pill without drug inside it) in the recent reliable studies.
Potassium benzoate (vit. B complex) has shown benefits in the reduction of the plaque size but not the penile curve. But, it is an expensive medication and causes gastrointestinal irritability (such as nausea and vomiting); thus, many patients don’t prefer it.
