Priapism associated with pregabalin
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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
Ali A Alsulihem1, Danny M Rabah2
1Department of Urology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Priapism is a well-known cause of erectile dysfunction. There are a wide variety of causes, including hemoglobinopathy, neurological diseases, and drugs. We present a case report of an Asian man who presented with priapism that was continuous for 3 days after taking three doses of pregabalin for chronic back pain. Cavernous aspiration, phenylephrine injection, and a winter shunt all failed to achieve detumescence. The patient then presented to our institution on the 5(th) day of his initial presentation, and an El-Ghorab shunt was performed, after which detumescence and pain relief were achieved. We suggest that pregabalin might induce tumescence through acting on the α2δ1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels in the penile smooth muscle or by presynaptic inhibition of noradrenaline release. Further studies are warranted regarding the action of pregabalin and its effect on penile physiology.
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