Drugs That Cause ED

If you are taking medicines to treat blood pressure, allergies, seizures, pain, heart problems, or inflammation, you are among those ten million people who are at high risk of getting drug-induced erectile dysfunction (ED). But this doesn’t mean you have to make a choice between your health and healthy sex life. Drug-induced erection problem can be easily fixed by the support of a health care specialist.

Erectile dysfunction is a highly prevalent sexual condition affecting a large population of men. It affects an individual’s life in many ways, causing impairment of quality of life. According to the research studies, medical treatment accounts for ED in approximately 25% of cases and the condition is reversible when the user of the medicine is stopped, or a suitable alternative is introduced.

The link between Erectile Dysfunction  & Drugs

Erectile dysfunction is a highly prevalent medical problem affecting a significant proportion of men. It is important for a number of reasons, causing impairment of quality of life and, if related to drug therapy, leading to non-compliance. Medications causing erection issues in 25% of cases are reversible once the medication is stopped. Studies have found that many drug categories interfere with the normal physiological processes, resulting in the erection issue in a dose-related fashion.

The most common classes of drugs that can affect the normal physiological processes and leads to penile erection include antihypertensive medications such as thiazide diuretics and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and psychotherapeutic medicines especially  SSRI antidepressants.

Other most common types of drugs that can be linked to ED include anti-ulcer drugs, diuretics, which helps the body get rid of water and sodium that are used for the treatment of liver failure, heart failure, and kidney impairment.

Propecia, a hair loss medication is also reported to cause erection problems in 1.3% of men who used it. Other drugs that may trigger sexual dysfunction are antihistamines, prostate cancer medications, medicines used to treat cancer, incontinence, overactive bladder, COPD and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

However, the most common type of drug that may contribute to penile erection is blood pressure drugs. There is a strong link between ED and hypertension drugs. Studies have found that men with Ed are 28% more likely to high blood pressure as compared that who do not have ED.

The relation between ED and high blood pressure drugs is not too surprising since erection problem develops in men who smoke or are overweight, both are the common risk factors for hypertension. In some cases, Ed can also indicate undiagnosed ED or heart disease.

It is believed that all types of blood pressure medications can contribute to penile erection, but then the risk is higher with the use of diuretics and beta blocker and then with alpha-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers.

Awareness is necessary!

Being aware of the drug’s possible side effects, one could help avoid unwanted symptoms. If you are thinking of taking medicines, talk to your doctor if the medication you have been taking is associated with ED. You must inform your doctor about all the drugs you take on a regular basis.