Medications That May Cause Erectile Dysfunction: What You Need to Know

Are you curious about the drugs that cause erectile dysfunction? To be mindful, we rounded up a few.

It’s just not fun to deal with erectile dysfunction (ED). The inability to attain an erection firm enough for satisfying sexual performance is the condition’s definition, and it can have a detrimental effect on your sex life. Fortunately, an online ED doctor can provide convenient and discreet solutions to help you manage and treat ED effectively.

It makes sense that many men would prioritize finding a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

You can choose the best course of treatment for your erectile dysfunction by understanding its cause. ED can have several causes, including issues with lifestyle choices, mental health, and physical health. Erectile dysfunction is even a side effect of some drugs.

Which drugs result in erectile dysfunction? To find out more about the medications that cause erectile dysfunction, continue reading.

Which Medications Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

ED is a possible sexual side effect of many common medications that affect your nervous and cardiovascular systems. Others may have an impact on your brain, making it harder to get sexually aroused or stimulated.

Drug-induced erectile dysfunction is the term used to describe erectile dysfunction brought on by a drug or other substance.

ED is one of the sexual side effects of some prescription drugs. Both by themselves and in combination with other ED causes, like cardiovascular disease, prescribed medications that cause ED can raise the risk of developing ED.

We’ll discuss which drugs cause erectile dysfunction below.

Psychiatric Drugs

Erectile dysfunction is one of the sexual side effects of many widely used psychiatric medications, including antidepressants.

Sexual side effects, such as decreased desire for sex, delayed orgasm, delayed ejaculation, and ED, are known as antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and other antidepressants can all contribute to ED.

More information about antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction can be found in this guide on antidepressants and erectile dysfunction.

Antipsychotic and anti-anxiety drugs are other psychiatric medications that result in erectile dysfunction. Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat psychotic conditions like severe depression, schizophrenia, and certain types of bipolar disorder.

Whether it is a side effect of antipsychotic medications or sexual dysfunction brought on by antidepressants, several psychiatric drugs have the potential to cause ED. These consist of:

Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Buspirone (Buspar)
Citalopram (Celexa®)
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Clorazepate (Tranxene)
Desipramine (Norpramin)
Diazepam (Valium)
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
Escitalopram (Lexapro®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Meprobamate (Equanil)
Mesoridazine (Serentil)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Oxazepam (Serax)
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Sertraline (Zoloft®)
Thioridazine (Mellaril)
Thiothixene (Navane)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

High Blood Pressure Medications

Managing erectile dysfunction and high blood pressure can be challenging. Why? Erectile dysfunction can be brought on by certain high blood pressure drugs, but ED can also be brought on by high blood pressure.

Because healthy blood flow is essential for erections, high blood pressure affects blood flow throughout the body, including to the penis.

However, it is believed that drugs that lower blood pressure and the amount of blood that enters the penis are the cause of erectile dysfunction.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and diuretics (also known as “water pills”) are among the various drug types used to treat high blood pressure.

ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and alpha-blockers are among the high blood pressure drugs that don’t frequently cause erectile dysfunction.

The following are the high blood pressure medications that most frequently result in erectile dysfunction:

Aldactone (spironolactone)
Aldomet (methyldopa)
Apresoline (hydralazine)
Bethanidine
Bumex (bumetanide)
Calan (verapamil)
Capoten (captopril)
Catapres (clonidine)
Dibenzyline (phenoxybenzamine)
Diuril (chlorothiazide)
Esidrix (hydrochlorothiazide)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Hygroton (chlorthalidone)
Inderal (propranolol)
Ismelin (guanethidine)
Lasix (furosemide)
Lopressor (metoprolol)
Maxzide (triamterene)
Minipress (prazosin)
Normodyne (labetalol)
Procardia (nifedipine)
Regitine (phentolamine)
Serpasil (reserpine)
Tenex (guanfacine)
Tenormin (atenolol)
Vasotec (enalapril)
Wytensin (guanabenz)

Antihistamines

By inhibiting the action of histamine, a chemical in the body involved in both allergic reactions and the regulation of stomach acid, some antihistamines, which are frequently taken for allergies, can treat heartburn.

But histamine also aids in the relaxation of smooth muscles, which is another aspect of erection function. Blood flow is increased, and blood vessels can enlarge when the penis’ smooth muscles relax.

You can buy antihistamines over-the-counter. Among those that could result in erectile dysfunction are

Antivert (meclizine)
Axid (nizatidine)
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)
Pepcid (famotidine)
Tagamet (cimetidine)

Chemotherapy Medicines

Erectile dysfunction can be brought on by hormonal medications and chemotherapy, such as those used to treat prostate cancer.

Because of their anti-androgenic properties, these drugs either inhibit or reduce the action of testosterone. This can raise the risk of erectile dysfunction even though it can slow the growth of a cancerous tumor.

The following medications are used in chemotherapy and other hormonal treatments that result in erectile dysfunction:

Casodex (bicalutamide)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Firmagon (degarelix)
Eulexin (flutamide)
Lupron (leuprorelin)
Myleran (busulfan)
Nilandron (nilutamide)
Nizoral (ketoconazole)
Zoladex (goserelin)

Recreational Drugs

Both legal and illicit drugs that are frequently used recreationally or in social situations can contribute to erectile dysfunction in a variety of ways.

also read: Key Traits of a Reliable Fuel Supplier

Some, such as alcohol, can narrow blood vessels or alter blood pressure, which both limit blood flow to the penis. Others may have an impact on the brain signals that influence erectile function.

The following recreational substances raise the risk of ED:

Alcohol
Amphetamines, including crystal meth
Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital and Seconal (secobarbital)
Cocaine
Heroin
Marijuana
Nicotine