| Erectile Dysfunction; Could Your Meds be the Culprit? |
Today, over half the men over the age of 40 have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). It is estimated that 25% of these cases are caused by or exacerbated by the medication the patient is taking.5,13 Could your medication be causing or contributing to ED? Check out the chart below to see if your medications could cause or contribute to ED.
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Table 1: Medications That Can Cause or Contribute to ED 1-12 |
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Antidepressants
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Antipsychotics
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Heart and blood pressure medications
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Digoxin |
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Alcohol |
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Anticonvulsants
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Opioids
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Proscar® |
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Tagamet (cimetidine) |
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Hormones
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ED is usually broken into 5 different types: 1) decreased libido 2) erectile dysfunction 3) ejaculation abnormalities 4) unable to achieve orgasm 5) priapism (painful, sustained erection that persists despite sexual intercourse or masturbation).9,12 All of the medications listed above can cause or contribute to ED in at least one of these ways. If you suffer from ED and are taking one of these medications, talk to your doctor about the possibility of decreasing the dose of your medication. For many of these medications, the higher the dose, the more probability they have of causing or worsening ED. You can also talk to your doctor about alternative medications that may not be as prone to causing or contributing to ED. Keep in mind that the list above is not all-inclusive. If you think your medications may be causing or contributing to ED but do not see them on the list, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.
Dr. Larson is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.
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- 11. Product information for Cymbalta. Eli Lilly and Company. Indianapolis, IN 46285. December 2005.
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