Drug-induced erectile dysfunction
Key points
- Various medications and recreational drugs can have an affect on sexual arousal and sexual performance.
- Among the anti-hypertensive medications, thiazides are the most common cause of ED, followed by beta-blockers.
- It should be noted that what causes impotence in one man may not affect another.
- If you suspect that a medication you are taking is having a negative effect on sexual performance, discuss the matter with your health care provider.
Alternative names
Impotence caused by medications; Drugs that may cause impotence
Information
Various medications and recreational drugs can have an affect on sexual arousal and sexual performance. It should be noted that what causes impotence in one man may not affect another.
If you suspect that a medication you are taking is having a negative effect on sexual performance, discuss the matter with your health care provider. NEVER stop taking any medication without first consulting your health care provider, because some medications can produce life-threatening reactions if they are not tapered or switched appropriately.
The following is a list of medications and non-prescription drugs that may cause impotence:
Antidepressant and other psychiatric medications:
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Buspirone (Buspar)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene)
- Desipramine (Norpramin)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Doxepin (Sinequan)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Meprobamate (Equanil)
- Mesoridazine (Serentil)
- Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Oxazepam (Serax)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Thioridazine (Mellaril)
- Thiothixene (Navane)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Antihistamine medications:
- Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
- Meclizine (Antivert)
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
Antihypertensive and diuretic medications:
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.