If you need drugs for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, your susceptibility for erectile dysfunction is greater than in the general population. The medications which are frequently prescribed for these conditions unfortunately also contribute to the problem.
Research supports this. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) conducted in 1994 found that men taking vasodilator medication for their heart conditions were four times as likely to have moderate or complete ED compared to other men. Those who took cardiac drugs as well as those who needed drugs to control their diabetes were three times as likely to suffer from significant ED. And in addition, those who required medication for hypertension suffered significantly from erection problems. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are also the culprits where sexual function is concerned. While this was not apparent in the men sampled in the MMAS, I see it too often in my own practice to discount it.
Overall, there are five main classes of drugs responsible for negative sexual side effects. They are:
• Cardiovascular drugs for heart disease, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol.
• Psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, and tranquilizers.
• Antihistamines, including drugs for allergies and motion sickness, and cold remedies.
• Gastrointestinal medications formulated to relieve heartburn, stomach aches and pain, spastic colon and bowels, and flatulence.
• Miscellaneous drugs which encompass substances used to treat everything from muscle spasm and Parkinson’s disease to glaucoma and prostate tumors.
*92\183\8*
