Medication Side Effects and Erectile Dysfunction

When a man begins to experience erection problems, he very rarely thinks about the prescription or over the counter medications he takes as a possible cause. But the fact is that a large number of these medications can be implicated in erectile dysfunction.

It is important to remember that every single person is biochemically unique. In other words, each person's body is different from everyone else's. As a result, one person may experience a side effect from a medication and another person will not.

In addition, some people have side effects at a high dose, for example, and no side effects at a lower dose. And there are many people who experience side effects from one medication but have no problems at all with a very similar medication with a slightly different formula, for the same disorder.

How are you going to know whether any drug you take will have a bad effect on you? You can't always know this in advance, but it is very important to ask your doctor about the side effects of any drug that is prescribed for you. Ideally, your physician should explain all the possible side effects of a medication when it is prescribed in the office without your asking. But that doesn't always happen. So remember to find out.

But even if you ask, it is not possible for your doctor to cover all the possible side effects of each medication there simply isn't enough time. The only solution is for you to sit down and read through the information yourself to be certain that you understand exactly what you are taking. With every medication a detailed package insert is available that explains all the major possible side effects and lets you know who should and should not take that specific drug. Most people don't want to bother reading the tiny print on these inserts. What's more, many people don't even get them when they fill their prescriptions. If your pharmacist falls to give you one, be certain to ask for it.

You should also make sure that your doctor knows what other medications you are taking (including over the-counter drugs) and if you are allergic to any substances. In addition, sometimes drugs by themselves don't cause any problems, but when they are combined with other drugs, they can cause difficulties.

If you are concerned about erectile dysfunction or have had some difficulty with your erections, ask your doctor if your medication might be at fault. Never stop taking a prescription medication on your own because you suspect it might be the source of your sexual problems. To do so could endanger your health and even your life. Always discuss it with your doctor first.

There are over two hundred prescription medications that can cause problems with sexual dysfunction. It is not possible to know for certain what percentage of men with erectile problems have them as a result of medications. The figure has been estimated at anywhere from 2 to 25 percent of all ED cases; but even if it is only 2 percent, a relatively small number, it is important if you are among that 2 percent.

The two most common types of medications that can affect your sexual function are:

• high blood pressure drugs
• antidepressants
but other drugs can have this effect, too, including: beta blockers
antihistamines
tranquilizers
diuretics
cold medications
antiandrogens

There is a third category of drugs that can cause sexual dysfunction, and that is street drugs. illicit drugs that can do this include

marijuana
heroin
cocaine
crack
amphetamines
barbiturates

Drugs can affect not only erections but other aspects of sexuality, as well. They can depress sexual desire, have an adverse effect on ejaculation, and interfere with orgasm.

Are you taking a medication right now that could be contributing to your erectile dysfunction) To help you answer that question, here is a table of some commonly used drugs that can cause problems with a man's sexual function.