Sexual disorders have become one of the most widely spread problems in the world. Various factors like working stresses, bad environment, and age-related health problems make their contribution into the growing number of sexual problems. However, sexual or erectile (as they are often called) disorders may occur not only in elderly men or because of stresses, but also due to the regular intake of various drugs.
Burning problem of the modern society
According to the experts’ opinion more than 10 millions of men in the world suffer from various sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and so on. Physiological reasons include diabetes, smoking or alcohol drinking, overweight, vascular problems and so on. Psychological problems add to the problem of sexual disorders. In the age group under 35 years old depression and stresses are the winners.
Most people do not think about one more problem. Erectile disorders or decreased libido may be caused by numerous medications which are available thanks to the efforts of pharmaceutical industry. Nowadays the pharmaceutical market offers a lot of choices for the treatment of every health disorder. We are convinced that it is enough to take a pill and all our problems will go away. However, in our pursuit of the fast and easy problem solution we often forget that everything has its price.
The more drugs the man takes, the higher the danger of sexual disorders he may face is. This conclusion was made by urologists after the large-scale investigation involving about 40 thousands of men of middle and elderly age. The results showed that the man participating in the investigation took at least three types of medications (some of the volunteers told about even 10 different drugs) every day.
Drugs: savers or killers?
Experts consider that those men who take pain relievers every day may start taking ED treatment drugs sooner or later as popular analgesics may cause the impotence. According to the conducted researches more than 35% of men who took popular analgesics three times a day five times per week within the period of 100 days declared the problems with their erectile function. The analgesics include such popular medications as ibuprofen, diclofenac, naprosine, piroxicam and aspirin. However, scientists are not able to explain the revealed connection between the intake of pain relievers and erectile problems.
Nearly all the drugs prescribed for the treatment of arterial hypertension (beta blockers, ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers) have negative influence on the erection. Antidepressants and other psychotropic substances may lead to the ejaculation disorder or decreased libido.
However the drugs that interfere with the male hormones are considered the most dangerous to the male sexual function. It refers to finasteride and dutasteride, the medications designed for the treatment of prostate gland. Finasteride can also be used for the treatment of premature baldness.
No doubt that in some cases refused treatment may bring more harm rather than good. However, experts say than men quite often overuse the medications and abuse doctor’s recommendations. In such cases the simple reduction of daily dosage will allow improving the erectile function without any harm to the health.
The list of medications that may cause erectile dysfunction is given below:
- Diuretics and antihypertensive drugs (Hydrochlorothiazide, Metoprolol, Atenolol);
- Antidepressants, sedative drugs, antiepileptic agents (Fluoxetine, Lorazepam, Desipramine);
- Antihistamines (Promethazine, Meclizine);
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (Indometacin, Naprosine);
- Parkinson disease treatment drugs (Biperiden, Bromocriptine);
- Antiarrythmic drugs (Disoparymide);
- Histamine 2 receptor antagonists (Nizatidine, Ranititde);
- Neuromuscular relaxants (Orphenadrine);
- Prostate disorder treatment drugs
- Drugs for chemotherapy
As the full list is very long the patient should consult his doctor to find out which drugs may cause the impotence. One should mention that the use of the other narcotic substances such as barbiturates, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines etc. may result in sexual disorders.
What to do?
First of all, it is no use to take ED treatment drugs or to refuse taking other prescribed medications in order to get rid of sexual problems. If you suffer from erectile disorders and consider the prescribed drugs you are taking to be the reason, don’t stop the therapy without consulting your doctor. He will adjust your current therapy or prescribe new medications, if needed.
Moreover, you will definitely help yourself if you change your lifestyle. In addition to the therapy correction the smoking cessation and total abstinence together with healthy food and sport activity will make the great contribution to the improvement of your sexual function.
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