Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, is no longer considered to be a purely psychological problem. The condition is characterized by an inability to achieve or maintain erection for the purpose of sexual intercourse. Impotence is a side effect of many medications having actions that interfere with the complex combination of brain stimuli, hormonal responses, blood vessel and nerve reactions that normal sexual function depends on.
Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs
Most people understand that smoking, along with poor diet, can lead to the accumulation of plaque that clogs arteries and blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Plaque can also block the arteries leading to the genitals, interfering with the ability to attain an erection. Drinking too much alcohol and abusing drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, may also cause impotence, according to the U.S. Army Medical Department. Narcotic pain relievers such as vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin (oxycodone), or dilaudid (hydromorphone), and tranquilizers such as librium (chlordiazepoxide), ativan (lorazepam), or valium (diazepam) may also contribute to erectile dysfunction. A changing approach to pain management and alternative treatments for anxiety need to be explored with the help of a physician.
Blood Pressure Medications
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), diuretic medications known as thiazides, such as Diural and Esidrix, are most likely to cause erectile dysfunction among drugs used to treat hypertension. Next are a class of medications that interfere with the effects of norepinephrine and adrenaline on the nerves. These beta blockers slow heart rate and dilate blood vessels to lower blood pressure. These drugs are also used to treat chest pain or irregular heart beat. Examples of beta blockers are Atenolol (tenormin), Inderal (propranolol), and Lopressor (metroprolol).
Antidepressants
Depression can range from mild, which responds to counseling and good self-care, to suicidal with a need for psychiatric hospitalization. Certainly depressive disorders may rob men of normal sexual desire. Unfortunately, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications, the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, have sexual side effects. Raymond Rosen, Ph.D. and Humberto Marin, M.D., found an incidence of 10 to 34 percent of drug-induced impotence in men taking SSRIs such as Paxil (paroxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Prozac (floxetine), Zoloft (sertaline), and Effexor (venlafaxine). Their report, published in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" in 2003, reminds doctors that antidepressant-associated impotence plays a disruptive role in long-term treatment and that lower doses may be as efficient for treating depression while reducing sexual side effects.
Antihistamines
While many drugs sold over the counter to relieve allergies or nausea may cause erectile dysfunction, use of these medications is generally limited to brief treatments. However, some remedies for gastric ulcers and heartburn, such as Zantac (ranitidine) and Tagamet (cimetidine) are freqently prescribed for long-term use. These drugs are among those listed by the NIH as possibly causing impotence.
