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Men's Health
More Than a Feeling: Erectile Dysfunction Can Be Caused by a Medicinal Issue
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Jan 23, 2015 - 8:32:13 AM
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Erectile dysfunction is a very common problem, affecting most men at some point in their lives. Luckily, there are many treatment options available if you are struggling to gain or keep an erection during sex.
However, before you can consider which treatment option might be best for you, it's important to understand what's causing the problem. Erectile dysfunction (ED) can have many different causes, including both physical and psychological issues. Less well-known is the fact that certain medicines can also cause ED.
Physical causes of ED
Major causes of erectile dysfunction include high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. All these conditions cause blood flow to the penis to become obstructed, meaning that less blood can flow to the penis during sex.
If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, it is important that you see your GP, as it can often be the first sign of these underlying health conditions. You may also be at high risk of other cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease or stroke.
If your ED has a physical cause such as high blood pressure or obesity, prescription medicines like Viagra or Levitra can be very effective in helping you to get an erection when you have sex. Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise are also often recommended, in order to help address the underlying problem.
Psychological causes of ED
Psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression can cause erectile dysfunction. These conditions can cause both a loss of libido, and the inability to gain an erection.
Psychosexual counselling is often recommended if your ED is caused by a psychological problem. This can either take the form of couples' therapy, or one-on-one sessions with a therapist.
Counselling can often take a few months to take effect, so medicines like Viagra are sometimes used to treat ED in the short term.
Medicinal causes of ED
In addition to the physical and psychological conditions that can lead to erectile dysfunction, there are a number of medicines that can cause ED as a side effect.
It is important to note, however, that even if you do experience ED when you are taking these medicines, you should speak to a doctor before stopping them. These medicines are taken to treat serious medical conditions, and stopping them without discussing it with your doctor may damage your health.
Diuretics
Diuretics are regularly used to treat high blood pressure and kidney disease, or prescribed to people who have experienced heart failure. They can cause erectile dysfunction by reducing the force of blood flow into the penis.
Antidepressants
Some medicines taken to treat depression can cause ED. For some people, this is a minor side effect which eases up as their bodies adjust to the medication. For others, ED continues to be a significant problem.
Your doctor may recommend changing your medicine, as some antidepressants come with a lower risk of ED than others, but it is important to discuss this with your doctor first.
Antihypertensives
Antihypertensives are a range of medicines that include beta-blockers, all of which are intended to treat high blood pressure. Beta-blockers stop the effect of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline in certain areas of the body. They are prescribed to treat conditions like angina, heart failure and hypertension.
Less commonly, beta-blockers are sometimes used to prevent migraines or treat an anxiety condition. These can cause a number of known side effects, and ED is considered to be one of the more common problems associated with them.
Opiate painkillers
Men who are prescribed high-dose opioids (painkillers) for managing pain may also be at risk of ED.
If you are suffering from ED, and are taking any of the medicines above, you should consult your doctor to establish if this may be the cause of the problem.
Alternative medicines may be available, but it is very important that you do not take the alternative treatment until you are advised to do so by a doctor.
Dr Tom Brett trained St Thomas' Hospital Medical School in London and graduated in 1992, a year later he immigrated to Australia where he began post-graduate General Practitioner training. In 1998 he gained fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and later, in 2000, was awarded a certificate in Sexual Health and HIV prescribing. In 2007 he returned to live and work in London and is now Medical Director for the Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor service.
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