Medicines linked to ED

Side effects of your regular medication may contribute to erectile dysfunction - check with your GP.

Regular tablets may be the cause

If you take medicine from the list below you should consult with your regular doctor before you start erectile dysfunction treatment. Adjusting your regular medication may help with erectile dysfunction. You should not stop medication before talking to your regular doctor.

Erectile dysfunction treatments are usually still effective even if medications from the list below are being taken at the same time.

Prescribed Medicines Main use Possible effect on sexual function
Antidepressants
Phenelzine Depression Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
SSRI antidepressants (e.g. fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram) Depression Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitryptiline) Depression Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
Lithium Depression, bipolar Impotence
Antiepileptics
Carbamazepine Epilepsy Impotence
Antihypertensives
ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril, enalapril, lisinopril) High blood pressure, heart failure Impotence
Alpha-blockers (e.g. prazosin, doxazosin) High blood pressure, enlarged prostate Impotence, ejaculatory disturbances
Beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol, propranolol and including timolol eye drops) High blood pressure, angina, glaucoma Impotence
Calcium channel blockers (e.g. verapamil, nifedipine) High blood pressure, angina Impotence
Clonidine High blood pressure Impotence, decreased sex drive, delayed or failure of ejaculation
Methyldopa High blood pressure Impotence, decreased sex drive, ejaculatory failure
Thiazide diuretics (e.g. bendroflumethiazide) High blood pressure Impotence
Antipsychotics
Phenothiazines (e.g. chlorpromazine, thioridazine) Psychotic illness Ejaculatory disturbances, decreased sex drive, impotence
Risperidone Psychotic illness Impotence, ejaculatory disturbances
Cholesterol lowering medicines
Fibrates (e.g. clofibrate, gemfibrozil) High cholesterol Impotence
Statins (e.g. simvastatin) High cholesterol Impotence
Other
Benzodiazepines Anxiety and insomnia Decreased sex drive
Cimetidine Peptic ulcers, acid reflux disease Decreased sex drive, impotence
Cyproterone acetate Prostate cancer Decreased libido, impotence, reduced volume of ejaculation
Disulfiram Alcohol withdrawal Decreased sex drive
Finasteride Enlarged prostate Impotence, decreased sex drive, ejaculation disorders, reduced volume of ejaculation
Metoclopramide Nausea and vomiting Decreased sex drive, impotence
Opioid painkillers (e.g. codeine, morphine) Severe pain Decreased sex drive, impotence
Prochlorperazine Nausea and vomiting Impotence
Spironolactone Heart failure, fluid retention Impotence, decreased sex drive
Buy ED treatment
Dr Tony Steele

Authored 12 July 2010 by Dr Tony Steele
MB ChB Sheffield University 1983. Former hospital doctor and GP. GMC no. 2825328

Reviewed by Dr C. Pugh, Dr B. Babor, Dr A. Wood
Last reviewed 20 July 2021
Last updated 27 March 2024

References