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 |
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 9 January 2025
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