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
SSRI antidepressants (e.g. fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram) Depression, anxiety Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitryptiline) Depression, neuropathic pain, headaches Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
Lithium Depression, bipolar Erectile dysfunction
Phenelzine Depression Erectile dysfunction delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances
Antiepileptics
Carbamazepine Epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia Erectile dysfunction
Antihypertensives
ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril, enalapril, lisinopril) High blood pressure, heart failure Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction
Alpha-blockers (e.g. prazosin, doxazosin) High blood pressure, enlarged prostate Erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory disturbances
Beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol, propranolol and including timolol eye drops) High blood pressure, angina, glaucoma Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive
Calcium channel blockers (e.g. verapamil, nifedipine) High blood pressure, angina Erectile dysfunction
Clonidine High blood pressure Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive
Methyldopa High blood pressure Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, ejaculatory failure
Thiazide diuretics (e.g. bendroflumethiazide) High blood pressure, heart failure, fluid retention Erectile dysfunction
Antipsychotics
Haloperidol Psychotic illness Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive
Risperidone Psychotic illness Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, ejaculatory disturbances
Olanzapine Psychotic illness Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, ejaculatory disturbances
Quetiapine Psychotic illness Erectile dysfunction
Cholesterol lowering medicines
Fibrates (e.g. clofibrate, gemfibrozil) High cholesterol Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive
Statins (e.g. simvastatin) High cholesterol Erectile dysfunction
Other
Benzodiazepines Anxiety, epilepsy Decreased sex drive
Cimetidine Peptic ulcers, acid reflux disease Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction
Disulfiram Alcohol withdrawal Decreased sex drive
Finasteride Male pattern hair loss, enlarged prostate Erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, ejaculation disorders, reduced quality of ejaculation
Opioid painkillers (e.g. codeine, morphine) Severe pain Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction
Prochlorperazine Nausea and vomiting Erectile dysfunction
Spironolactone Heart failure, fluid retention 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 J. Tweedie
Last reviewed 4 June 2025
Last updated 20 August 2025

References

Supplementary information