4 Common Drugs That Increase Your Chances of Erectile Dysfunction; Are you at risk?

More than 50 percent of men suffer from erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. The condition — known as the inability to get or maintain an erection for intercourse — is caused by a number of factors — including beta blockers, anti-depressants, anti-allergy medications, and even over-the-counter Some medicines like painkillers are included. Read on to know more.

There are a number of medicines you may be taking to treat specific conditions, or general pills such as painkillers and anti-histamines.

Erectile dysfunction or ED – also known as impotence, is a sexual dysfunction that makes it difficult to get or maintain an erection. According to experts, erectile dysfunction affects millions of men around the world – about 50 percent of men aged 40 to 70 have this problem at some point in their lives.

There are many reasons for this condition in men, including high blood pressure levels, cholesterol and diabetes, in addition to mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety. However, sometimes the culprit may actually be inside your medicine cabinet.

How do medications lead to ED?

Doctors say that medicine plays a huge role in causing this condition. There are a number of medicines you may be taking to treat specific conditions, or general pills such as painkillers and anti-histamines. However, four medications that may increase your risk of ED include:

beta-blockers

Beta-blockers reduce high blood pressure levels. Also known as antihypertensives, these drugs are a common side effect of erectile dysfunction because they affect blood flow as well as reduce testosterone – both requirements for achieving and maintaining a healthy erection.

According to experts, if you get ED soon after starting treatment with any BP medicine, talk to your doctor as they may replace it with another medicine. Keep in mind that it may take several days to several weeks for an erection to return after you stop high blood pressure medication.

antidepressant

Doctors say that some antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), cause ED as a sexual side effect.

Antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil have a direct effect on your hormones, increasing serotonin which affects testosterone and dopamine levels – affecting libido and the ability to become sexually aroused. 30–60 percent of patients taking SSRIs may experience sexual dysfunction.

If you think your antidepressant is causing ED, you should talk to your healthcare provider, as they may recommend:

Wait a few weeks to see if side effects improve
reducing your dose
switching to a different antidepressant
Treatment of ED with drugs like Viagra

pain reliever

According to studies, men who take opioid painkillers for long-term back pain have a 45 percent higher risk of ED. Some common classes of pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, fall into this category.

These medications have a negative impact on blood flow and the ability to maintain an erection, so it is advisable to consult a doctor about their dosage rather than self-medicate.

antihistamines

Whenever the seasons change and pollen levels reach their peak – many people take anti-histamines to deal with allergy symptoms. Additionally, these medicines help in providing relief from hives, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings.

They block the effects of a substance in your body called histamine – which is normally released when your body detects something harmful – such as an infection, which harms your body by causing blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell. Protects.

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