Prescription medicine and erection problems

Health Topics: Sexual Health: Men's Sexual Health

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A number of medicines may be associated with erection problems (erectile dysfunction). Let your doctor know if you are taking any of these medicines. If you are having erection problems, they may be causing or adding to your problems having an erection. Your doctor may be able to modify the amount you take or find an alternative.

Medicines with a high incidence of causing erection problems include:

Clomipramine hydrochloride (Anafranil), which is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Flutamide, which is used to treat prostate cancer.
Leuprolide acetate (Eligard, Lupron), which is used to treat prostate cancer.
Naltrexone hydrochloride (Revia), which is used to treat alcohol dependence.

Other medicines may contribute to erection problems in some men.

**Examples of medicines that may cause erection problems or make erection problems worse**
Medicine type	Examples
High blood pressure medicines	Amlodipine (such as Norvasc) Atenolol (such as Tenormin) Clonidine (such as Catapres) Methyldopa Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) Nifedipine (such as Adalat CC, Procardia) Propranolol (such as Inderal)
Diuretics	Acetazolamide (such as Diamox) Chlorothiazide (such as Diuril) Chlorthalidone (such as Thalitone) Hydralazine Hydrochlorothiazide Hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol (such as Lopressor HCT) Spironolactone (such as Aldactone) Triamterene (such as Dyrenium)
Antidepressants	Amitriptyline Citalopram (such as Celexa) Escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) Fluoxetine (such as Prozac, Sarafem) Fluvoxamine Imipramine (such as Tofranil) Isocarboxazid (such as Marplan) Nortriptyline hydrochloride (such as Pamelor) Paroxetine (such as Paxil) Phenelzine (such as Nardil) Sertraline (such as Zoloft) Tranylcypromine (such as Parnate)
Antipsychotics	Chlorpromazine Fluphenazine Haloperidol (such as Haldol) Perphenazine Risperidone (such as Risperdal) Thioridazine Thiothixene (such as Navane)
Hormones	Estrogens Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues (such as Zoladex, Lupron)
Anticonvulsants	Carbamazepine (such as Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol) Phenobarbital (such as Solfoton) Phenytoin (such as Dilantin)
Cardiovascular	Digoxin (such as Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin)
Ulcers and heartburn treatment	Cimetidine (such as Tagamet) Famotidine (such as Mylanta AR, Pepcid) Nizatidine (such as Axid AR) Ranitidine (such as Zantac)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment	Dutasteride (Avodart) Finasteride (Proscar)

Other medicines that may affect erections include medicines for:

Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa (Sinemet).
Nausea and vomiting, such as prochlorperazine (Compro) and promethazine (Promethegan).

Credits

Author	Monica Rhodes
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
Last Updated	May 21, 2008

Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: May 21, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology

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