Adderall and Erectile Dysfunction: Is There a Link?

If you’ve been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may be prescribed an ADHD medication like Adderall^® to help you stay focused on tasks.

While Adderall is an effective ADHD treatment for many folks, it can also cause side effects, including a risk of sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction (ED).

But while Adderall does carry a risk of impacting your erectile function, that risk is relatively low. Below, we’ll outline how the stimulant medication works, its risk factor of causing ED, and other sexual side effects of Adderall you should know about.

We’ll also provide tips on how to improve sexual function if you develop ED while using Adderall to treat ADHD symptoms. Let’s get into it.

Adderall is a prescription medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ADHD. It contains the active ingredients amphetamine and dextroamphetamine and is available in both immediate-release and extended-release (Adderall XR^®) forms.

This prescription drug stimulates the central nervous system and regulates dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain to improve focus.

Children and adults are typically prescribed Adderall for ADHD to help stay focused, avoid impulsive behaviors, and control other common ADHD symptoms. Adderall can be used to address the symptoms of narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that can make you feel excessively sleepy during the day.

People occasionally use Adderall illegally to enhance concentration, giving it a reputation as a “study drug.” However, misuse of Adderall could have an adverse effect on your health and lead to a range of long-term issues, including addiction.

Like any medication, Adderall has some side effects, including a few that may affect sexual health and performance.

Regarding Adderall’s effect on erections, there’s not a ton of evidence that links the medication to ED. However, it does contain amphetamines, which some research has found to impact erections.

According to a 2020 review of studies on Adderall’s adverse effects, it’s possible for changes in sexual performance and desire to occur while on the drug. Keep in mind that other side effects of Adderall may indirectly also affect sexual performance.

A few Adderall side effects include:

• Difficulty falling asleep or interrupted sleep

• Restlessness

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Constipation

• Nausea or diarrhea

• Dry mouth

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate

• Loss of appetite

• Seeing or hearing things that aren't real

• Paranoia

• Exacerbation of pre-existing mental illnesses

If you happen to have ADHD and depression or ADHD and anxiety, Adderall could amplify these mental health issues. Since ED can be exacerbated by psychological medical conditions like depression and anxiety, Adderall may be a contributing factor.

How Might Adderall Contribute to ED Symptoms?

First, let’s outline common symptoms of ED, which can vary in severity and include:

• Can’t get an erection at any time, even when you feel turned on

• Can get an erection, but it is inadequate or not hard enough

• Can get an erection but find it difficult to maintain long enough to have fulfilling sex

• Can get an erection sometimes, but not consistently enough to have sex every time you’d like to

Erections are all about healthy blood flow. When you feel aroused, blood flows to the erectile tissue inside your penis, causing it to expand. This creates a firm erection that allows you to have sex.

As a stimulant, Adderall can constrict blood vessels throughout the body. As a result, it can restrict the flow of blood to the penis and make getting and maintaining an erection more challenging.

If Adderall does affect your sexual performance, know that it’s likely not a permanent issue. There’s no evidence linking permanent erectile dysfunction and Adderall. Rather, if the medication is causing erectile issues, those problems can likely be reversed through ED treatments or stopping the medication.

Learn more about ADHD and sexual dysfunction by reading our guide.

While there’s still a lot we don’t know about the connection between Adderall and erectile dysfunction, there are some other ways the medication might impact your sexual function.

These include potentially lasting longer in bed and having a higher libido.

Does Adderall Make You Last Longer in Bed?

While ADHD meds can certainly help you to stay focused and avoid impulsivity, there’s no strong evidence that they improve physical stamina or the ability to prevent premature ejaculation (PE) during sex.

Experts don’t know exactly why some men reach orgasm and ejaculate early during sex. However, research suggests that there are numerous risk factors for PE, including:

• Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin

• Changes in levels of certain hormones, such as prolactin or luteinizing hormone (LH)

• Mental health issues, such as depression, stress, or anxiety

• Inflammation affecting the prostate gland or urethra

• Lack of self-confidence or a history of sexual abuse

• Relationship problems or unrealistic expectations in the bedroom

Currently, no scientific evidence suggests that Adderall or similar medications have a direct impact on these causes of early ejaculation, or that taking ADHD meds could enhance your sexual stamina.

However, according to a small 2017 qualitative study, amphetamines may enhance sexual experience. Keep in mind, though, that this study comes from a sample of 35 interviewees and is based on their sexuality and personal experiences in various social settings. Because of the lack of objective data, more research is needed to deduce any firm findings of the connection.

If you’re looking for proven premature ejaculation treatments, though, plenty exist. Over-the-counter options, such as our Clockstopper benzocaine wipes or Climax Delay condoms may help you to last longer in bed by reducing sensitivity around the tip of your penis.

You can also check out the Hims guide to increasing sexual stamina for information on how premature ejaculation treatments work, plus how you can use them to improve your sexual performance.

Does Adderall Affect Sexual Desire?

Adderall may affect sexual desire, both as a direct and indirect side effect.

Certain mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, may be amplified when taking Adderall, and anxiety and depression can contribute to a low sex drive in men.

However, as noted in the aforementioned qualitative study, some find amphetamines to be among drugs that increase sex drive. But there’s still not enough evidence to say this is true for the majority of people, nor was this study conducted on people taking amphetamines for ADHD. 

Whether Adderall affects sexual desire positively, negatively, or at all seems to vary from person to person.

Dealing with erection issues can be a frustrating experience. Luckily, ED is almost always treatable. If you’ve recently started to experience problems getting an erection and think your use of Adderall is the cause, it’s best to talk to a healthcare professional.

When you talk to your doctor, inform them about your symptoms and when they started. ED is a common issue affecting men of all ages, meaning there’s no need to feel embarrassed about it.

If you feel uncomfortable talking about ED in person, you can still get help online from a medical professional.

Your provider might suggest making changes to your Adderall prescription in order to reduce the severity of ED symptoms you’re experiencing and improve your sexual performance. These changes may include:

• Adjusting your dosage or how you take Adderall

• Exploring other ED treatment options

• Making lifestyle changes

Adjusting Your Dosage or How You Take Adderall

Making a few tweaks to your regimen may help improve how you respond to Adderall. Try the following:

• Adjust your dosage on days you have sex. This could help reduce the severity of ED symptoms. But only adjust your dosage of Adderall after getting medical advice from your healthcare provider.

• Don’t take Adderall before sex. If you take a split dose of Adderall throughout the day, your provider might suggest not taking it shortly before sexual activity. Don’t stop or change the way you are taking Adderall without first talking to a healthcare professional.

• Wait it out. If you’ve only recently started taking Adderall, your healthcare provider may recommend waiting several weeks to see if your ED symptoms disappear on their own over time.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend switching to a different medication to treat ADHD symptoms.

Exploring ED Treatment Options

Your healthcare provider might also prescribe ED medication to help improve your erectile health and sexual performance.

Several medications are available to treat ED. Common oral ED medications include:

• Sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra^®, sildenafil, is a fast-acting medication that can provide relief from ED for approximately four hours.

• Tadalafil. The active ingredient in Cialis^®, tadalafil, is a long-acting ED medication designed to relieve ED for up to 36 hours per dose.

• Vardenafil. The active ingredient in Levitra^®, vardenafil, offers relief from ED for a little longer than sildenafil.

• Avanafil. A newer, second-generation ED medication, avanafil (sold as the brand-name medication Stendra^®), works quickly to provide relief from ED and is less likely to cause certain side effects than older medications.

These medications belong to a class called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by increasing blood flow to the tissue of your penis. Our guide to PDE5 inhibitors explains how these medicines work, their advantages, and potential side effects.

Don’t love swallowing pills? Hims offers chewable hard mints for ED, which might be a great option for you. There is also an injectable ED medication, alprostadil, and a newer topical ED treatment, Eroxon^®.

If your erectile dysfunction is related to an underlying health condition, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may prescribe additional medication.

Making Lifestyle Changes

Finally, it’s often possible to reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction and improve sexual health by making changes to your habits and lifestyle. Try to:

• Maintain a healthy body weight. Research shows that being overweight or obese can increase your risk of ED. Obesity is also linked to other issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, that can cause erectile dysfunction. As such, weight loss may help reverse the condition for some people.

• Keep yourself active. According to a 2018 review of studies, 40 minutes of aerobic exercise four times per week can decrease ED symptoms. For those with ED linked to medical issues like obesity or hypertension, 160 minutes of exercise weekly for six months was found to decrease erectile issues.

• Avoid cigarettes and nicotine. Nicotine and many other chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage blood vessels and impact blood flow, potentially affecting erectile function and sexual health. If you smoke, make an effort to quit. Your healthcare provider might be able to prescribe medication to make the process of kicking the habit easier.

• Drink alcohol in moderation. Research shows that people who drink large amounts of alcohol are more likely to develop a sexual dysfunction, including ED, low sexual desire, and PE. So, try to drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

If you’re experiencing sudden ED, talk to your healthcare provider before making any lifestyle changes. They can also help you with temporary ED or long-term ED issues.

If you’re taking Adderall and having trouble getting an erection, there could be a few reasons to explain it. Although some common side effects of Adderall might be related to ED, there’s not much evidence to prove the connection.

Here are a few things to remember:

• Brand-name Adderall is not directly linked to ED, but amphetamines in its formulation may impact sexual function. Adderall is a stimulant medication typically prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy. It contains amphetamines, which some research has shown to cause ED issues.

• Some other side effects of Adderall may impact your erectile function. These side effects include anxiety and depression, which are known risk factors for ED.

• There are treatments available. You can switch up your regimen (with your provider’s approval) or try erectile dysfunction medications, like Viagra^® and Cialis^®. Lifestyle changes like weight loss, eating a healthy diet, and staying active can also help improve ED symptoms.

Learn more about the potential side effects of Adderall with our guide to Adderall and hair loss, and explore alternatives to Adderall.