Drugs That Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Drugs that cause erectile dysfunction range from prescription antidepressants to over-the-counter antihistamines. But not every guy responds to a drug the same way, so b keep reading to find out how to navigate this side effect responsibly.

Dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED) isn’t fun, but there are solutions available. In some cases, your healthcare provider may suggest switching to another medication to clear up side effects like ED or adding another medication to your treatment plan.

This article will discuss medications and recreational drugs that cause erectile dysfunction and what you can do about it.

Erectile dysfunction is a condition defined as being unable to achieve an erection firm enough or keep it long enough for satisfactory sexual performance. Knowing your cause of erectile dysfunction can help you narrow down which ED treatment is best for you. There can be several causes of ED, including mental health issues, lifestyle habits, and certain medications.

For example, medications that affect your cardiovascular and nervous systems can potentially cause ED as a sexual side effect due to how these drugs affect blood flow. And medications that impact your brain could make it more difficult to become aroused or sexually stimulated.

Prescription drugs that cause erectile dysfunction can either increase the risk of erectile dysfunction on their own or when combined with other ED causes, such as cardiovascular disease.

Erectile dysfunction caused by a medication or other substance may be referred to as drug-induced erectile dysfunction.

Medications linked to erectile dysfunction include:

• Psychiatric drugs

• High blood pressure medications

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs

• Antihistamines

• Chemotherapy medicines

• Opioids drugs

Psychiatric Drugs

Many commonly-used psychiatric drugs — such as antidepressant medications — can cause sexual side effects, sometimes referred to as antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.

People may experience less desire for sex (a decrease in libido), delayed orgasm, delayed ejaculation, or erection problems.

Different types of antidepressants can cause ED, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and more.

This guide on antidepressants and erectile dysfunction goes into more detail on antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.

Other psychiatric medications that can cause erectile dysfunction are anti-anxiety medications and antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic medications are used to treat psychosis, such as schizophrenia, severe depression, and some forms of bipolar disorder.

Several kinds of psychiatric drugs can potentially cause ED, whether antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction or as a side effect of antipsychotic medications. These include:

• Amitriptyline (Elavil)

• Amoxapine (Asendin)

• Buspirone (Buspar)

• Citalopram (Celexa®)

• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

• Clomipramine (Anafranil)

• Clorazepate (Tranxene)

• Desipramine (Norpramin)

• Diazepam (Valium)

• Doxepin (Sinequan)

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)

• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

• Fluphenazine (Prolixin)

• Imipramine (Tofranil)

• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

• Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Meprobamate (Equanil)

• Mesoridazine (Serentil)

• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

• Oxazepam (Serax)

• Paroxetine (Paxil®)

• Phenelzine (Nardil)

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

• Sertraline (Zoloft®)

• Thioridazine (Mellaril)

• Thiothixene (Navane)

• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

• Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

High Blood Pressure Medications

High blood pressure (hypertension) and erectile dysfunction can be a tricky situation to manage. Why? While some high blood pressure medications can cause erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure is a health condition that can also be a cause of ED.

High blood pressure affects blood flow throughout the entire body — including to your penis, and healthy penile blood flow is necessary for erections.

On the other hand, high blood pressure medications are thought to cause ED by lowering blood pressure and the volume of blood entering the penis.

Different types of medications used to treat high blood pressure include hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and diuretics ("water pills").

Some high blood pressure medications don’t cause ED as often, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and a type called alpha-blockers.

The high blood pressure drugs that most often cause erectile dysfunction include:

• Aldactone (spironolactone)

• Aldomet (methyldopa)

• Apresoline (hydralazine)

• Bethanidine

• Bumex (bumetanide)

• Calan (verapamil)

• Capoten (captopril)

• Catapres (clonidine)

• Dibenzyline (phenoxybenzamine)

• Diuril (chlorothiazide)

• Esidrix (hydrochlorothiazide)

• Haldol (haloperidol)

• Hygroton (chlorthalidone)

• Inderal (propranolol)

• Ismelin (guanethidine)

• Lasix (furosemide)

• Lopressor (metoprolol)

• Maxzide (triamterene)

• Minipress (prazosin)

• Normodyne (labetalol)

• Procardia (nifedipine)

• Regitine (phentolamine)

• Serpasil (reserpine)

• Tenex (guanfacine)

• Tenormin (atenolol)

• Vasotec (enalapril)

• Wytensin (guanabenz)

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

There is little evidence that cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins cause erectile dysfunction, and some research shows these drugs may actually improve ED symptoms.

However, not all people react to drugs the same way. In one 2024 analysis, the statin atorvastatin was linked to an increased risk of ED, indicating a causal relationship. This may be due to the way the drug impacts testosterone levels.

Antihistamines

Certain antihistamines, commonly taken for allergies, are also used to treat heartburn by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical in the body involved in allergic reactions and the regulation of stomach acid.

However, histamine also helps relax smooth muscles, another part of how erections work. When the smooth muscles of the penis relax, this allows the blood vessels to engorge and increases blood flow. So taking an antihistamine may, in the short-term, decrease the likelihood of your erection. 

Antihistamines can often be purchased over the counter (OTC). The OTC drugs that cause erectile dysfunction may include:

• Antivert (meclizine)

• Axid (nizatidine)

• Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

• Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)

• Pepcid (famotidine)

• Tagamet (cimetidine)

Chemotherapy Medicines

Chemotherapy and other hormonal drugs — like those used for the medical treatment of prostate cancer — can cause erectile dysfunction.

These medications have anti-androgenic effects, meaning they block the action of testosterone or lower testosterone. Though anti-androgens can slow the growth of a cancerous tumor, they can also increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Drugs used in chemotherapy and other hormonal medicines that cause erectile dysfunction include:

• Casodex (bicalutamide)

• Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)

• Firmagon (degarelix)

• Eulexin (flutamide)

• Lupron (leuprorelin)

• Myleran (busulfan)

• Nilandron (nilutamide)

• Nizoral (ketoconazole)

• Zoladex (goserelin)

Opioid Drugs

Opioids are drugs that reduce pain and include medications like oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, and the illegal drug heroin.

Research shows sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of opioid drugs in both men and women. Users may experience a loss of sexual desire and sexual satisfaction, as well as ED in men.

Drugs typically used in social settings or recreationally — both legal and illegal — can cause erectile dysfunction in different ways.

Some, like alcohol, can affect blood pressure or cause the narrowing of blood vessels, both of which restrict the flow of blood to the penis. Others might affect brain signals that affect erectile function.

Recreational drugs that increase the risk of ED include:

• Alcohol

• Amphetamines, including crystal meth

• Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital and Seconal (secobarbital)

• Cocaine

• Heroin

• Marijuana

• Nicotine

If erectile dysfunction is affecting your sexual performance, talking to a healthcare professional is a good first step to finding a solution. They may recommend ED treatments that enhance sexual performance while allowing you to continue taking potentially life-saving medications.

Here are some ways to help improve sexual function:

• Determine the root cause of your ED symptoms. Your healthcare provider can help you figure out if any medications you’re currently taking are the cause of your ED. They can also rule out other factors like weight, heart disease, smoking, or depression.

• Consider oral ED medications. Phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors are a common ED treatment. These prescription medications relax and widen the blood vessels to promote blood flow. Examples of PDE5 inhibitors include tadalafil (Cialis®), avanafil (Stendra®), sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), and Hims Hard Mints.

• Explore therapy options. If the cause of your erectile dysfunction is anxiety or depression, psychotherapy is another viable treatment option. Several types of therapy are helpful for ED, including sex therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and counseling.

Erectile dysfunction is a common condition among men of all ages and backgrounds. While there can be many things that cause ED, medications are one possible factor. Here’s what we know.

• What medications cause erectile dysfunction? Most often, antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and recreational drugs can lead to sexual dysfunction.

• How do these medications impact sexual function? These medications can affect sexual desire or sexual stimulation, blood flow, hormones, or other factors contributing to sexual health.

• A healthcare provider can help you come up with solutions. If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction or another sexual dysfunction like premature ejaculation, talk to your healthcare provider to rule out any possible causes, including medications you may be taking. From there, they’ll recommend an ED treatment plan for your symptoms and conditions.

Connect with a healthcare provider on Hims today.