Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Contemporary Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction pp 81–91Cite as

Drugs that Affect Sexual Function

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Multiple drugs are frequently assumed to induce sexual dysfunction as an unwanted side effect. In this chapter, we review the known mechanisms of sexual function and how the drugs hypothesized to cause sexual dysfunction are thought to interrupt these pathways. The management of drug-induced sexual dysfunction for physicians can be challenging; here, we discuss several management strategies for the treatment of drug-induced sexual dysfunction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McVary, K. (2008). Sexual dysfunction. In A. S. B. E. Fauci, D. L. Kasper, S. L. Hauser, D. L. Longo, J. L. Jameson, & J. Loscalzo (Eds.), Harrison’s principles of internal medicine (17th ed.) (pp. 296–300). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Slag, M. F., Morley, J. E., Elson, M. K., et al. (1983). Impotence in medical clinic outpatients. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 249(13), 1736–1740.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wein, A. J., & Van Arsdalen, K. N. (1988). Drug-induced male sexual dysfunction. The Urologic Clinics of North America, 15(1), 23–31.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Francis, M. E., Kusek, J. W., Nyberg, L. M., & Eggers, P. W. (2007). The contribution of common medical conditions and drug exposures to erectile dysfunction in adult males. The Journal of Urology, 178(2), 591–596. Discussion 6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Stadler, T., Bader, M., Uckert, S., Staehler, M., Becker, A., & Stief, C. G. (2006). Adverse effects of drug therapies on male and female sexual function. World Journal of Urology, 24(6), 623–629.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Oger, S., Behr-Roussel, D., Gorny, D., et al. (2008). Combination of alfuzosin and tadalafil exerts in vitro an additive relaxant effect on human corpus cavernosum. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(4), 935–945.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Oger, S., Behr-Roussel, D., Gorny, D., et al. (2009) Combination of doxazosin and sildenafil exerts an additive relaxing effect compared with each compound alone on human cavernosal and prostatic tissue. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(3), 836–47.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gur, S., Sikka, S. C., Chandra, S., et al. (2008). Alfuzosin attenuates erectile dysfunction in rats with partial bladder outlet obstruction. BJU International, 102(11), 1651–1657.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gregorian, R. S., Golden, K. A., Bahce, A., Goodman, C., Kwong, W. J., & Khan, Z. M. (2002). Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 36(10), 1577–1589.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rosen, R. C., & Marin, H. (2003). Prevalence of antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(Suppl 10), 5–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Finkel, M. S., Laghrissi-Thode, F., Pollock, B. G., & Rong, J. (1996). Paroxetine is a novel nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 32(4), 653–658.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fava, M., Nurnberg, H. G., Seidman, S. N., et al. (2006). Efficacy and safety of sildenafil in men with serotonergic antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67(2), 240–246.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nurnberg, H. G., Gelenberg, A., Hargreave, T. B., Harrison, W. M., Siegel, R. L., & Smith, M. D. (2001). Efficacy of sildenafil citrate for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(11), 1926–1928.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nurnberg, H. G., Hensley, P. L., Gelenberg, A. J., Fava, M., Lauriello, J., & Paine, S. (2003). Treatment of antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction with sildenafil: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(1), 56–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Compton, M. T., & Miller, A. H. (2001). Priapism associated with conventional and atypical antipsychotic medications: A review. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 62(5), 362–366.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Loh, C., Leckband, S. G., Meyer, J. M., & Turner, E. (2004). Risperidone-induced retrograde ejaculation: Case report and review of the literature. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 19(2), 111–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Erdemir, F., Harbin, A., & Hellstrom, W. J. (2008). 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and erectile dysfunction: The connection. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(12), 2917–2924.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wessells, H., Roy, J., Bannow, J., et al. (2003). Incidence and severity of sexual adverse experiences in finasteride and placebo-treated men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology, 61(3), 579–584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mondaini, N., Gontero, P., Giubilei, G., et al. (2007). Finasteride 5 mg and sexual side effects: How many of these are related to a nocebo phenomenon? The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4(6), 1708–1712.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Asboe, D., Catalan, J., Mandalia, S., et al. (2007). Sexual dysfunction in HIV-positive men is multi-factorial: A study of prevalence and associated factors. AIDS Care, 19(8), 955–965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Schrooten, W., Colebunders, R., Youle, M., et al. (2001). Sexual dysfunction associated with protease inhibitor containing highly active antiretroviral treatment. AIDS, 15(8), 1019–1023.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lamba, H., Goldmeier, D., Mackie, N. E., & Scullard, G. (2004). Antiretroviral therapy is associated with sexual dysfunction and with increased serum oestradiol levels in men. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 15(4), 234–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bhasin, S., Storer, T. W., Javanbakht, M., et al. (2000). Testosterone replacement and resistance exercise in HIV-infected men with weight loss and low testosterone levels. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 283(6), 763–770.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Richardson, D., Goldmeier, D., Frize, G., et al. (2007). Letrozole versus testosterone. A single-center pilot study of HIV-infected men who have sex with men on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and raised estradiol levels. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4(2), 502–508.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Scott, J. D., Wolfe, P. R., Anderson, P., Cohan, G. R., & Scarsella, A. (2007). Prospective study of topical testosterone gel (AndroGel) versus intramuscular testosterone in testosterone-deficient HIV-infected men. HIV Clinical Trials, 8(6), 412–420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bruckert, E., Giral, P., Heshmati, H. M., & Turpin, G. (1996). Men treated with hypolipidaemic drugs complain more frequently of erectile dysfunction. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, 21(2), 89–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Rizvi, K., Hampson, J. P., & Harvey, J. N. (2002). Do lipid-lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction? A systematic review. Family Practice, 19(1), 95–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Stoll, L. L., McCormick, M. L., Denning, G. M., & Weintraub, N. L. (2004). Antioxidant effects of statins. Drugs Today, 40(12), 975–990.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Penninga, E. I., Larsen, H. K., & Andersen, S. E. (2008). Impotence caused by Methotrexate treatment. Ugeskrift for Laeger, 170(5), 354.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Murphy, P. T., & O’Donnell, J. R. (2007). Thalidomide induced impotence in male hematology patients: A common but ignored complication? Haematologica, 92(10), 1440.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kraus, M. R., Schafer, A., Bentink, T., et al. (2005). Sexual dysfunction in males with chronic hepatitis C and antiviral therapy: Interferon-induced functional androgen deficiency or depression? The Journal of Endocrinology, 185(2), 345–352.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Huyghe, E., Zairi, A., Nohra, J., Kamar, N., Plante, P., & Rostaing, L. (2007). Gonadal impact of target of rapamycin inhibitors (sirolimus and everolimus) in male patients: An overview. Transplant International, 20(4), 305–311.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Freeman, K. (2008). Arsenic and erectile dysfunction: Drinking contaminated well water increases risk. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(4), A172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tostes, R. C., Carneiro, F. S., Lee, A. J., et al. (2008). Cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction: Focus on NO bioavailability and ROS generation. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(6), 1284–1295.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. McVary, K. T., Carrier, S., & Wessells, H. (2001). Smoking and erectile dysfunction: Evidence based analysis. The Journal of Urology, 166(5), 1624–1632.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Harte, C. B., & Meston, C. M. (2008). Acute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(1), 110–121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Aydinoglu, F., Yilmaz, S. N., Coskun, B., Daglioglu, N., & Ogulener, N. (2008). Effects of ethanol treatment on the neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in the mouse. Pharmacological Reports, 60(5), 725–734.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bliesener, N., Albrecht, S., Schwager, A., Weckbecker, K., Lichtermann, D., & Klingmuller, D. (2005). Plasma testosterone and sexual function in men receiving buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 90(1), 203–206.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Hallinan, R., Byrne, A., Agho, K., McMahon, C., Tynan, P., & Attia, J. (2008). Erectile dysfunction in men receiving methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatment. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(3), 684–692.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Hallinan, R., Byrne, A., Agho, K., McMahon, C. G., Tynan, P., & Attia, J. (2007). Hypogonadism in men receiving methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatment. International Journal of Andrology, 32(2), 131–9.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Aversa, A., Rossi, F., Francomano, D., et al. (2008). Early endothelial dysfunction as a marker of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in young habitual cannabis users. International Journal of Impotence Research, 20(6), 566–573.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Tarry 16-703, Chicago, IL, 60611-3008, USA

    Kevin T. McVary

Authors
  1. Hannah H. Alphs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kevin T. McVary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin T. McVary .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Northwestern University, East Chicago Avenue 303, Chicago, 60611-3008, Illinois, USA

    Kevin T. McVary

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Alphs, H.H., McVary, K.T. (2011). Drugs that Affect Sexual Function. In: McVary, K. (eds) Contemporary Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-536-1_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-536-1_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-535-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-536-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation