It is necessary to lower high blood pressure to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Some individuals can achieve this through lifestyle changes alone. However, some individuals require prescription medication to manage their high blood pressure.
However, some types of blood pressure medications can cause erectile dysfunction in men. It may be challenging to maintain healthy blood pressure, particularly if you have never previously experienced any symptoms of high blood pressure. According to estimates, 70% of men who experience side effects from high blood pressure medications discontinue using them.
Many drugs used to treat hypertension have been linked to erectile dysfunction, but some are less likely than others to do so. In some cases, certain high blood pressure drugs may even be able to improve erectile dysfunction.
Diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide) and beta-blockers (such as Atenolol) are also known to cause erection problems. When diet and exercise fail to lower your blood pressure, your doctor will likely prescribe one of these drugs.
It would be best to continue using a diuretic until high blood pressure is controlled. You may be prescribed a drug less likely to cause erectile dysfunction if erection problems persist or blood pressure returns to normal. A combination of medications may be more effective in controlling or reducing high blood pressure and the risk of erectile dysfunction.
If you are taking a beta blocker, you may also wish to ask your doctor whether it might cause erectile dysfunction. Taking a medication that is less likely to cause you problems might be better.
Drugs used to treat high blood pressure are unlikely to cause erectile dysfunction
A few families of high blood pressure drugs rarely cause ED as a side effect. The following are among them:
- ACE inhibitors
- Alpha-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- ARBs
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as Capoten, Lotensin, Prinivil, and Zestril, increase blood flow by widening blood vessels. Less than 1% of patients experience erectile dysfunction as a side effect. In this category, there are several different drugs.
A calcium channel blocker is also known as Amlodipine, Diltiazem, or Verapamil. They rarely cause erectile dysfunction as a group. It is possible, however, that some individual drugs within that group may be less likely to cause erection problems than others. Your physician can provide the answer to this question.
The use of alpha-blockers does not generally result in problems with erections. However, the alpha-blocker Cardura was found to improve erectile dysfunction in a small percentage of men after two years of use.
ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as Losartan) are unlikely to cause erection issues or problems in men with high blood pressure, but they may improve sexual function.
A study was conducted on the drug Cozaar, an ARB. According to the survey, only 7% of men and women felt sexually satisfied at the outset. Around 58% of patients reported being sexually confident after 12 weeks of taking Cozaar. From 75% to 12% of men reported having erectile dysfunction.
In another study, Diovan, an ARB, a beta-blocker, was compared with Coreg, a beta-blocker. In addition, ARB and Beta-blockers compared blood pressure and sexual intercourse frequency between the two drugs in the study.
Blood pressure was controlled equally well by both drugs. However, people who took the ARB reported having more sex during the 16 weeks of treatment. Approximately eight times a month before and ten times a month after the event, they reported having sex. The beta-blocker users had sex much less frequently: eight times a month early and four times a month after taking it.
Erectile dysfunction caused by your medicine
If you suspect that blood pressure (BP) medication may be causing erectile dysfunction, please inform your doctor.
It may be necessary to switch prescriptions if it is not just high blood pressure but medication. It is always advisable to seek your doctor’s approval before stopping taking medicine.
However, high blood pressure itself may contribute to erectile dysfunction. If this is the case, discuss the possibility of trying an erectile dysfunction drug such as Cenforce 100 mg, Fildena 120 mg, Fildena 150, Vidalista 20, Vidalista 40 Etc.
You should only take these drugs once your high blood pressure has been controlled. In the case of untreated high blood pressure, they are not safe for men. Additionally, they should not be used by those taking alpha-blockers or nitrates for the treatment of heart disease.