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Prescription Medicine and Erection Problems

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 change the amount you take or find an alternative.

Medicines with a high incidence of causing erection problems include:

  • Clomipramine (Anafranil), which is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Flutamide, which is used to treat prostate cancer.
  • Leuprolide (Eligard), which is used to treat prostate cancer.
  • Naltrexone (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 (such as Lopressor)
  • Nifedipine (such as Procardia)
  • Propranolol (such as Inderal)

Diuretics
  • Acetazolamide (such as Diamox)
  • Chlorothiazide (such as Diuril)
  • Chlorthalidone (such as Thalitone)
  • Hydralazine
  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Spironolactone (such as Aldactone)
  • Triamterene (such as Dyrenium)

Antidepressants
  • Amitriptyline
  • Citalopram (such as Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (such as Lexapro)
  • Fluoxetine (such as Prozac)
  • Fluvoxamine (such as Luvox)
  • Imipramine (such as Tofranil)
  • Isocarboxazid (such as Marplan)
  • Nortriptyline (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 Tegretol)
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin (such as Dilantin)

Cardiovascular
  • Digoxin (such as Lanoxin)

Ulcers and heartburn treatment
  • Cimetidine (such as Tagamet)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment
  • Dutasteride (Avodart)
  • Finasteride (Proscar)

Other medicines that may affect erections include medicines for:

  • Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet).
  • Nausea and vomiting, such as prochlorperazine (Compro) and promethazine (Promethegan).
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology
Last Revised May 14, 2012

Last Revised: May 14, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology

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