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Libido Suppressing Drugs

Many libido suppressing drugs can interfere with sexual function and decrease sex drive.

It can be difficult to conclusively identify if the sole cause of low libido is from drugs, or due to the condition and general health.

Medicines can affect Sexuality in several ways. 

  • They can cause low libido and lack of sex drive.
  • They can inhibit arousal.  This can make getting an erection difficult, as well as cause vaginal dryness.
  • Libido suppressing drugs can also make ejaculation difficult for a man and reaching orgasm difficult for a woman.

Physically speaking, drugs interfere with hormones and neurotransmitters.  Some general ways that they cause sexual dysfunction include:

  • dopamine increases sexual function

  • serotonin inhibits sexual function
  • Testosterone as a hormone is important
  • The blood vessels involved in producing an erection.

Medicines that can affect sexual function

The most common medications that interfere with an optimum sex life are:

  • Antidepressants alter levels of chemicals in the brain. In particular, they increase serotonin levels.
  • Anti anxiety drugs can reduce your sex life. 
  • Blood pressure drugs can be libido suppressing drugs. 
  • Cholesterol lowering medications can kill the sex drive.
  • Anti psychotics may interfere with optimum libido.
  • The birth control and libido lowering has been linked.
  • Thyroid, adrenal, and other hormone regulators can inhibit sex life.

Here is a list of some of the most common libido suppressing drugs.  It is important to remember that not all of these drugs will cause low libido in everyone.  Everyone reacts differently.

PRESCRIBED MEDICINE

MAIN USE

POSSIBLE EFFECT ON SEXUAL FUNCTION

Antidepressants

.

.

MAOI antidepressants (eg moclobemide, phenelzine)

Depression

Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances

SSRI antidepressants (eg fluoxetine)

Depression

Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances

Tricyclic antidepressants (eg amitryptiline)

Depression

Decreased sex drive, impotence, delayed or absent orgasm, ejaculatory disturbances

Antiepileptics

.

.

Carbamazepine

Epilepsy

Impotence

Antihypertensives

.

.

ACE inhibitors (eg enalapril, lisinopril)

High blood pressure, heart failure

Impotence

Alpha blockers (eg prazosin, doxazosin)

High blood pressure, enlarged prostate

Impotence, ejaculatory disturbances

Beta blockers (eg atenolol, propranolol and including timolol eye drops)

High blood pressure, angina, glaucoma

Impotence

Calcium channel blockers (eg verapamil, nifedipine)

High blood pressure, angina

Impotence

Clonidine

High blood pressure

Impotence, decreased sex drive, delayed or failure of ejaculation

Methyldopa

High blood pressure

Impotence, decreased sex drive, ejaculatory failure

Thiazide diuretics (eg bendroflumethiazide)

High blood pressure

Impotence

Antipsychotics

.

.

Phenothiazines (eg chlorpromazine, thioridazine)

Psychotic illness

Ejaculatory disturbances, decreased sex drive, impotence

Risperidone

Psychotic illness

Impotence, ejaculatory disturbances

Cholesterol lowering medicines

.

.

Fibrates (eg clofibrate, gemfibrozil)

High cholesterol

Impotence

Statins (eg simvastatin)

High cholesterol

Impotence

Other

.

.

Benzodiazepines

Anxiety and insomnia

Decreased sex drive

Cimetidine

Peptic ulcers, acid reflux disease

Decreased sex drive, impotence

Cyproterone acetate

Prostate cancer

Decreased libido, impotence, reduced volume of ejaculation

Disulfiram

Alcohol withdrawal

Decreased sex drive

Finasteride

Enlarged prostate

Impotence, decreased sex drive, ejaculation disorders, reduced volume of ejaculation

Metoclopramide

Nausea and vomiting

Decreased sex drive, impotence

Omeprazole

Peptic ulcers, acid reflux disease

Impotence

Opioid painkillers (eg morphine)

Severe pain

Decreased sex drive, impotence

Prochlorperazine

Nausea and vomiting

Impotence

Propantheline

Gut spasm

Impotence

Spironolactone

Heart failure, fluid retention

Impotence, decreased sex drive

If you believe that your sex life is being interfered with by libido suppressing drugs, you may want to consult your doctor.  However, it is absolutely vital that you don’t suddenly go off of your medication.

Don’t be embarrassed or worried.  If your medication is causing your sex life to diminish, your doctor has probably already heard about it.

Your doctor can think about switching you to another drug that may not have libido killing properties.  You may also want to look into natural alternatives, such as natural ways to lower blood pressure and treat depression. 

Foods that increase libido are also foods that increase mood and general wellbeing.  Remember to exercise, relieve stress, and breath.

Return to the homepage for the best tips to increase libido

Antidepressants and Libido Loss

Birth Control and Libido Loss

HRT and Libido Loss

Heart Disease and Decreased Libido

Women and libido loss Causes

Lack of male sex drive Reasons

Find out what causes low libido

Dieting and Reduced Libido

Menopause and Sex Drive

Testosterone Deficiency and Libido

Birth Control and Libido Loss

Libido Suppressing Drugs

Libido after Hysterectomy

Heart Problems Sex Drive Issues Linked

Losing Sex Drive

Food Intolerances are one of the Main Reasons for Low Libido

 

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