Effect of some drugs on sexual function

Over the last century, medicine industry revolved dramatically giving a lot of sick people a chance of healthier longer life. For humankind, medicine was a just like magic which remind me of this old quote” with great powers come responsibilities”.

Unfortunally, a lot of people didn’t have the appropriate responsibilities to deal with that magical power, and then drug over prescription occurs and drug abuse occurs. You will shock when you know that 20 percent of the American takes unnecessary prescribed drug for unjustified medical reasons or non medical reasons at all. Especially narcotic painkillers, sedative, tranquilizers, stimulants and what they thought as aphrodisiacs. So don’t do that, and I will explain later in this blog about those medicines and why I tell you don’t do that.

Prescribed drug as I said before are a magical tool, changed a lot of people lives, and usually your doctor is concerned about the side effect of the drugs that may affect your health but some physicians don’t consider your healthy sex life as a health issue.

So you need to bring it up to him/her. I will tell you about some drugs that may affect your sexual performance. If you take them you need to discuss your doctor about it, asking about how this drug will affect your sex life and how to avoid such unpleasant effect and if it is possible to have another drug don’t have the same side effect.

Effect of hormone on sexual function:

Androgens in men are responsible for the secondary sexual character, baseline libido and potency. But further administration of androgen doesn’t increase libido or potency in men with normal endogenous testosterone levels. And this is a common mistake done by young adults. Actually chronic administration of exogenous testosterone inhibits the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in men causing testicular atrophy. Androgen administration in women cause increase libido with other virilization symptoms (hirsutism, acne and clitoral hypertrophy).if androgen is used by pregnant woman virilization of female fetus may occur.

Estrogens: men administrating estrogen ( for prostatic conditions) suffer from decreased libido, impotence and impairment of ejaculation. Also gynecomastia is a common side effect. Anti androgens: as their name describes, they decrease androgens serum level and decrease both libido and potency. Corticosteroids: prolonged use of high dosage corticosteroids affects the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. Also it decreases testosterone level in adult men. Corticosteroids also have many side effects affect general health such as hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus and depression and all of them affect sexual functions.

Effect of tranquilizers, sedatives and hypnotics on sexual function:

Meprobamate: affect the nervous sexual function by affecting the limbic system in the brain. Chlordiazepoxide and Diazepam: impotence may occur in high doses. Barbiturates and Methoaqualone: sometimes they decrease sexual inhibitions and improve sexual function. But more commonly adverse sexual effects is reported (decrease libido and potency)

Effect of some psychiatric drugs on sexual function:

Phenothiazines and chlorpromazine (doses 400 mg/day or more): In women they block ovulation causing menstruation irregularities and vaginal drying. In men they may cause gynecomastia, decreased testicular size and impotence. Haloperidol: In low doses it increases testosterone production in men but in higher doses it causes impotence in men and menstruation irregularities. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: They affect the autonomic nervous system cuasing delayed ejaculation and impotence. The side effect is dose related. Lithium carbonate: It have variable wide side effect on human sexuality from hypersexuality in some individuals to hyposexuality in some individuals.

Effect of common prescribed drugs of sexual function:

Anti cholinergic drugs: They are prescribed for some gastrointestinal conditions like peptic ulcer and irritable colon syndrome. They cause inhibition of the parasympathetic system affecting the vasocongestive reflex in the penis. Impotence is a common side effect. Also in women they cause vaginal drying and cause sexual penetration difficulties

Cimetidine: It decreases the stomach acidity and used to treat gastritis and peptic ulcers. It increase estrogen levels causing impotence and gynecomastia in men and galactorrhea women.

Clofibrate: It used to decrease serum cholesterol and other lipids. It decreases libido and potency as well. Antihistamines: They decrease libido in both men and women. Also women suffer from remarkable vaginal drying. Finally it is important to count the benefits and the risks before agreeing to administrate any drug. Some people may think that the health benefit of the drug is overcome the loss of the sexual function I would like to ask them what is the point in prolonging someone life without giving him/her the satisfaction to go through this life?