Although the attention of people suffering from impotence is mainly focused on the choice of effective drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, we must not forget that there are also medicines capable of causing or aggravating this disorder.
We speak of erectile dysfunction of an iatrogenic nature when the disorder follows medical or pharmacological therapies. There are numerous commonly used drugs involved in the "onset or worsening of erectile dysfunction; some examples are grouped by therapeutic categories and listed by active principle in the table below. It is important to underline that erectile dysfunction does not represent the" automatic consequence of " taking these drugs, but a side effect that occurs in a generally minority percentage of patient users, perhaps amplifying other possible underlying causes.
These substances can alter both the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and testicular steroidogenesis, or act by antagonizing the peripheral action of androgens. If an iatrogenic origin of erectile dysfunction is suspected, it is important not to spontaneously discontinue drug therapy; rather, it is necessary to speak to the doctor, who may possibly prescribe an alternative therapy.
Beyond the drugs and drugs that can cause or otherwise promote erectile dysfunction, we remind you that alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking can aggravate the disorder. Alcoholism, for example, causes a drop in libido, premature ejaculation, testicular hypotrophy, increased prolactin and gynecomastia.
Cigarette smoking is a documented risk factor for erectile dysfunction as it causes peripheral vascular disease, reduces penile blood pressure and inhibits neurogenic vasodilation. Nicotine reduces the flow of blood and induces vasoconstriction of the corpora cavernosa even in the absence of systemic vascular anomalies
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