Which medication can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect?

Which medication can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect?

• A. ACE inhibitors
• B. ARBs
• C. Thiazide diuretics
• D. Beta-blockers

Answer: (D)

Erectile function relies on a delicate balance of nerves, hormones, and blood flow. Medications that blunt sympathetic activity can interfere with the physiological processes needed for an erection and arousal. Beta-blockers are classically linked to erectile dysfunction because they reduce sympathetic drive that can contribute to sexual arousal and performance, and they can also cause fatigue or mood changes that lower libido. They may also modestly lower blood pressure and cardiac output, which can affect penile blood flow. By contrast, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are not typically associated with ED and can be neutral or even beneficial for vascular function, while thiazide diuretics can cause ED in some individuals but are less consistently implicated than beta-blockers.

Erectile function relies on a delicate balance of nerves, hormones, and blood flow. Medications that blunt sympathetic activity can interfere with the physiological processes needed for an erection and arousal. Beta-blockers are classically linked to erectile dysfunction because they reduce sympathetic drive that can contribute to sexual arousal and performance, and they can also cause fatigue or mood changes that lower libido. They may also modestly lower blood pressure and cardiac output, which can affect penile blood flow. By contrast, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are not typically associated with ED and can be neutral or even beneficial for vascular function, while thiazide diuretics can cause ED in some individuals but are less consistently implicated than beta-blockers.