If you are experiencing ED problems, and you are taking medications for heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, or if you are taking SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil to treat depression and anxiety, it’s quite possible that these medications are contributing to your ED. There are also a range of recreational drugs that may cause ED, including alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, methadone, nicotine, and opiates.
In this context, ED specialists work closely with their patients, and it is critically important for patients to accurately disclose their use of any and all medications and drugs. In some cases, the use of some medications is non-negotiable, and the current medication regimen must stay in place. In these cases, ED specialists can recommend traditional solutions like ginseng or yohimbe, perform surgery for some patients, or recommend a series of acoustic wave therapy sessions. For others, PDE5 Inhibitor ED medications such as Vardenafil (Viagra), Sildenafil (Levitra), and Tadalafil (Cialis) are widely popular and effective, and are often prescribed to overcome the effects of SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil. For men suffering with related ED symptoms like premature ejaculation, SSRIs can be used as an ED medication to treat the problem.
As far as drug use, ED specialists will first discourage any continued use of these and other self-destructive habits, habits that threaten life, as well as sexual function. Long term users of nicotine, opiates, and marijuana, will experience the effect of erectile dysfunction more frequently than those not using drugs.
ED medications are not taken in a diagnostic vacuum, and ED specialists will focus on the root causes of ED, as well as the signs and symptoms. ED medications have enjoyed great success and offer an excellent solution for many men. Those seeking to address the psychological causes can also seek counseling to treat anxiety and depression.
If you are experiencing ED problems and also taking prescription medications to treat heart disease, diabetes, or some other physical condition, discuss your situation with a skilled erectile dysfunction specialist. After a thorough diagnosis and a review of your drug history they will make a recommendation for the most effective ED treatment.