The impact of first-line antihypertensive drugs on erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, a problem estimated to affect up to 30 million American men, is associated with a number of systemic illnesses and drugs. Age is not thought to be an independent risk factor for the disorder, but accompanying illnesses and their treatments may contribute to its onset. Newer classes of antihypertensive agents are less frequently associated with sexual dysfunction than diuretics or beta-blockers. However, nearly every first-line antihypertensive drug has been reported to cause some degree of erectile dysfunction. Management options include lifestyle modification, dosage reduction, discontinuation of the offending agent, switching to an alternative drug, and pharmacologic therapy.