Medications that may contribute to sexual disorders: a guide to assessment and treatment in family practice

Journal of Family Practice, Jan, 1997 by William W. Finger, Margaret Lund, Mark A. Slagel

(*) Case report(s), package insert, or uncertain frequency; (**) infrequent side effect; (***) frequent side effect; (****) very frequent side effect.

Note: Medications and their accompanying side effects that have been cited frequently as causing sexual disorders are in bold type.

In short, virtually all antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, as well as a variety of other psychotropic medications, can cause disruptions in sexual function. Many patients may not report these symptoms to their physician, as they may attribute them to their psychiatric disorders, such as lack of sexual desire in a depressed patient. If unaddressed, such symptoms may have a significant impact on self-esteem and may exacerbate the psychiatric condition. Therefore, it is imperative that the physician determine whether a dysfunction exists, assess whether the dysfunction is a side effect of medication, and formulate alternative therapies.

OTHER PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

Many other prescription medications in diverse therapeutic classes are frequently cited as causing sexual dysfunctions. These include carbamazepine,[38] cimetidine,[39] clofibrate,[40] danazol[41] digoxin,[42] disulfiram,[43] ketoconazole,[44] and niacin,[45] to name just a few. These and other miscellaneous medications are listed in Table 4, along with specific side effects and estimated incidences.