Medications That Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction
- Antidepressants Beta blockers
- Some diuretics or ‘water tablets’
- Anti-ulcer drugs such as cimetidine Diazepam (Valium) and other sedatives Some drugs used to treat epilepsy Antihistamines
- Drugs used to treat high blood pressure
Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Many mental health issues can cause erectile dysfunction. These include stress, anxiety and depression, as well as relationship difficulties. Anxiety and depression can result from erectile dysfunction as well, so it can be a chicken-and-egg situation. A psychological cause for ED is more likely if:
- You can still get some erections, for example, early morning erections or erections when masturbating.
- The onset of ED is sudden.
- There is loss of sex drive (libido).
- There is premature ejaculation or failure to ejaculate.
- There are relationship problems or other major stresses.
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction HQ Pharmacy can occur when we are under excess stress or when we are feeling very anxious or indeed are suffering from depression. In all these situations our body and mind are out of balance. Erectile dysfunction may occur as a result. A classical example of this is performance anxiety, where the worry or fear of not being able to perform or maintain an erection causes such intense anxiety that the erection process is blocked or inhibited. Needless to say, there is a cause-and-effect process here also, in that erectile dysfunction from any cause can result in profound anxiety and a loss of confidence and self-esteem for many men.
It is normal for men to get night-time and early morning erections. If you still have these then it is likely your erectile dysfunction may have a psychological basis. The absence of night-time or early morning erections suggests a physical cause of erectile dysfunction.
Your doctor can make an informed decision about the likely causes of your erectile dysfunction from a good chat with you and an appropriate assessment, which may include a physical examination and blood tests. Don’t let embarrassment or fear prevent you from taking action and seeking help. If you have any concerns or questions about your sexual health, ask. Your doctor is there to help you but don’t leave it up to your doctor to raise these important issues.
Tests for Erectile Dysfunction
Tests carried out may include:
- Blood tests after a period of fasting to check the blood sugar level (for diabetes) and also to measure cholesterol and blood fat levels
- Blood pressure test
- ECG and/or other heart tests
- Other blood tests such as checking your testosterone levels
Most men presenting with erectile dysfunction do not require any further tests, but a minority may benefit from more specialised tests with a urologist.