Medicines can cause various sexual problems for adults, including:
The following is a list of medicines that are known to cause sexual problems for some people. It's important to note that not everyone responds in the same way to these medicines. The risk of sexual side effects is increased if you're taking more than 1 of them.
If you're taking a medicine and you're worried about its effects, don't stop taking it suddenly. Talk with your healthcare provider first. Sometimes there might be a different medicine you can take that's less likely to cause sexual problems.
Recreational drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, stimulants and hallucinogens also affect sexual function.
Short-term use of alcohol affects sexual desire, diminishes performance and can delay orgasm or ejaculation.
Drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs while taking some medicines can make sexual side effects worse.
Not all sexual problems are caused by medicines, so it isn’t always easy to know whether medicines are the cause.
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by physical and emotional factors, or a combination of both. Sexual problems may be due to relationship difficulties or other causes.
Sometimes the underlying medical condition being treated can also affect erectile function. For example, high blood pressure (hypertension), depression and psychosis are associated with sexual problems.
Read more about erectile dysfunction.
If you’re worried about your medicines causing sexual problems, don’t stop taking your medicine suddenly. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Some medicines need to be stopped gradually, as sudden withdrawal can make you feel very unwell.
Sometimes a more suitable medicine can be found or your dose can be reduced.
For erectile dysfunction, your healthcare provider will consider if taking a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (such as sildenafil or tadalafil) is suitable for you. However, these medicines aren’t suitable if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines.
For vaginal dryness, your healthcare provider will consider if oestrogen vaginal cream is suitable for you.
Read more about talking to your doctor about sexual problems.
Medicines for depression or other mental disorders and difficulties with sex (sexual dysfunction)(external link) Medsafe, NZ, 2016
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
Medicines and side effects(external link) Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Valeiro C, Matos C, Scholl J, van Hunsel F. Drug-induced sexual dysfunction – an analysis of reports to a national pharmacovigilance database(external link) Drug Safety 2022 Jun;45(6):639–650
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Stephanie Yee, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
