Is erectile dysfunction caused by drugs?

Using illicit drugs can result in erectile dysfunction (ED). These include cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, even marijuana. Chronic use of these drugs can cause many problems with your health, and erection problems are just a symptom of the serious damage you are doing to your well-being. Alcohol can get you in trouble, too. While a drink or two a day may be okay, more than two drinks a day can lead to cardiovascular problems over time. In the short term, drinking too much is the enemy of erections. As Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth, drinking “provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.” Over a long period of time, drinking too much may cause ED.

The meds you take to manage other conditions and keep you in good health can also have a dark side: They may be wreaking havoc on your sex life. Erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to get and maintain an erection during sex, can be a side effect of medications used for bringing down high blood pressure and relieving depression. Even everyday antihistamines can reduce the quality of your erections. The good news is that your doctor can usually adjust the dose or switch you to another medication that may not compromise your performance in bed. You should know that illicit drugs can cause ED as well. Besides all of the other negative effects from snorting cocaine or puffing marijuana, they can make you a loser in bed.