Drugs can affect sexual desire, and this issue has been confirmed by a large number of studies in recent years. Of course you need to take medicine when you get sick, but what specific medicines will affect your sexual desire? Understanding it will help patients to be more fully psychologically prepared to deal with the "boring period" of sex. Here are 10 common drugs that affect sexual desire.

1. Antidepressants

Amitriptyline, imipramine, and doxepin are the first-generation antidepressants. Because these drugs have slightly more adverse reactions, they are currently Medications are relatively sparse. This type of drug can inhibit the action of α-adrenergic nerves, causing the congestion of the corpus cavernosum to subside, delay and postpone it. Therefore, some people use this drug to treat premature ejaculation. However, long-term use of large amounts can cause general constriction of blood vessels, weakening penile erection, and eventually leading to impotence.

Expert comments: The principles of medication control are: minimum effective dose, short course of treatment, followed by the use of new antidepressants with less impact, such as citalopram (Xipram), fluvoxa Ming (Lanshi), venlafaxine (Bolexin, Yilusi), etc.

2. Anti-gastrospasmodic drugs

Atropine, anisodamine (654-2), propantheline bromide (probentheline) can reduce smooth muscle function when taken in large amounts for a long time. The tension causes poor male erection, and the female clitoris and its extensions cannot be filled with blood, resulting in reduced sexual desire and even sexual depression.

Expert comments: Try to take it only when necessary. If you use it regularly, you can use other drugs, such as trimebutine.

3. Antihypertensive drugs

Reserpine was widely used in the past few years, but is now rarely used, and is mostly added to compound antihypertensive preparations. The main disadvantage is that it increases central inhibition and affects sexual function. Even if you take a small dose, it will reduce your sexual desire or cause impotence. In severe cases, you may even be unable to ejaculate. In addition to affecting sexual function, drugs such as hydralazine, methyldopa, clonidine, and prazosin can also cause dizziness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Expert comments: Clinically, sexual dysfunction is relatively common caused by antihypertensive drugs. Patients with high blood pressure need to ask their doctor to change the drug promptly if such problems are discovered after taking the drug. It is necessary to read the instructions carefully before taking the medicine, especially those with original sexual dysfunction and low sexual desire are likely to aggravate, so the medicine should be used with caution. In addition, improper use of reserpine can even induce depression, so patients with a history of depression should not take reserpine.

4. Sedative-hypnotics

Diazepam (Dazepam) has less impact on sexual function. This drug has a muscle relaxing effect and sends out nerves through the spinal cord, but it can cause Decreased libido or even impotence. If you use these drugs for a long time, such as phenobarbital (luminal), methylpropyl methacrylate (Avalin, meptoprol), amobarbital (amital), secobarbital (sucomian), etc. It can cause decreased sexual desire, impotence, or loss of orgasm.

Expert comments: First, try not to use hypnotics and use non-drug therapies to improve sleep, such as exercise and developing good living habits. When medication is necessary, it is necessary to start with the minimum effective dose and try to use a short course of treatment; secondly, choose new hypnotics with less impact such as midazolam (Fourside), zopiclone (Dream Return) or zolpidem (Simultane). North) etc.

5. Anti-cancer drugs

Busulfan is often used clinically to treat leukemia, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia with significant efficacy. Long-term medication or excessive dosage can also lead to sexual dysfunction, feminization of male breasts, testicular atrophy, irregular menstruation or amenorrhea in females, etc. Cyclophosphamide (alkylating agent anticancer drug) is clinically used to treat solid tumors and has inhibitory effects on a variety of tumors. You need to drink a lot of water after taking the drug. This drug can cause sperm and semen deficiency in men, especially when used in large quantities for a long time; it can also cause amenorrhea or irregular menstruation in women. Goserelin is an analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. For male patients, it may cause flushing and decreased sexual desire; for female patients, it may cause flushing, excessive sweating, decreased sexual desire and other adverse reactions. However, it is rare that the medication must be discontinued and must be used under the guidance of an experienced clinician.

Expert comments: Other anti-cancer drugs can be used for different cancers.

6. Diuretics

Sponolactone (spironolactone) is clinically used to treat refractory edema related to elevated aldosterone, and is more effective in patients with liver cirrhosis and nephrotic syndrome. . The drug has anti-androgen effects and can cause 22% of men to experience reduced sexual desire or impotence; women can experience irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and even stop ovulation. Furosemide (furosemide) and ethacrynic acid (diuretic acid) have strong diuretic effects and are generally used in renal failure. Hypokalemia can be induced, resulting in impotence, but the symptoms of impotence can be improved by supplementing potassium salts.

Expert comments: Furosemide and ethacrynic acid, as strong diuretics, are generally used in acute and severe cases for a short period of time, so their impact is very small; as a weak diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (hydrochlorothiazide) It is mainly used clinically to lower blood pressure, and is mostly used in compound formulations. Its dosage is small and its impact is small. In addition, spironolactone should be used in small doses and for short courses of treatment.

7. Antipsychotics

Almost all antipsychotic drugs have a "sweeping" effect. This type of medicine can inhibit the congestion and semen ejaculation process of the corpus cavernosum of the penis, causing impotence and difficulty in ejaculation. If male patients use chlorpromazine up to 400 mg per day, not only will their sexual desire be reduced, but they will also suffer from impotence. If they use it for a long time, their testicles will shrink. This is not limited to male patients. Women can also easily reduce their sexual desire after taking it. In addition, long-term use of thioridazine can cause impotence or amenorrhea. Among them, the incidence of sexual dysfunction caused by thioridazine can be as high as 60%, while other drugs are about 25%. Haloperidol is a typical butyrophenone antipsychotic drug used to treat acute psychosis and delirium. If used for a long time, male patients are prone to impotence, and female patients are prone to irregular menstruation and lack of sexual desire.

Expert comments: When choosing this type of drug, you should first start with the minimum effective dose and try to use a short course of treatment; secondly, try to use new antipsychotic drugs with less impact, such as olanzapine and chlordiazepoxide. quetiapine, sulpiride, risperidone, etc.

8. Hormone drugs

Estradiol and ethinyl estradiol (components of contraceptive pills). When these drugs are used for male prostate cancer, they can quickly reduce or disappear sexual desire, and Causes impotence and impaired ejaculation. Chlormadinone is a drug that can reduce sexual desire, make the penis less firm after erection, and even cause impotence. Long-term use can also lead to sperm reduction or even infertility.

Expert comments: Men should try not to use estrogen or progesterone drugs. It is only used in certain cancers, when life is more important than "sexual interest" and life-saving is more important.