Medication and your sex life | Private and judgement-free
Has your medication changed your sex life?
Lower desire, weaker erections or trouble climaxing after starting antidepressants, blood pressure tablets or prostate medicine is very common. George Mulaudzi, Naturopath helps you understand what is going on and builds a natural plan that works alongside the treatment you need.
Many men notice the change weeks or months after starting a new medicine, and are not sure whether to blame the tablet, the condition it treats, or getting older. Some quietly stop taking their medication. Others simply live with it and avoid intimacy. Neither is necessary.
The good news is that there is usually a lot that can be done, without giving up the treatment that keeps you well. How medications affect sexual function.
Medicines most often linked to sexual side effects
| Type of medicine | What men often notice |
|---|---|
| Antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) | Lower desire, delayed or absent orgasm, weaker erections |
| Some blood pressure tablets (certain beta-blockers and water tablets) | Weaker erections, lower desire |
| Prostate medicines (finasteride, dutasteride) | Lower desire, erection and ejaculation changes |
| Prostate medicines (alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin) | Little or no semen when you climax |
| Strong painkillers (opioids), used long term | Lower testosterone, low desire, low energy |
| Some anti-epileptic and anti-psychotic medicines | Lower desire, erection and orgasm changes |
Not every man on these medicines has side effects, and the condition being treated often plays a part too. High blood pressure and sexual health.
Why it is rarely just the tablet
The condition itself
Depression, anxiety and high blood pressure all affect desire, erections and confidence on their own.
Circulation and blood sugar
Blood vessel health is central to erections. Diabetes and sexual health.
Hormones
Some medicines and long-term stress lower testosterone. Signs of low testosterone.
Sleep, stress and alcohol
Poor sleep, pressure at work and regular drinking add to the effect of any medicine.
How we help
1
Your timeline
When each medicine started, when the changes began, and what else changed around the same time.
2
The full picture
Circulation, hormones, sleep, stress, mood, alcohol, weight and your relationship, together.
3
Your natural plan
Natural remedies checked against your medication, plus nutrition, movement, sleep and stress support.
4
Follow-ups
Regular reviews to track progress, and help preparing for any conversation about your prescription.
How we work with your doctor
George works alongside your GP or specialist. If a test would help, he’ll tell you exactly which one to ask for and help you understand the results.
Keep taking your medication as prescribed. Your natural plan is built around it, and George helps you prepare for a conversation with your prescribing doctor if a change might help.
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Private one-minute self-assessment
Questions about medication and sex
Can antidepressants cause erection problems or low libido?
Yes. Some antidepressants, especially SSRIs and SNRIs, commonly affect desire, erections and the ability to climax. Depression and anxiety can affect sex too, so it helps to look at the whole picture rather than the tablet alone.
Should I stop my medication if it is affecting my sex life?
No. Keep taking it as prescribed. Many men find their prescribing doctor can adjust the dose, change the timing or switch to an option with fewer sexual side effects, and George helps you prepare for that conversation while your natural plan gets under way.
Can blood pressure tablets cause erectile dysfunction?
Some can, particularly certain older beta-blockers and water tablets. High blood pressure itself also affects the blood vessels involved in erections, which is why circulation is a big part of the plan.
Will natural remedies interact with my medication?
George asks about everything you take and checks every remedy against it before it is included in your plan. If something is not a good fit with your medication, it is left out.
How soon will things improve?
It depends on the medicine, the condition it treats and your overall health. Plans are usually reviewed over 6 to 12 weeks, and George will be honest with you about what to expect.
Get your sex life back on track
Private, one-on-one, in Sandton and open 24/7. Booking does not commit you to any treatment.
Sources
- Montejo AL et al. Sexual side-effects of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2015.
- Salonia A et al. EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2023 (drug-induced sexual dysfunction).
Written and reviewed by George Mulaudzi, Naturopath, Sandton Men’s Clinic, 199 Vanessa Street, Buccleuch, Sandton, Gauteng 2090 | +27 10 205 9208. This page is general information, not a diagnosis, and results differ from man to man.