Ask the doctor: Sexual side effects of blood pressure drugs
I'm a healthy 58-year-old man recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. My doctor prescribed metoprolol, and my blood pressure is now in the normal range. But I've started having trouble getting an erection. Could the medication be causing this problem, and if so, is there anything I can do about it?Beta blockers can cause erectile dysfunction (trouble getting or keeping an erection). This side effect, along with recent research suggesting that other classes of blood pressure drugs may offer better protection against stroke—one of the main risks from high blood pressure—are reasons to consider alternatives such as an ACE inhibitor, angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB), or calcium-channel blocker.
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