Are prescriptions drugs hurting your sex life?
You might not realize it, but many prescription drugs put a damper on your libido or can cause erectile dysfunction. Of course your doctor is not at fault. In his effort to keeping you healthy he might be indirectly killing your sex life!
It is important to understand that you should never stop any medication that your doctor prescribes. If these drugs are acting like a cold shower on your sex life I have a few alternatives that might help you.
First, let’s take a look at the prescriptions that have the worst affect on your libido.
Many prescription drugs affect your circulation. This is especially true of the blood pressure medications Norvasc, Vasotec, and Lopressor. The ability to achieve and maintain an erection depends on blood flow to the penis. It’s no surprise that when you chemically alter your circulation, it can cause problems. All of these drugs commonly lead to erectile dysfunction.
Other prescriptions affect your brain chemistry. This is especially true of the antidepressant drugs, Zoloft, Prozac, and Buspar. These drugs can be a real problem when it comes to your sex life.
If you find yourself in a situation where your health depends on one of these prescriptions, don’t give your love life up as lost. Instead, consider trying a libido-enhancing herbal remedy. They are much safer than Viagra and they can be very effective.
Get Your Sex Life Back on Track
For men, there are many good supplements that can help to correct sexual problems at the source. These supplements usually either improve your circulation or help to bring your testosterone levels into a proper balance.
Yohimbine: This African herb has a long history of treating sexual dysfunction. It comes from the bark of an evergreen tree. The bark contains an alkaloid that helps to increase blood flow to the penis. In one study, 71 percent of men taking yohimbine for eight weeks reported better sexual function.[i] For good results, try taking 150 mg of yohimbine each day.
Muira Puama: This herb is derived from the roots of a shrub that grows in Brazil. In a French study of men suffering from impotence, muira puama successfully helped over half of the participants achieve better erections.[ii]
DHEA: This hormone plays a variety of important roles within the body. One such role is as a precursor to the male sex hormone, androgen. As you age androgen, testosterone, and DHEA all tend to decline. Lower levels of these hormones often add up to a lower sex drive. By supplementing with DHEA, you can actually help to bring your sex hormones back to normal levels. It doesn’t take much. Just 5 mg each day can make a big difference.
L-Arginine: Your penile blood flow is constantly under control by hormones, nerves and neurotransmitters. And the major bio-chemicals that regulate arterial smooth muscle relaxation and dilation are nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic GMP (guanosine monophosphate).
Research shows that one of the most effective ways to boost blood flow is by increasing the blood’s natural nitrous oxide. Oral administration of high-dose L-Arginine can significantly improve sexual function in men. L-Arginine will also stop the breakdown of cGMP, allowing the muscles in your penis to relax.
One More Thing That Can Help
In addition to supplements, I highly recommend beginning a Kegel regimen if you don’t practice one already. Kegel exercises work the pelvic floor muscles and can be very effective at restoring erectile function. Just flex the muscles you would use to cut off the flow of urine. Hold them tense for five to ten seconds and then relax. Try doing three sets of ten each day and see if you don’t notice a difference.
Stay well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
[i] Vogt H, et al. “double-blind placebo controlled safety and efficacy trial with yohimbine hydrocloride in the treatment of nonorganic erectile dysfunction,” Int J Imot RS 1997; 9: 151-61
[ii] Waynberg J. first International Congress on Ethnopharmacology, Strabourg, France, 6/5/1990
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