Medications that cause sexual problems in women

Some medications may cause a decrease in a woman's desire for sex, which is a common sexual problem. These medications include:

• High blood pressure (hypertensive) medications. These include diuretics, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
• Medications for diabetes.
• Antidepressants. These include tricyclics (such as amitriptyline [Elavil, for example]) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as fluoxetine [Prozac, for example] or sertraline [Zoloft]).
• Antihistamines. These are allergy medicines.
• Tranquilizers, which are also known as sedatives.
• Appetite suppressants. These are also called diet pills.
• Chemotherapy medications for cancer.
• Opioids, which are used to treat pain.
• Antiandrogens.
• Antiestrogens. These include:
  • Tamoxifen for breast cancer and raloxifene for osteoporosis.
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues.

If you are taking a prescribed medication and you think it might be interfering with your sexual interest and activity, talk with your health professional. He or she may be able to substitute another medication that does not have these side effects.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication before talking with your health professional.