Health & Sex

When Good Drugs Lead to Bad Sex

Other considerations

Physicians who treat hypertension and depression say they don't rule out the use of Viagra for all patients on blood pressure-lowering or antidepressant drugs. But they do select these patients very carefully and rule out certain patients. Those taking nitrate drugs, for instance, such as nitroglycerine (such as Nitrol or Nitro-Bid) for chest pain, are warned by the manufacturer, Pfizer, not to take Viagra. Others are cautioned to tell their physician about other drugs they are taking.

 

Doctors say they decide on a case-by-case basis, weighing the risks against the benefits.

 

Whether you need medication to lower blood pressure or lift your mood, find a doctor you can communicate with, agree Ferguson and Rudd.

 

"Get a good doctor who will work with you to find the best drug," advises Ferguson. A physician should listen to your concerns about a medication's effect on your sex life, consider switching you to another drug if possible, or reduce the dose.

 

If your doctor does none of the above, experts agree, it's time to doctor-shop.

 

Kathleen Doheny is a Los Angeles-based health journalist and regular contributor to WebMD. Her work also appears in the Los Angeles Times, Shape, Modern Maturity, and other publications.