Men who take the hair loss drug finasteride (Propecia) to help regrow hair or dutasteride (Avodart) to shrink their prostate increase their risk of persistent erectile dysfunction.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that erectile dysfunction (ED) could continue for months or years even after stopping the drugs. Exposure to finasteride caused more persistent erectile dysfunction (PED) in younger men than any other risk factor, including diabetes, hypertension or smoking.
Erectile dysfunction is difficulty achieving and maintaining a sufficient erection to have sex. PED continued despite stopping the drug, and the problem continued despite taking sildenafil (Viagra) or similar drug.
"Our study shows men who take finasteride or dutasteride can get persistent erectile dysfunction, in which they will not be able to have normal erections for months or years after stopping finasteride or dutasteride," said lead study author Dr. Steven Belknap, a research assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Among the men studied, 1.4 percent developed persistent erectile dysfunction that continued for a median of 1,348 days after stopping the drugs. Young men under 42 years old who had taken finasteride or dutasteride for more than 205 days had 4.9-fold higher risk of PED than men with shorter exposure.
Finasteride and dutasteride are drugs that block the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to its more active form, 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone.
Finasteride is prescribed to some men with prostate enlargement or baldness. Dutasteride is prescribed to some men with prostate enlargement.
The study was published in the journal PeerJ.
As many as 52 percent of Americans experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, according to the Cleveland Clinic, affecting about 40 percent of men age 40 and 70 percent of men age 70.
Many drugs, including opiates, barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana, and cocaine can cause ED.
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Source: Hair Loss and Prostate Drugs Linked to Erectile Dysfunction
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