Do Statins Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
March 18, 2021
4 mins
The human body is incredibly complex. Thousands of chemical reactions occur every second while you are simply reading this article. While many of these chemical reactions and bodily functions are able to function without a hitch, sometimes your body requires assistance. This is where medications come into play.
The world of medications is vast and there are drugs purpose built and formulated to treat specific conditions and problems. While many drugs aim to treat a specific problem, the complexity of the human body can lead medications to have unintended side effects.
One example of a drug specifically formulated to treat a problem within the body is the development of a drug type known as statins. Created to assist with hypercholesterolemia, statins soon became a staple in the management of many different issues. Below is a detailed look at statins as well as how it can impact the sexual health of men.
What are Statins?
Statins are a drug that is specifically formulated to inhibit the function of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. The HMG-CoA enzyme is a vital part in the regulation of cholesterol in the body. By altering the pathway it allows for statins to manipulate the natural feedback loop to reduce cholesterol levels within the body.
Statins as a treatment for hypercholesterolemia didn’t exist until 1987 when it was approved by the FDA as a way to treat high cholesterol. Today statins are a common prescription given to those that suffer from high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is a serious condition because accumulation of LDL and cholesterol in the arterial walls of the body is a large contributing factor to heart disease, heart attack, decreased circulatory health, and stroke. Statins have given medical assistance to those with high cholesterol and allows them to more effectively manage their cholesterol levels. When taken consistently statins can help reduce the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries of the body.
When are Statins Prescribed?
Statins are an effective prescription medication that are prescribed to lower cholesterol levels in the body. There are specific indications that a statin should be prescribed or not. This includes people who have indications of heart disease, a LDL level of above 190 mg/dL, history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those that have indications of peripheral artery disease.
While statins are prescribed to assist the management of cholesterol levels in the body, it is not a cure to heart disease. It is important to also undergo lifestyle modifications to limit your cholesterol intake and better your overall health. Statins are a long term treatment and without outside lifestyle modification it is likely that you will stay on the medication to keep your cholesterol in check.
Side Effects of Statins
Statins are generally well received by peoples bodies and there are not many side effects that people experience. Mild side effects can include headaches, nausea, and muscle aches. Less commonly statins can impact blood sugar levels, cause liver problems, and impact memory.
Generally speaking statins are a great choice for those with high cholesterol because it is effective in reducing arterial plaque over time and it has very few associated side effects.
How Do Statins Interact with ED?
Statins alteration to the regulatory pathway of cholesterol causes measurable and benefician differences in those that are treated. With few negative side effects it may seem like statins are too good to be true.
The impact of statins may come to a surprise as statins can actually improve erectile dysfunction. Because statins reduce the amount of plaque buildup in the circulatory system and improve circulation, statins can greatly assist with vascular ED.
Vascular ED is caused by a reduction in the blood supplied to the penis. This restriction can pose a physical limitation to your ability to attain an erection. An erection is achieved through a chemical cascade that signals the structure known as the corpus cavernosum to fill with blood. Cardiovascular issues can limit the body's ability to allow this process to occur and can eventually lead to ED.
ED medication can help, but ultimately the underlying cardiovascular disease and inhibited blood flow needs to be handled if you want to retain natural erectile function. The utilization of statins can greatly aid in the reduction of arterial plaque and can help restore natural flow to the penis.
Can You Take Statins and ED Medication?
Medication interaction is something that you should be aware of. When you are taking multiple medications it is important to talk to your healthcare provider and pharmacist to ensure the medications you are taking do not have interactions.
Drug interactions at its most harmless could reduce the efficacy of the treatment. At its worst, drug interaction could result in harmful and potentially life threatening situations. An example of a dangerous drug drug interaction is if you take nitroglycerine and also take Viagra. The accumulation of nitrates can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
In the case of statins and PDE5 inhibitors based erectile dysfunction medication there is no known negative interaction between the two. In fact some research has found that statins can further help ED.
If you are on any medication or supplement it is important to inform your primary care provider. Providing this information to a licensed healthcare professional can ensure that you are receiving safe and effective treatment. This illustrates the importance of being open and honest during your healthcare visits.
Other Possible Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are many things that can cause ED. Some of which include hormonal imbalance, decreased circulatory health, nerve damage, psychological factors, and some drug side effects. Because of the large amount of causes for ED it can be difficult for men to navigate what their treatment options are and the best way to improve their sexual capabilities.
A REX MD licensed physician can help you get to the root of your ED and develop a treatment plan for your specific needs. All you need is a phone or computer and you are on your way to getting the care you deserve.
Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
The inability to sustain or attain an erection can be immensely frustrating. Thankfully there are many treatment options available. Medication utilized to treat erectile dysfunction is typically a PDE5 competitive inhibitor. This action reduces the degradation of the chemicals in the corpus cavernosum that lead to erection. With more erection stimulating chemicals available in the corpus cavernosum, it leads to an effective means of achieving an erection.
Specific medication treatments for ED include Viagra®, Cialis®, and Levitra as well as the generic forms of Viagra® and Cialis®. Each medication acts by decreasing PDE5 activity, however they all have slightly different chemical compositions. These slight differences lead to the medications working better for some people and not as well for others. The options for erectile medications gives men more opportunities to treat their ED medically.
When Viagra® was introduced, it was the only ED medication available. If you didn’t see great results, there was no place to turn to try something else. Today there are many ED medications that can allow you to find the perfect treatment for your unique situation.
Who Should You See About Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is more common than most people understand and because of this many people receive their ED prescriptions from their primary care physician.
If you feel the need, you can go to a specialist like a urologist, or endocrinology but these specialized visits tend to be costly. There is also no guarantee that they can offer you more help than ED medication can provide.
A REX MD consultation is a great way to determine what your specific ED needs are. If you are eligible to receive a prescription for ED medication REX MD will ship it straight to your home. With licensed physicians on standby you can get a virtual doctor visit with no appointment necessary. Competitive ED medication pricing, ease of use, and at home telehealth visits REX MD is the modern man's solution to their ED needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, statins do not cause erectile dysfunction. In fact statins have been shown to decrease ED symptoms in those that have vascular associated ED. Cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis can be causative agents of the development of erectile dysfunction.
Statins act by reducing the severity of both of these. When statins are combined with healthy lifestyle modifications, vascular ED can be effectively reduced and even reversed. However, while statins can be helpful in reducing erectile dysfunction, they should not be used as a first line treatment for erectile dysfunction.
If you are concerned about erectile dysfunction you may want to consider other things that could be causing it. Hormone balance, cardiovascular health, nerve damage and more are things that could be contributing to ED. Bring this to your primary care provider, endocrinologist, or urologist to help address your concerns. With their help there is hope to boost your sexual functioning with a variety of treatments and regimens.
SOURCES
https://www.acc.org/about-acc/press-releases/2014/03/29/09/00/kostis-erectile-function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6305857/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108295/
https://www.nature.com/articles/cr200861
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30642643/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statins/art-20045772
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