Of the many health issues that men (and even women) dread encountering, erectile dysfunction and a low libido are perhaps two of the most depressing concerns. Health experts estimate that 30 to 40 percent of people around the world experience low libido, or a dire lack of interest in sex, for at least several months in a year. The reasons for the dip in sexual performance vary, from stress to emotional problems and the use of certain drugs. Here’s a peek at the drugs and medications that can hamper sexual performance.
Medical Marijuana
While most marijuana users will agree that the weed can give a soothing and relaxing high, it can severely hamper your performance in bed (especially in men). While medicinal marijuana is legal in twenty US states because it’s used to treat nausea, pain and even cancer, it has been noted to weaken or soften a guy’s shaft in bed
Antihistamines & Anti-Seizure Drugs
Antihistamines are among the over-the-counter medications that can severely reduce your sexual stamina. Among the worst offenders include Chlor-Trimeton and Benadryl, which have been linked in clinical studies to a temporary loss in libido. But once these drugs have cleared your system, your libido should go back to normal levels.
Anti-seizure drugs on the other hand, can severely reduce the pleasurable sensations felt from sexual contact. The main culprits include Carbamazepine (Tegretol), which curtails the impulses from traveling along the nerve cells. Epileptic patients who took the drug were noted to have impaired semen quality, increased erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual intercourse frequency.
Opioids & Beta Blockers
According to health and sex education experts, popular opioid pain killers like Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and others are not just addictive, but they also severely reduce testosterone levels, and in turn trounce a guy’s libido too.
Beta blockers are taken by millions of people to reduce their blood pressure level. However, they can severely impact your sex drive, for quite longer periods of time. Even eye drops that contain small amounts of Timolol (a beta blocker) have been noted to lower libido levels.
Estradiol & Drospirenone
These two medications are often prescribed for preventing pregnancy, as well as for treating dysmenorrhea or irregular and painful periods and for treating ovarian cysts. They however, have also been noted to reduce libido in women, as well as cause dizziness and breast disorders.
Tamsulosin & Dutasteride
These medications are used for treating BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dutasteride is used for preventing the creation of a natural substance that enlarges the prostate, while Tamsulosin relaxes the prostate’s muscles. These two however, are also known to significantly reduce libido and cause headaches, fatigue and nausea.
Birth Control Pills
For women, one of the main culprits for their loss in sexual interest includes taking birth control pills. Women who took oral contraceptives often reported a major reduction in sexual interest. It’s because birth control pills lower sex hormone levels (especially testosterone). A seven-fold increase in the libido-killing sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG, was also noted in ladies who took the birth control pills.
And even if the woman already stopped taking birth control pills, the SHBG levels can still remain very high, and the reduced sexual interest and performance could also linger for much longer periods of time.
For those who are married, or are in committed relationships, make sure you talk to your doctor before taking any of these medications. And to naturally boost your libido, sex education experts suggest that you reduce the amount of sugars in your diet, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid excessive smoking and drinking, as well as increase your vitamin D levels and get a lot of high-quality sleep.
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