Antihypertensive drugs can indeed cause erectile dysfunction. We all know that when men experience sexual stimulation and sexual desire is formed, this sexual desire is transmitted to the penile arteries through neural reflexes, causing the arteries to dilate. At this time, a large amount of arterial blood enters the penis, causing immediate engorgement and erection of the penile spongy tissue. During the process of penile erection, a component called norepinephrine plays a key role. It not only acts as a "messenger" for sexual desire transmission, but also participates in activities such as erection and ejaculation. However, norepinephrine also has the function of constricting blood vessels. Some antihypertensive drugs can reduce norepinephrine secretion by acting on the central nervous system, in order to dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Therefore, when hypertensive patients take antihypertensive drugs that affect norepinephrine secretion, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.
If hypertensive patients experience erectile dysfunction symptoms after taking antihypertensive drugs, they can stop taking the medication if the condition permits. If they cannot stop taking the medication, they can switch to other antihypertensive drugs that do not affect norepinephrine secretion, and may also take traditional Chinese medicine to enhance sexual function. By adjusting through the above methods, the erectile dysfunction symptoms of some hypertensive patients can generally be corrected within six months.
