Is it hard for you to get your husband or wife in the mood? Is your own sex drive non-existent ? You may need to take a look in your medicine cabinet for the answer. It may be hidden inside a pill bottle.
All medications come with some risk of side effects, ranging from mild to severe. One such side effect is loss of libido in both men and women. There are several medications that may be have caused your sex drive to plummet.
Spironolactone (Brand Name: Aldactone)
Increased prolactin, known as hyperprolactinemia, is one of the underlying causes of a medication-induced loss of sex drive. Spironolactone is a known culprit for causing hyperprolactinemia, which can lead to a loss of libido in men and women, as well as impotence in men. Spironolactone has a wide range of uses because it is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It’s often used to treat high blood pressure, high aldosterone levels, fluid retention in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and certain kidney disorders, as well as low potassium levels in the blood. Other side effects may include urinating less often, muscle weakness, nausea, tremors, and headaches.
Fluoxetine (Brand Name: Prozac)
Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, used to treat depression. Antidepressants that fall into the SSRI category are known to put a damper on the sex drive of both men and women. SSRIs target serotonin receptors, which can cause a drop in dopamine and norepinephrine levels in an area of the brain that affects the libido. Other side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, weight gain, drowsiness, and headaches.
Ranitidine (Brand Name: Zantac)
Zantac is commonly used to treat peptic ulcers and acid reflux disease. However, there have been reported cases of patients on Zantac who suffered impotence or a loss of libido. Women don’t appear to experience this type of side effect. In addition, it is not clear how severe or common these side-effects really are. It seems they’re not widespread. Other side effects may include constipation, upset stomach, and headache.
Methyldopa
This medication is used to treat high blood pressure. It may be administered by itself or in conjunction with other pills. This can help reduce risk of strokes, heart attacks, and other conditions. One of the side effects of this medication, which appears in males, is a decreased sex drive. Other side-effects include dizziness, headaches, and weakness.
The Pill
Oral contraceptives can diminish a woman’s sex drive because the pills may decrease androgen levels and change estradiol fluctuations, which are both thought to be main sources of female libido. Difficulty achieving orgasm is also associated with the use of birth control pills. Other side effects may include spotting between periods, sore breasts, and weight gain.
A Word of Caution
This is not an exhaustive list by any means. There are others and you should speak with your doctor about any medication you or your spouse are taking. In addition, even if one of the medications you take has a potential side-effect, it may not manifest in your case.
Remember, you must NOT stop taking any medication without consulting your doctor first. Â Remember, your health comes first.
