TLDR Finasteride, dutasteride, and silodosin have the highest risk for causing sexual dysfunction.
The study by Lihua Wu and colleagues analyzed 61,722 cases of drug-related sexual dysfunction (SD) using the FDA adverse event reporting system, identifying a disproportionate number of reports linking the top 60 drugs to SD. Finasteride, dutasteride, and silodosin were found to have the highest risk signals. Males aged 31-45 were particularly at risk, and 34 specific drugs, including finasteride and sertraline, were significant risk factors. The study developed a risk model with a predictive accuracy of 0.791 and highlighted that 24 drugs did not indicate SD risk in their instructions, suggesting incomplete safety information. The findings underscore the need for healthcare providers to monitor and manage drug-related SD to improve patient outcomes, although causality could not be established due to the study's retrospective nature.
1 citations
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August 2023 in “Andrology” Finasteride changes hormone levels and certain proteins in rats, but these effects can be reversed after stopping the drug.
2 citations
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July 2022 in “Sexual Medicine” Certain medications, especially 5-α reductase inhibitors and neuropsychiatric drugs, are often linked to erectile dysfunction.
54 citations
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June 2015 in “Nature Reviews Urology” Some common medications can harm male fertility, but many effects can be reversed.
2 citations
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35 citations
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May 2020 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Different drugs for prostate-related urinary symptoms work but have various side effects, and treatment should be tailored to the individual.
