Ed Medication For High Blood Pressure

What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
High blood pressure and ED
Blood pressure medications and ED
Other causes of ED
Treatments for ED

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can happen for many different reasons, some more serious than others. On the "more serious" end of the spectrum is high blood pressure (hypertension). Read on to see why and how ED can be one of the earliest signs of high blood pressure—and what you can do about it.

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Erectile dysfunction, or ED (also formerly known as impotence), is when you can't get or maintain an erection strong enough for a satisfying sex life. That can include erections that don't last as long as you want or aren't as firm as you'd like. ED is a common sexual dysfunction—experts believe that 30–50 million American men have experienced erectile dysfunction (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

High blood pressure and ED

ED is often the first sign of high blood pressure (or other cardiovascular issues).

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition where the pressure of blood flowing through the arteries is too high. Hypertension can make your arteries more vulnerable to atherosclerosis, a fatty plaque build-up on the walls of blood vessels. This damage can reduce blood flow to the heart or brain, leading to heart disease or stroke. But it can also affect the penis and cause sexual health problems like ED (Hernández-Cerda, 2020).

Studies show that people with high blood pressure have around a 40–80% increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction (Viigimaa, 2015).

Testing for erectile dysfunction

Experts believe that this link between erectile dysfunction and hypertension is primarily due to the high blood pressure damaging blood vessels. But hypertension can also cause ED even in the absence of atherosclerosis. It can keep the arteries from dilating as they should and prevent smooth muscle tissue from relaxing—two key factors in developing an erection (Hernández-Cerda, 2020).

During an erection, blood vessels in the corpus callosum of the penis relax, increasing blood flow into the penis. This blood gets trapped, creating an erect penis. Eventually, this trapped blood gets released, the erection subsides, and blood flow returns to normal. High blood pressure interferes with sexual function by preventing your blood vessels from relaxing as they should, leading to sexual problems (de Oliveira, 2021).

Having erectile dysfunction may be a sign that you are at higher risk of having cardiovascular problems (like a heart attack or stroke) if you have high blood pressure (Viigimaa, 2015).

Blood pressure medications and ED

Not only can hypertension cause erectile dysfunction, but some blood pressure drugs (called antihypertensives) meant to lower your blood pressure can also cause ED—further complicating matters.

Healthcare providers commonly use beta-blockers to treat high blood pressure, especially those with heart disease or heart failure. However, some studies have shown that erectile dysfunction can be a side effect of the older generation beta-blockers, like propranolol, atenolol, and metoprolol. This effect may be due to their impact on the nerves affecting sex drive and erections (Terentes-Printzios, 2021).

But not all beta-blockers have this effect. Newer generation beta-blockers, like nebivolol, may treat your blood pressure and improve your erectile dysfunction (Sharp, 2017). So, all is not lost if you have hypertension and ED. There are treatments available.

Thiazide diuretics (or water pills) are another type of popular blood pressure treatment that can cause erection problems.

A healthy erection requires healthy blood flow. Erectile dysfunction can be related to health conditions that affect blood circulation, like high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: are they linked?

The blood vessels in the penis are smaller than in other parts of the body, so ED symptoms sometimes occur before more serious problems such as a heart attack or stroke. When an otherwise healthy man in his 20s experiences ED, it could be cause for concern. Talk with a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you're experiencing ED (Hernández-Cerda, 2020).

ED can also occur as a side effect of medications (other than blood pressure meds), including antidepressants. If you're experiencing ED, be sure to tell a healthcare provider about all the medicines you're taking. They might be able to adjust your dose or substitute another medication.

Lifestyle factors such as obesity, sedentary activity level, or excessive alcohol, recreational drug, and tobacco use can contribute to ED.

Oral medications for ED are highly effective. Several are available, including sildenafil (brand name Viagra; see Important Safety Information), tadalafil (brand name Cialis; see Important Safety Information), and vardenafil (brand name Levitra).

If low testosterone is responsible for your ED, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is available. TRT can boost your testosterone levels by an injection, a wearable patch, or gel applied to the skin.

Erectile dysfunction pills and medications: Viagra, Cialis, and more

Some people have found natural remedies helpful for their ED. A few studies have shown that certain supplements (e.g., DHEA, ginseng, L-arginine, L-carnitine, and yohimbe) may improve ED (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).

Your erections will be best when you're healthy. Making simple lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol consumption, might be enough to improve ED (not to mention your heart health).

If you're experiencing ED, talk with a healthcare provider. They'll help you find a solution that's right for you—and potentially catch other health problems before they become severe.

de Oliveira, A. A. & Nunes, K. P. (2021). Hypertension and erectile dysfunction: breaking down the challenges. American Journal of Hypertension, 34(2), 134–142. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa143. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32866225/
Hernández-Cerda, J., Bertomeu-González, V., Zuazola, P., & Cordero, A. (2020). Understanding erectile dysfunction in hypertensive patients: the need for good patient management. Vascular Health and Risk Management, 16, 231–239. doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S223331. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7297457/
Nunes, K. P., Labazi, H., & Webb, R. C. (2012). New insights into hypertension-associated erectile dysfunction. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, 21(2), 163–170. doi: 10.1097/mnh.0b013e32835021bd. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22240443/
Sharp, R. P., & Gales, B. J. (2017). Nebivolol versus other beta blockers in patients with hypertension and erectile dysfunction. Therapeutic Advances in Urology, 9(2), 59–63. doi: 10.1177/1756287216685027. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5298412/
Sooriyamoorthy, T. & Leslie, S. W. (2021). Erectile dysfunction. [Updated 2021 Aug 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Retrieved on Nov. 17, 2021 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562253/
Terentes-Printzios, D., Ioakeimidis, N., Rokkas, K., & Vlachopoulos, C. (2021). Interactions between erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular drugs. Nature Reviews: Cardiology, Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41569-021-00593-6. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34331033/
Viigimaa, M., Vlachopoulos, C., & Doumas, M. (Eds.). (2015). Erectile dysfunction in hypertension and cardiovascular disease: a guide for clinicians. Springer Books. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-08272-1. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-08272-1