Chlorothiazide and Impotence

In studies on the potential side effects of chlorothiazide, impotence was reported as a side effect. If you are taking chlorothiazide and impotence becomes a problem, you should talk to your healthcare provider so he or she can recommend treatment, adjust your chlorothiazide dosage, or prescribe another blood pressure medicine.

 

Chlorothiazide and Impotence: An Overview

Chlorothiazide (Diuril®) may cause impotence, as is common with many blood pressure medications. In clinical studies, impotence was one of chlorothiazide's reported side effects (although the exact percentage of patients experiencing this side effect was not reported).
 

What Is Impotence?

Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).
 

Chlorothiazide and Impotence: A Summary

It is impossible for your healthcare provider to know whether you will develop impotence while taking chlorothiazide. It may also be difficult to know whether impotence is caused by the medication itself or other problems.
 
If you are taking chlorothiazide and impotence becomes a problem, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, he or she may also recommend that you take an erectile dysfunction medicine, adjust your chlorothiazide dosage, or try another diuretic or blood pressure medication.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;