Some Medications Might Impact Penis Function

Lots of guys are proud of having a big penis, and other men with less-impressive packages may feel insecure about the size of their equipment. Yet in the bedroom, penis size gives way in importance to penis health and to penis function; clearly, a healthy, if small, penis that functions well and is handled with skill is preferable to a flabby monster that can’t get the job done. Of course, men with penises of all sizes – and shapes and ages, etc. – may experience penis function issues, either regularly or intermittently, and for a variety of reasons. If this happens to a guy, he may want to carefully read the labels on any medications he is currently taking; some can have an impact on penis function.

Is it all medications?

First, it’s important to realize that not all medications are associated with penis function issues. And even when medications used to treat a particular problem do have such an association, it’s rare that ALL medications used to treat that problem will have that association. And finally, even if certain medications do list penis function issues as a possible side effect, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes that medication is going to experience penis function issues. Every person metabolizes medication in a slightly different way or at a slightly different rate, and side effects are also often affected – positively and negatively – by things like diet, exercise, obesity, alcohol intake, etc.

Some more likely

That being said, there are medications for certain conditions that may be more likely to be associated with penis function than others. Again, however, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes medications for these conditions is going to experience issues with their penis.

Among the medications more likely to cause penis function issues are some (not necessarily all) drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure, antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, chemotherapy drugs, antiarrythmics; drugs for treating Parkinson’s disease, sleeping medications, drugs for treating ulcers, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If a man is using medications that he suspects may be causing erectile issues (whether the medication falls into one of these categories or not), he should bring this to the attention of his doctor and discuss whether an alternative medication might be a better option.

Not just erectile function

Although erectile issues are the penis function problem most often associated with medications, there can be other problems as well. For example, some studies indicate that certain medications may bring about a degree of penis shrinkage, something that most men wish to avoid. Medications most often thought to possibly cause penis shrinkage include antidepressants and antipsychotics, drugs used for attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorders, and medications for enlarged prostates.

Again, penis shrinkage is not necessarily related to all drugs used to treat these issues, and not every man who does use medications associated with penis shrinkage will experience this complication. And as mentioned above, discussing with a doctor whether a drug may be causing penis shrinkage and what alternatives may be available is key.

Medications are only one potential source of penis function issues. In general, a healthier penis is less likely to experience problems, so men are well advised to apply daily a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The most appropriate crèmes will contain a range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D, and E. Applying these vitamins topically through a crème directly to the penis allows them more direct access to the organ. The best crèmes will also include L-arginine, an amino acid that helps in the process by which penile blood vessels are enabled to expand when blood flow increases.

Itchy Penis with No Rash? Check Medications

It’s an annoyance. It’s an inconvenience. It’s an embarrassment. And sometimes it can be a deal breaker for a potential partner. Yes, an itchy penis is one penis health condition every guy can live without. Yet, an itchy penis is so common and the potential causes so many that knowing how to battle it can sometimes be difficult. One thing a man should consider when it strikes: see if it could be related to any medications he is currently taking.

Medications connection

In many cases, an itchy penis is accompanied by a very visible rash. Yet, often when medications are responsible, there may be no rash. So, if the manhood is begging to be scratched and there are no blotches, spots, etc., then the likelihood increases that medications are involved. (This is not to say that rashes never accompanied an itchy penis caused by medications—so don’t automatically rule out drugs if there IS a rash present.)

Theoretically, because every person’s body is different and could react in different ways to every medication, any drug could POSSIBLY cause an itchy penis. However, there are some medications that are generally more likely to cause itchiness on the skin. Among these culprits are:

- Allopurinol. This medicine helps to keep down levels of uric acid in a person. When uric acid is too high, gout or kidney stones are more likely to develop—both of which are painful and well worth keeping at bay.

- Amiodarone. Treating cardiac issues is very important and can sometimes take a lot of trial and error. Amiodarone is often recommended when a person has a seriously irregular heartbeat and needs help regulating it. By blocking specific electrical signals, this medication encourages the heart to beat in a normal, routine manner.

- ACE inhibitors. High blood pressure (or, hypertension) is also important to treat; left untreated, it can cause serious issues, even death. There are several classes of drugs that treat high blood pressure, including those called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme, which can prevent blood vessels from widening. By suppressing these enzymes, blood vessels are able to open and expand, allowing the heart to pump more blood, thereby lowering pressure.

- Diuretics. Often prescribed for bloating as well as for high blood pressure relief and sometimes for glaucoma or altitude sickness, diuretics increase the amount of urine produced in the body.

- Opioids. Much in the news in recent years due to epidemic abuse, opioids are intended to bring relief from intense and/or lasting pain. Classified as a narcotic, opioids can be very habit-forming, and misuse can bring about serious problems—and can be fatal.

- Simvastatin. When the body’s ‘bad” cholesterol is too high, and/or the “good” cholesterol is too low, chances of heart attack or stroke increase significantly. Simvastatin is good at lowering the bad and raising the good, making it very valuable for those whose cholesterol is otherwise hard to manage.

Clearly, the above-named medications all have important uses. If use of one creates an itchy penis situation, a man should raise this issue with his doctor. He should weigh whether the itchy penis situation is severe enough to justify trying an alternative medication. If he opts to stay with the original medication, he should discuss possible strategies for helping to relieve the itching.

Often, the itchy penis results in part because medications may dry out the delicate skin. Regular application of a top-notch penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) may make a difference. In this case, it’s crucial that the crème selected includes both a high-end emollient (such as shea butter) and a natural hydrator (such as vitamin E) to create a “moisture lock” to better hydrate penis skin. The crème should also include alpha-lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant that helps strengthen penis skin by eliminating excess free radicals.

Some Medications May Cause a Bent Penis

Men tend to be very proud of their penises, and why not? A good looking penis, especially when the result of careful attention to proper penis care, deserves a little applause. That’s why some men with a bent penis may feel a little self-conscious. It can seem unfair when a man’s member causes him anxiety or embarrassment. Preventing an extreme curvature from occurring can help him avoid these feelings, so it’s important to know about one possible cause of an excessively bent penis: medications. Not all medications, of course - but some fairly common ones can be at fault.

It’s important to note, of course, that there’s nothing wrong with a little curvature to the penis. Millions of penises have some curving, and millions of women find a little curve to be their cup of tea. But when the curvature is so extreme as to cause pain and/or difficulty in performing sexually, then a bent penis does become a concern.

Peyronie’s disease

Typically, a bent penis of such extreme curvature is diagnoses as Peyronie’s disease, named after the doctor credited with first describing the condition. Most of the time, Peyronie’s is caused by a genetic condition or to trauma to the penis, causing plaque to build up in an area which interferes with the penis skin’s ability to extend and stretch. When the skin on one side won’t stretch any further, it causes the penis to curve to that side during an erection.

In some instances, however, this plaque build-up appears to have a different cause - as mentioned, certain medications. At this point, there appear to be three main culprits:

- Beta blockers. Many people with high blood pressure use a class of medications known as beta blockers to stabilize and control it. Also called beta-andrenergic blocking agents, beta blockers operate by slowing down the adrenaline. But they also can cause fibrotic tissue to develop, and when that happens in the penis, a bent penis can result.

- Interferon. Many people with multiple sclerosis or who are being treated for hepatitis C use a drug called interferon. Doctors have noticed a link between multiple sclerosis and Peyronie’s disease, and many believe that the link may be interferon, rather than multiple sclerosis itself.

- Anticonvulsants. People with epilepsy use anticonvulsants to help manage their condition. Anticonvulsants may also be used to treat other conditions such as bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain. There is some evidence that one anticonvulsant, phenytoin, may contribute to Peyronie’s.

If a man experiences a severely bent penis and thinks that his medications may be at least partially responsible, he should contact his doctor. Before stopping the medication, he needs to talk with his physician and see what alternative options may be available. There may be other medications which can be tried. He may also want to explore what can be done to address the curvature. In some cases, halting medication does the trick; in others, further treatment may be advised.

A severely bent penis, whether due to medications or other causes, is not necessarily a sign of poor penis health - but sometimes paying attention to penis health can help alleviate some of the pain associated with the bending. Using a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is strongly advised. Take time to look for a crème that contains vitamin C. Why? Because this vitamin is a key component in collagen, which helps give penis skin tone and elasticity, which can be beneficial when excess curvature is present. The crème should also include L-carnitine, a neuroprotectiuve ingredient which can help maintain penis sensation which may diminish due to plaque build-up.