Conditions and symptoms
What Is Erectile Dysfunction? What ED Medicine Labels Say
Erectile dysfunction · say it: ih-REK-tile dis-FUNK-shunAlso written: ED, impotence, erection problems
Short answer
Erectile dysfunction (ED) means difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. It is common and often treatable.
What it means
Erectile dysfunction is when a man repeatedly has trouble getting or keeping an erection. It is common, especially with age, and can be linked to blood vessel problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, nerve problems, hormones, stress, relationship issues and some medicines. Because it can be an early sign of heart or blood vessel disease, it is worth discussing with a doctor.
It appears on labels in two ways. Medicines such as sildenafil and tadalafil (PDE5 inhibitors) are approved to treat it; their labels warn never to combine them with nitrates because blood pressure can drop dangerously, and to get urgent help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours or sudden vision or hearing loss. ED is also listed as a side effect of some medicines, including some blood pressure medicines, antidepressants and prostate medicines.
ED is different from low libido (sex drive), although they can occur together.
Where you may see it
- 'Indications' and 'Warnings' sections of sildenafil and tadalafil labels
- Leaflets for antidepressants, beta-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors under side effects
- Urology and GP clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Do not use in patients taking any form of organic nitrate, either regularly or intermittently.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It is not a normal part of ageing that cannot be helped.
- Medicine for ED does not cause an erection without sexual stimulation.
- It is not always psychological; physical causes are common.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Erectile dysfunction”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Finasteride
a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, a medicine that blocks an enzyme involved in making a hormone called DHT
- Fluoxetine
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Hydrochlorothiazide
A thiazide diuretic, a type of medicine often called a 'water pill'
- Losartan Potassium
an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), a type of medicine used to lower blood pressure
- Paroxetine
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Risperidone
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Sildenafil
A phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction
- Tadalafil
a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which is a medicine that blocks an enzyme called PDE5
- Tamsulosin
An alpha-blocker medicine. The label calls it an alpha 1 adrenoceptor antagonist that acts on the prostate. The FDA class is not listed.
- Venlafaxine
An antidepressant. The label's patient information describes it as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Erectile dysfunction” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “erectile dysfunction”
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