Cholesterol Medications and Erectile Dysfunction

Oct 10, 2014 0 Comments in General Medical Posts by
Cholesterol Medications and Erectile Dysfunction

Cholesterol Medications and Erectile Dysfunction

If you have high cholesterol, chances are you have problems with erections. High cholesterol is one of the leading physical causes of erectile dysfunction, due to decreased blood-flow from the heart. Many men take anti-cholesterol medications, and doing so has been found to improve their heart health, while giving them stronger erections. How can these medications help you if you suffer from erectile dysfunction? Let’s examine.

Statins

Statins inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme which lowers the level of cholesterol in the body. This drug plays a central role in producing cholesterol in the liver, which accounts for cholesterol levels of up to 70 per cent in the body.

A report that looked at 14 studies regarding the links between statins and erectile dysfunction, found that the drugs could increase the strength of erections by as much as 25 per cent in most cases.

Ezetimibe Cholesterol Inhibitor

This is a new type of drug that has been approved by the FDA for treatment in the United States. By inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine, it helps to lower overall cholesterol in the body. As a result, it too has an impact on erectile dysfunction.

Niacin

Erectile Dysfunction ImageAlso known as Vitamin B3, taking a daily dose of this can help to improve erectile function in men with high cholesterol, as detailed in a recent study. In the study, 80 men who took niacin, while suffering from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction, found that their ability to get an erection greatly approved. The men who took a placebo pill saw no improved.

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Made of up a group of resins that bind bile in the gastrointestinal tract, bile acid sequestrants serve a major purpose in helping to lower cholesterol. By helping to lower cholesterol in the body, it has also been found that drugs that use these, end up improving a man’s ability to get an erection. This is once again because they are clearing arteries, allowing for more blood to get to the penis. More blood in the penis means a stronger erection for the male.