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The pharmacologic management of hypertension has long been implicated in the genesis of erectile dysfunction; the latter is considered the main reason of nonadherence to antihypertensive therapy. Older-generation antihypertensive drugs (central-acting, beta blockers, diuretics) negatively affect erectile function, while newer-generation agents (calcium antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) seem to have neutral effects. Preliminary data with the latest drugs (angiotensin receptor blockers) point to a beneficial effect on erectile function. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, can be safely and effectively administered to hypertensive patients (even when on multiple-agent antihypertensive therapy), with a caution regarding alpha blockers. In the case when erectile dysfunction is considered to result from antihypertensive therapy, the treating physician may either add phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors or substitute current treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers.
Doumas et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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