Review finds that statins and fibrates may cause erectile dysfunction

This paper was published in Family Practice 2002 Feb;19(1):95-8

 

Study title and authors:

Do lipid-lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction? A systematic review.

Rizvi K, Hampson JP, Harvey JN.

University of Wales College of Medicine, Wrexham Academic Unit, Wrexham, UK.

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11818357

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between cholesterol lowering drugs and erectile dysfunction. To achieve this aim a systematic review of the scientific literature was carried.

The review found:
(a) Information from review articles, clinical trials and from regulatory agencies identified fibrates as a source of erectile dysfunction.
(b) A substantial number of cases of erectile dysfunction associated with statin usage have been reported to regulatory agencies.
(c) Case reports and clinical trial evidence supported the suggestion that statins can also cause erectile dysfunction.

The review suggests that both statins and fibrates may cause erectile dysfunction.

Statins increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by 51%

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 1996 Apr;21(2):89-94.

Study title and authors:
Men treated with hypolipidaemic drugs complain more frequently of erectile dysfunction.

Bruckert E, Giral P, Heshmati HM, Turpin G.
Service d'Endocrinologie-Métabolisme, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809645

The objective of this study was to assess whether there is an association between impotence and treatment with cholesterol lowering drugs. The study included 339 men taking cholesterol lowering drugs and 339 controls.

The study found:
(a) Men taking statins had a 51% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.
(b) Men taking fibrates had a 46% increased risk of erectile dysfunction compared to men not taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

The results from the study show that men taking cholesterol lowering drugs have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction.