Many medicines and recreational drugs can affect a man's sexual arousal and sexual performance. What causes impotence in one man may not affect another man.

Talk to your health care provider if you think that a drug is having a negative effect on your sexual performance. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor. Some medicines may lead to life-threatening reactions if you do not take care when stopping or changing them.

The following is a list of some medicines and drugs that may cause impotence in men.

Antidepressants and other psychiatric medicines:

• Amitriptyline (Elavil)

• Amoxapine (Asendin)

• Buspirone (Buspar)

• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

• Clomipramine (Anafranil)

• Clorazepate (Tranxene)

• Desipramine (Norpramin)

• Diazepam (Valium)

• Doxepin (Sinequan)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Fluphenazine (Prolixin)

• Imipramine (Tofranil)

• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

• Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Meprobamate (Equanil)

• Mesoridazine (Serentil)

• Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

• Oxazepam (Serax)

• Phenelzine (Nardil)

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

• Sertraline (Zoloft)

• Thioridazine (Mellaril)

• Thiothixene (Navane)

• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

• Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

Antihistamine medicines (certain classes of antihistamines are also used to treat heartburn):

• Cimetidine (Tagamet)

• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

• Meclizine (Antivert)

• Nizatidine (Axid)

• Promethazine (Phenergan)

• Ranitidine (Zantac)

High blood pressure medicines and diuretics ("water pills"):

• Atenolol (Tenormin)

• Bethanidine

• Bumetanide (Bumex)

• Captopril (Capoten)

• Chlorothiazide (Diuril)

• Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)

• Clonidine (Catapres)

• Enalapril (Vasotec)

• Furosemide (Lasix)

• Guanabenz (Wytensin)

• Guanethidine (Ismelin)

• Guanfacine (Tenex)

• Haloperidol (Haldol)

• Hydralazine (Apresoline)

• Hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix)

• Labetalol (Normodyne)

• Methyldopa (Aldomet)

• Metoprolol (Lopressor)

• Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)

• Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline)

• Phentolamine (Regitine)

• Prazosin (Minipress)

• Propranolol (Inderal)

• Reserpine (Serpasil)

• Spironolactone (Aldactone)

• Triamterene (Maxzide)

• Verapamil (Calan)

Thiazides are the most common cause of impotence among the high blood pressure medicines. The next most common cause is beta blockers. Alpha blockers tend to be less likely to cause this problem.

Parkinson's disease medicines:

• Benztropine (Cogentin)

• Biperiden (Akineton)

• Bromocriptine (Parlodel)

• Levodopa (Sinemet)

• Procyclidine (Kemadrin)

• Trihexyphenidyl (Artane)

Chemotherapy and hormonal medicines:

• Antiandrogens (Casodex, Flutamide, Nilutamide)

• Busulfan (Myleran)

• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)

• Ketoconazole

• LHRH agonists (Lupron, Zoladex)

Other medicines:

• Aminocaproic acid (Amicar)

• Atropine

• Clofibrate (Atromid-S)

• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

• Cyproterone

• Digoxin (Lanoxin)

• Disopyramide (Norpace)

• Estrogen

• Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar, Avodart)

• Furazolidone (Furoxone)

• H2 blockers (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid)

• Indomethacin (Indocin)

• Lipid-lowering agents

• Licorice

• Metoclopramide (Reglan)

• NSAIDs (ibuprofen, etc.)

• Orphenadrine (Norflex)

• Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

Opiate analgesics (painkillers):

• Codeine

• Fentanyl (Innovar)

• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

• Meperidine (Demerol)

• Methadone

• Morphine

• Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan)

Recreational drugs:

• Alcohol

• Amphetamines

• Barbiturates

• Cocaine

• Marijuana

• Heroin

• Nicotine