ED from Everyday Pains Meds
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:46 am
What do you guys think of the following article?
Erectile Dysfunction Could Be Caused By Everyday Pain Meds
Deborah Huso
Men taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibrupophen, more than three times a day for more than three months are 2.4 times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction when compared to men who don't take these drugs regularly, according to new findings published in The Journal of Urology.
The study, from Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, Calif., used electronic health records, an automated pharmacy database, and self-reported questionnaire data to examine the relationship between NSAID use and ED in 80,966 ethnically diverse men. Of those participants, 47.4 percent were considered non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug users.
After allowing for age, race, ethnicity, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol and body mass index, researchers found ED was consistently 1.4 times more likely among regular NSAID users.
"Honestly, this finding was a surprise, as we thought that NSAIDs would protect against ED through the same or similar mechanisms by which they protect against heart disease," Dr. Steven J. Jacobsen, senior study author, epidemiologist, and director of research for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told AOL Health. "So if our findings are not due to underlying conditions that we didn't account for, it may point to a mechanism that could provide new insights into the causes of ED."
At the very least, Jacobsen hopes the study will provide a stimulus for men to discuss risk factors for ED with their care providers.
Dr. James Campbell, director of the Geriatric Center at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, believes the NSAID theory is worth looking into but still needs more evidence. "At this point, I think you've got one preliminary study," Campbell told AOL Health. "I don't know that you can conclude this causes ED. A large number of patients have ED, and a large number of patients take anti-inflammatory medications. Whether they're related, we don't know."
"We need to remember that this is an observational study and in no way proves a casual relationship," Jacobsen agrees.
Campbell says men suffering from ED should talk to their doctors to assess vascular health, blood pressure, diabetes, and other possible health risks that may be contributing to the problem.
"There are medications out there and vacuum devices to help, but it is important to have an evaluation by your doctor," says Campbell, who works with his own patients to treat ED by improving their overall vascular function.
Jacobsen agrees, noting NSAIDs are beneficial in the prevention of heart disease and other chronic conditions, so he doesn't think men with ED should stop taking them just because of this recent study data. Rather, he encourages men suffering from ED to talk to their doctors first.
Jim
Erectile Dysfunction Could Be Caused By Everyday Pain Meds
Deborah Huso
Men taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibrupophen, more than three times a day for more than three months are 2.4 times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction when compared to men who don't take these drugs regularly, according to new findings published in The Journal of Urology.
The study, from Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, Calif., used electronic health records, an automated pharmacy database, and self-reported questionnaire data to examine the relationship between NSAID use and ED in 80,966 ethnically diverse men. Of those participants, 47.4 percent were considered non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug users.
After allowing for age, race, ethnicity, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol and body mass index, researchers found ED was consistently 1.4 times more likely among regular NSAID users.
"Honestly, this finding was a surprise, as we thought that NSAIDs would protect against ED through the same or similar mechanisms by which they protect against heart disease," Dr. Steven J. Jacobsen, senior study author, epidemiologist, and director of research for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, told AOL Health. "So if our findings are not due to underlying conditions that we didn't account for, it may point to a mechanism that could provide new insights into the causes of ED."
At the very least, Jacobsen hopes the study will provide a stimulus for men to discuss risk factors for ED with their care providers.
Dr. James Campbell, director of the Geriatric Center at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, believes the NSAID theory is worth looking into but still needs more evidence. "At this point, I think you've got one preliminary study," Campbell told AOL Health. "I don't know that you can conclude this causes ED. A large number of patients have ED, and a large number of patients take anti-inflammatory medications. Whether they're related, we don't know."
"We need to remember that this is an observational study and in no way proves a casual relationship," Jacobsen agrees.
Campbell says men suffering from ED should talk to their doctors to assess vascular health, blood pressure, diabetes, and other possible health risks that may be contributing to the problem.
"There are medications out there and vacuum devices to help, but it is important to have an evaluation by your doctor," says Campbell, who works with his own patients to treat ED by improving their overall vascular function.
Jacobsen agrees, noting NSAIDs are beneficial in the prevention of heart disease and other chronic conditions, so he doesn't think men with ED should stop taking them just because of this recent study data. Rather, he encourages men suffering from ED to talk to their doctors first.
Jim