Lots of guys are proud of having a big penis, and other men with less-impressive packages may feel insecure about the size of their equipment. Yet in the bedroom, penis size gives way in importance to penis health and to penis function; clearly, a healthy, if small, penis that functions well and is handled with skill is preferable to a flabby monster that can’t get the job done. Of course, men with penises of all sizes – and shapes and ages, etc. – may experience penis function issues, either regularly or intermittently, and for a variety of reasons. If this happens to a guy, he may want to carefully read the labels on any medications he is currently taking; some can have an impact on penis function.

Is it all medications?

First, it’s important to realize that not all medications are associated with penis function issues. And even when medications used to treat a particular problem do have such an association, it’s rare that ALL medications used to treat that problem will have that association. And finally, even if certain medications do list penis function issues as a possible side effect, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes that medication is going to experience penis function issues. Every person metabolizes medication in a slightly different way or at a slightly different rate, and side effects are also often affected – positively and negatively – by things like diet, exercise, obesity, alcohol intake, etc.

Some more likely

That being said, there are medications for certain conditions that may be more likely to be associated with penis function than others. Again, however, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes medications for these conditions is going to experience issues with their penis.

Among the medications more likely to cause penis function issues are some (not necessarily all) drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure, antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, chemotherapy drugs, antiarrythmics; drugs for treating Parkinson’s disease, sleeping medications, drugs for treating ulcers, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If a man is using medications that he suspects may be causing erectile issues (whether the medication falls into one of these categories or not), he should bring this to the attention of his doctor and discuss whether an alternative medication might be a better option.

Not just erectile function

Although erectile issues are the penis function problem most often associated with medications, there can be other problems as well. For example, some studies indicate that certain medications may bring about a degree of penis shrinkage, something that most men wish to avoid. Medications most often thought to possibly cause penis shrinkage include antidepressants and antipsychotics, drugs used for attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorders, and medications for enlarged prostates.

Again, penis shrinkage is not necessarily related to all drugs used to treat these issues, and not every man who does use medications associated with penis shrinkage will experience this complication. And as mentioned above, discussing with a doctor whether a drug may be causing penis shrinkage and what alternatives may be available is key.

Medications are only one potential source of penis function issues. In general, a healthier penis is less likely to experience problems, so men are well advised to apply daily a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The most appropriate crèmes will contain a range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D, and E. Applying these vitamins topically through a crème directly to the penis allows them more direct access to the organ. The best crèmes will also include L-arginine, an amino acid that helps in the process by which penile blood vessels are enabled to expand when blood flow increases.