Table 3.

Medical therapy, incidence of erectile dysfunction, and potential alternatives

Drug	Potential alternative	Comment
thiazide diuretics	loop diuretics	thiazide diuretics: higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than β-blockers
β-blockers	angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor type-1 blockers, calcium channel blockers	prognostic benefit after myocardial infarction or in heart failure needs to be weighed against side effects
aldosterone receptor antagonists (spironolactone)	potassium sparing diuretics or eplerenone in the treatment of congestive heart failure	limited information
fibrates	statins	−
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors	angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers	angiotensin II receptor type-1 blockers may even improve sexual function

Notes: Some of the alternatives may not be applicable in individual patients

Compiled according to Langford et al. (1989)^, Carvajal et al. (1995)^, Llisterri et al. (2001)^, Ralph (2000)^, Rizvi et al. (2002)^, Schachter et al. (2000), and Bruckert et al. (1996).