Substance/Medication-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Prevalence
The prevalence and the incidence of substance/medication-induced sexual dysfunction are unclear, likely because of underreporting of treatment-emergent sexual side effects.
Data on substance/medication-induced sexual dysfunction typically concern the effects of antidepressant drugs. The prevalence of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction varies in part depending on the specific agent.
Approximately 25%-80% of individuals taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonergic antidepressants, and combined serotonergic-adrenergic antidepressants report sexual side effects.
Approximately 50% of individuals taking antipsychotic medications will experience adverse sexual side effects, including problems with sexual desire, erection, lubrication, ejaculation, or orgasm.
Elevated rates of sexual dysfunction have been reported with high-dose opioid drugs for pain.
There are increased rates of decreased sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty reaching orgasm associated with illicit substance use.
The prevalence of sexual problems appears related to chronic drug abuse.
Chronic alcohol abuse and chronic nicotine abuse are related to higher rates of erectile problems.
Symptoms
A clinically significant disturbance in sexual function is predominant in the clinical picture.
There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings of both:
The symptoms developed during or soon after substance intoxication or withdrawal or after exposure to a medication.
The involved substance/medication is capable of producing the symptoms.
The disturbance is not better explained by a sexual dysfunction that is not substance/medication-induced.
The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.
The disturbance causes clinically significant distress in the individual.