Atacand, Impotence, or Other Sexual Side Effects

There are several possible side effects of Atacand^® (candesartan cilexetil) that a person may experience. Sexual side effects do not appear to be one of them. This data comes from clinical trials that extensively studied Atacand and documented its side effects. In thousands of people studied worldwide, sexual side effects were not reported as either a common or rare side effect. Sexual side effects, such as impotence or decreased sex drive (libido), have been reported rarely (less than 1 percent of cases) from other medications used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

 

Keep in mind that just because impotence or other sexual side effects were not observed during clinical studies with Atacand, it does not mean that the medicine is not causing this problem for you. Clinical trials are designed to factor out as many variables as possible in order to understand whether the medicine works and what its possible side effects are. Once the medicine is approved, a wider range of people begin taking the medicine and for longer periods of time. As is often the case, this can lead to other side effects being reported. However, once a medicine is approved, a drug does not usually continue to be studied. This means that certain side effects that occur very rarely may never be reported, especially if it is not a serious side effect. Therefore, for an individual person, it is difficult to say with complete assurance that a particular complaint is not due to a medication, even if the complaint is not a reported side effect.