Although other high blood pressure medications can affect a person's sexual well-being, there does not appear to be a link between Benicar and sexual side effects. However, just because these side effects were not observed during extensive clinical studies, it does not mean that the medication cannot cause this problem. If you are taking Benicar and sexual side effects occur, your healthcare provider can recommend treatment options or may change your medication.

An Overview of Benicar Sexual Side Effects

 Benicar^® (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB for short) that is used to treat high blood pressure. As with all medicines, Benicar has some possible side effects. However, it does not appear that Benicar affects a person's sexual well-being. This data comes from clinical trials where Benicar was extensively studied and side effects were documented.

 

Sexual side effects, including a decreased sex drive (libido) or erectile dysfunction, have been reported with other angiotensin II receptor blockers, a class of medicines that Benicar is part of.

 

Keep in mind that just because sexual side effects were not observed during clinical studies with Benicar, 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 its possible side effects. 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 only rarely may never be reported. The bottom line is that it is difficult to say with complete assurance that a particular complaint is not due to a medicine, even if the complaint is not a reported side effect.