Toprol and Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction may be a side effect of Toprol-XL. Erectile dysfunction was not reported as a side effect of Toprol-XL in clinical trials of the drug. Since the medication was approved, there have been reports of erectile dysfunction among men taking Toprol-XL; however, because erectile dysfunction is so common within the general population, it is difficult to say for sure whether such cases are caused by Toprol-XL, other factors, or both. If you are using Toprol-XL and erectile dysfunction becomes a problem, discuss it with your healthcare provider.

 

Toprol-XL and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview

Toprol-XL® (metoprolol succinate) is a beta blocker that is used to treat several conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and congestive heart failure. As with all medicines, there are potential side effects associated with Toprol-XL. In clinical studies prior to the approval of Toprol-XL, however, no sexual side effects were reported. Since Toprol-XL was approved, erectile dysfunction has been reported rarely with this medicine. Sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction and a decrease in sex drive, have also been reported with other beta blockers.
 

Understanding Clinical Trials

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine.
 In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people. Sexual side effects, such as a decrease in sex drive (libido) or erectile dysfunction, were not reported as either common or rare side effects with Toprol-XL during these studies.
 
Yet clinical trials are designed to factor out many possible variables in order to understand whether the medicine works and its possible side effects. This means that once a medicine is approved, it is possible that new side effects may occur, since a wider range of people are now taking the medicine and for longer periods of time. However, once a medicine is approved, there are usually no more studies conducted on it, so certain side effects that occur very rarely may never be documented (especially if it is not a serious side effect). Bottom-line, in some people, it's possible that a medicine may cause a side effect that hasn't been reported before.
 
(Toprol and Erectile Dysfunction Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;