Regular NSAID Use Linked to Erectile Dysfunction

I have been telling my patients (male and female) for years that they need to reduce their use of NSAID pain meds. Here is another reason to seriously reconsider the need for these drugs and look at safer alternatives, like safe, efficient chiropractic care. NSAID are the over the counter pain medication like ibuprofin (also known as Advil), acetaminophen (also known at Tylenol). These medications have been linked to erectile dysfunction in men. This is according to a research study published in the well respected Journal of Urology Published online February 21, 2011.

“This study is a great example of how we work to understand the safety and effectiveness of what we recommend for our patients,” said senior author Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, PhD, an epidemiologist and director of research for Kaiser Permanente Southern California in San Diego, in a news release.

“We went into this study thinking we would find the opposite effect: that NSAIDs would have a protective effect because they protect against heart disease, which is also linked to ED. The next step is to dive a bit deeper to understand the underlying physiology of what might be happening with these drugs.”

The study showed that as the use of pain pills increased so did the rate of Erectile Dysfunction increased.  There was an increase in ED from 13% to 47% among the study groups.   This was not a small study, that can be cast aside as too small of a sampling pool.  This study enrolled nearly 81,000 men ages 45 to 69.

My position on these medications is not to say they are bad and should be discontinued.  But rather, let’s take a serious look at the necessity in each case.  I am a chiropractor that focuses on acute and chronic pain.  I tell my pain patients that if they are able to reduce their pain medication use, they will reduce their risks of some nasty diseases, including cardiac, gastric, kidney, and now erectile issues.

Chiropractic care is safe and effective in treating joint and muscle pain.  Those are the top reasons for taking NSAID.  Before you reach for the bottle of ibuprofen, reach for the phone and call Innova Pain Clinic at (435) 652-4322 and schedule an evaluation.  If do you decide to take the white pill for pain, don’t worry, there is a blue pill that you can take for the side effects.

Dr. Andrew White
St George UT Chiropractor

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