ED guide
Evidence status: EstablishedAntidepressants and Erectile Dysfunction
Can antidepressants cause erectile dysfunction?
Yes, some antidepressants, including SSRIs, can cause sexual side effects such as delayed ejaculation, reduced desire and difficulty with erections. Depression itself also lowers desire and can cause ED. Do not stop an antidepressant abruptly; speak to the prescriber, who can review the dose, timing or an alternative.
Key fact: PDE5 inhibitors are guideline-supported first-line therapy for many men with erectile dysfunction, unless contraindicated. (European Association of Urology, 2026; page updated )
Private & confidential enquiry. You do not need to call.
Key takeaways
- Both depression and its medicines can affect sexual function, so the cause is often mixed.
- Sexual side effects vary a great deal between people and between medicines.
- Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms and relapse; changes should be supervised.
- A urologist can look for other treatable causes of ED while the prescriber manages the antidepressant.
Medicine, illness or both?
Low mood, loss of interest and fatigue reduce sexual desire and arousal even before any medicine is started. Antidepressants can then add their own effects, which differ between drug types. Men sometimes stop the medicine because of this, and the depression returns.
Because the causes overlap, a careful history matters: when the problem began, whether it was present before the medicine, whether morning erections continue, and whether desire, erection or ejaculation is the main difficulty.
Sensible next steps
Do not stop abruptly
Sudden discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms and a return of depression.
Tell the prescriber
Dose, timing, switching or adding another medicine are options only the prescriber can weigh.
Look for other causes
Blood pressure, diabetes, testosterone, alcohol, sleep and relationship stress often contribute.
Consider talking therapy
Counselling or sex therapy can help alongside medical treatment.
Treatments a urologist may discuss
P-Shot / PRP
ExperimentalPlatelet-rich plasma is prepared from your own blood and injected into penile tissue after numbing.
Read the guide →Shockwave Therapy (EdSWT)
EmergingLow-intensity shockwaves are applied to the penis. The proposed aim is to support blood-flow related pathways.
Read the guide →Stem Cell Therapy
ExperimentalA cell-based preparation is injected into penile tissue with the aim of supporting tissue repair.
Read the guide →Exosome Therapy
ExperimentalExosomes are tiny cell-released vesicles being studied for signalling that may support tissue repair.
Read the guide →Penile Rehabilitation Programme
IndividualisedA stepwise plan that may combine medication, devices and other therapies according to the cause.
Read the guide →Your physician
Dr. Niyazi Umut Özdemir
Urological Surgeon, UZ Clinic Antalya
Responsible for assessment and treatment planning at the clinic, with a clinical focus on male sexual health and penile rehabilitation.
Rated 4.5 on Google (47 reviews, as of 2 Oct 2026)Qualifications
- • Medical education at Ege University
- • Specialisation in urology
- • Turkish Association of Urology board certification
- • Clinical practice in Antalya, Turkey
Clinical focus
- • Erectile dysfunction assessment and treatment planning
- • Penile rehabilitation
- • Vasculogenic (blood-flow related) erectile dysfunction
- • Shockwave therapy, PRP and regenerative approaches
Education and roles
- • Ege University Faculty of Medicine (2000); urology specialisation, Ege University (2005)
- • Head of the Antalya branch, CİSED
Professional memberships
- • Turkish Urological Association
- • Society of Urological Surgery (Ürolojik Cerrahi Derneği)
- • European Association of Urology (EAU)
- • Turkish Andrology Association
- • Aegean Urological Association (Ege Üroloji Derneği)
- • Ankara Urologists Association
Ask the urologist about your case
Send your history and the clinic will advise which options may be relevant. Suitability is decided after medical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Which antidepressants cause sexual problems?
Several types can, and SSRIs are among the best known. The risk and type of effect vary, so ask the prescriber about your specific medicine.
Can I take Viagra or Cialis with an antidepressant?
Often a doctor can arrange this, but check with the prescriber first, because other medicines and conditions matter.
Will the sexual side effects go away?
In some men they ease over time or with a dose or medicine change, in others they persist. No outcome can be promised.
Is the P-Shot or shockwave a treatment for antidepressant-related ED?
There is no good evidence for either specifically for medicine-related ED. A urologist can explain the established options first.
Sources
- EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Management of Erectile DysfunctionEuropean Association of Urology, 2026 · Guideline
- Erectile Dysfunction: AUA GuidelineAmerican Urological Association, 2018 · Guideline
Related guides
Send your case for confidential review
You do not need to know which treatment you need. Share a few details and the clinic can advise which options may be relevant to your case.
- 1. Send your caseAbout 2 minutes, private.
- 2. Coordinator contacts youBy WhatsApp, phone or email.
- 3. Doctor assessmentThe urologist decides suitability.
Private & confidential enquiry. You do not need to call.
This page provides general information and does not diagnose ED or decide whether a treatment is suitable for you. Suitability and expected benefit vary between patients and are decided after medical assessment. Treatments described as experimental or investigational are discussed with full informed consent. Seek urgent care for chest pain, new neurological symptoms, penile injury or an erection lasting more than four hours.