Cardene and Impotence

Clinical studies involving Cardene and impotence have shown that less than 1 percent of men taking the medication reported problems with impotence. However, it is difficult to determine whether impotence is caused by the medication alone or other problems. If you are taking Cardene and impotence becomes a problem, your healthcare provider may recommend an erectile dysfunction medicine, adjust your Cardene dosage, or recommend another blood pressure or angina medicine.

 

Cardene and Impotence: An Overview

Cardene® (nicardipine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication known as a calcium channel blocker. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and chest pain (angina). A long-acting version (Cardene SR®) is also available and is approved to treat high blood pressure. Like most medicines, there are possible side effects that can occur. Impotence may be one of these side effects.
 
In studies, impotence was reported in less than 1 percent of men taking Cardene.
 

What Is Impotence?

Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).
 

Cardene and Impotence -- What Should You Do?

It is impossible for your healthcare provider to know whether you will develop impotence while taking Cardene.
 It may also be difficult to know whether impotence is caused by the medication alone or other problems.
 
If you are taking Cardene and impotence becomes a problem, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend. Depending on the severity of your impotence, he or she may also recommend that you take an erectile dysfunction medicine, adjust your Cardene dosage, or try another angina or blood pressure medication.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;