heart attack and E.D.,

I had a heart attack in April of this year. I am now healthy enough for sexual activity but becouse of some of the meds
I have to take, I am often unable. This is awful! What can be done?
Thank you,
                Spike

[Janice M Epp, PhD]

Hello.

There are two possibilities: 1) your medication is indeed interfering with your sexual response. The easiest way to determine whether this is so is to notice whether you get erections upon awakening and at other times of the day. If you do, that's probably a sign there's nothing physiological going on, and something psychological or emotional is interfering with your sexual response.

2) A combination of the above. Sometimes, you might not have an erection when you expect to have one, due to effects of medication. However, once the medication is no longer interfering, you've become so anxious and worried that you don't have erections.

It's important to look at your circumstances. Do you feel relaxed and worry-free with a partner, or are you focused on having an erection? If so, you become your own worst enemy. If, however, you're noticing, for instance, no morning erections--or not much of an erection--then most likely there's an underlying physical issue. If this is the case, see your physician immediately to discuss whether there's an alternative medication for you which has less sexual side effects. Best of luck to you. Dr. J