Are there other options for my blood pressure medications?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a question and would appreciate a definitive answer. I have been taking Crestor 10 mg for four years and Micardis 80 mg for two years to manage my blood pressure and lipid profile. However, I have experienced a complete loss of sexual desire as a side effect of these medications. My GP has advised me to consider alternatives. Could you recommend medications that are better in terms of minimizing sexual side effects compared to Crestor and Micardis? Specifically, are Zocor and Irbesartan better in this regard, or would you suggest other options?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for your query.

Your blood pressure medication contains a chemical called Telmisartan. This chemical is least likely related to loss of sexual desire and has not been frequently reported in medical literature as causing such a problem. Your cholesterol medication contains Rosuvastatin. Although not commonly observed, prolonged use of Rosuvastatin can sometimes lead to a loss of sexual desire.

If your GP believes that your medications are the primary cause of your loss of sexual desire, you might consider stopping Rosuvastatin for a period to see how your body responds. Meanwhile, you can continue managing your lipid levels through diet and exercise. If medication is still needed for your lipid issues, you could either reduce the dose of Rosuvastatin or switch to an alternative medication such as Atorvastatin at the same dose.

Regarding Telmisartan, it belongs to a group of medications called Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs). All ARBs generally have similar effects and side effects. If a change is necessary, you might switch to another group of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Another concern is your weight, which is around 251.33 pounds. Obesity or high body weight is often related to sexual problems, including loss of desire and erectile dysfunction (Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sexual activity). Weight loss can improve sexual desire and erectile function. Weight loss can be achieved gradually through diet, exercise, and, if needed, pharmacological or medical intervention.

Please have a detailed discussion with your healthcare provider about these issues and consider switching medications if necessary. Lastly, there are many support groups available that help individuals with similar problems. They can provide valuable information and guidance on preventive and curative measures.

I hope this guidance helps you.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need further assistance.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Creator, Lipitor, and Crestor all belong to the same class of medication known as statins. These are the most potent drugs for treating dyslipidemia (an abnormal level of lipids ). If someone is intolerant to statins, we may reduce the dose or switch to other classes of drugs such as ezetimibe or PCSK9 ((Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9)inhibitors, which are more expensive compared to statins.

Wegovy is the brand name for Semaglutide and is also available under other names like Ozempic. You will need to check which brand is affordable and available in your country. These drugs are expensive but effective for weight reduction.

Doctors may also use other therapies for weight reduction that might be less potent but more cost-effective, such as metformin.

Bariatric surgery is another effective method for achieving target weight loss and can be reversible depending on the technique used.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please, let me know if you want some help.

Thank you.