In Cornell s case, his doctor doesn t want him to have another heart attack. Hypertensive medications like the ones he takes are notorious for causing sexual dysfunction, but that side effect is buried along with dozens of others in the fine print of the directions. Anti-depressants are even worse, dampening the sex drive in 40 percent to 70 percent of all patients. Your doctor is a highly skilled technician and not above being challenged, said Dr. Mark Kosins, a San Clemente, Calif., psychiatrist. You need to say, I d like 15 minutes of your undivided attention because my overall health, not just this one little part you re trying to fix, is important.
Every person is different.
Some respond well to one therapy or drug while others see no change. The key is to ask your doctor about options. You might need a lower dose or the same dose at different time intervals. Some doctors prescribe drug holidays to let a patient enjoy a sexual encounter before going back on the drug. There also are alternatives in many cases.