Use of Simvastatin and Impotence Development

High cholesterol levels, especially when it is bad cholesterol, can be immensely harmful for human health. Many drugs and medications are often used for lowering the cholesterol levels and improving the heart health. But use of some of the drugs like Simvastatin and impotence may come up together.
Past and Present Experiences

Initially such drugs were found highly useful for treatment of high cholesterol and only an occasional side affect was reported. But with the passage of time more and more side affects came to light and one of the most disturbing effects were erectile dysfunction and it was found that people taking Simvastatin were most affected.
Research and Experiments

A recent research conducted on five different persons suffering from coronary artery diseases revealed the following results.

Within a week of treatment with Simvastatin 10 mg; two men developed erectile dysfunction;
Three others developed such dysfunction once the dose was enhanced to 20 mg within the second week of treatment;
In addition; they suffered from lethargy and inertia;
All these established beyond any reasonable doubts the relationship between Simvastatin and impotence.
However people who were not treated with Simvastatin and were administered alternative lower intensity medicines did not suffer from such problems.

Further Proof of Relationship

The fact that administering Simvastatin and impotence are correlated was further established because when the persons who were treated with it discontinued the drug, their erectile functions were restored within a week. Moreover alternative lipid lowering drugs like fenofibrate and fluvastatin did not show similar results developing erectile dysfunction in the patient. No sexual difficulties were experienced even within 12-36 months of follow up in the patients.
Not Reported in Data Sheet

Some of the major problems of buyers not aware of the relationship of Simvastatin and impotence are that –

Trials and data sheets of the drug do not disclose such adverse affects on sexual lives of the people; and
Only a few research results have been widely published.

Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Committee

Report of the AADRC or the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Committee shows that in as many as 42 cases, the people who started treatment of cardiovascular problems with Simvastatin experienced impotence in the time span of 48 hours to 27 months. And in 35 out of these 42 cases, Simvastatin was the only drug administered while in other 7 cases it was administered in combination with other drugs.
Simvastatin and Impotence

Some of the reasons of Simvastatin causing impotence are –

It directly affects the central nervous system passing through the blood-brain barrier;
It can also interact with other agents in the body resulting in impotence; and
While there are such evidences in support of the relationship between Simvastatin and impotence, it is also clinically admitted that Simvastatin is very effective for cardiac conditions.

Yet the fact remains that though not disclosed officially, there is a certain link between Simvastatin and impotence and that has to be taken into consideration while administering or using it.