Smokers more likely to get side effects

[Skaff]

Dr B.J White, an Australian doctor, on Propecia.

The vast majority of my patients have encountered no adverse effects from the medication. A small number have commented that they feel a slight reduction in their sex drive. I believe that the sexually adverse side-effects are more common among smokers.

Unfortunately he doesn't elaborate on why he thinks this is the case. Anyway, just a thought for those of you who suffer sides and smoke. Anybody got any anecdotal evidence to back this up?

 

[Guest]

Not very surprising,

medical study after medical study has shown a link between smoking and erectile dysfunction.

i smoked as a kid but that was before i was sexually active, so, sadly, no anecdotes to report.

 

[hairwegoagain]

I can confirm the sex drive aspect of smoking. I was a pack-a-day smoker from the beginning of my fraternity days up until 2000. Roughly 9 years. One of the benefits of quitting, aside from the obvious normal health aspects (elimination of hacking and noticeable increase in lung capacity/exercise stamina), was significantly more pronounced "energy." Harder wood, more powerful orgasms, and the ability to perform quick encores. These benefits were recognized within a couple weeks of my quit and have remained ever since. Your mileage may vary.

EDIT: My anecdotal story excludes finasteride as a factor. I believe I was off of it at the time I quit smoking. My conclusion is that smoking, in general, noticeably affected MY libido, all other things being equal. I believe the degradation of my libido due to smoking was very gradual, as I didn't recognize the effect until I quit.

 

[joseph49853]

I have never smoked, have never done drugs, don't drink alcohol at all, and have been weightlifting since around fourteen years old. And I experienced a dramatic degree of sexual dysfunction on 1mg of finasteride daily. It got to the point where I felt much less sensation during erections, there was an overall dulling sensation, and bloodflow was greatly diminished. So at least for me, this theory doesn't hold as much water. :wink:

Although, in general, I don't doubt the theory about greater susceptibility to side effects. Patients who smoke throughout surgery actually have a more prolonged and difficult recovery/healing time. I also do know you can counteract some of the harmful effects of smoking by administering Vitamin C.

 

[powersam]

the only time i have every experienced diminished libido/ sexual function, was when i was smoking quite a lot.... was in scotland and everyone seems to smoke there.