Key takeaways:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) — such as ibuprofen and naproxen — have been linked to sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction (ED).
Many people who take NSAIDs also need to take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), like omeprazole and pantoprazole. PPIs have also been linked to ED.
It’s not clear if NSAIDs and PPIs directly cause ED or other sexual problems. It may be that people who take these medications also have medical conditions that increase their risk of ED.
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Naproxen (Aleve) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieves pain and inflammation. Naproxen and other NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S.
While naproxen improves quality of life for millions of people each year, it’s not perfect. Naproxen and other NSAIDs can cause side effects, including sexual side effects.
If you’re taking NSAIDs and have noticed symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED), here’s what you need to know about how naproxen can affect you sexually.
What are the side effects of naproxen?
NSAIDs make up 10% of all prescriptions filled each year in the U.S. This makes them one of the most commonly used medications. By extension, they’re some of the most carefully studied medications as well. In general, studies show that NSAIDs are very safe medications when used at recommended doses and for short periods of time.
But some people do experience side effects while taking naproxen or NSAIDS. Researchers know quite a bit about the side effects of naproxen. The most well-studied side effects are:
Upset stomach and reflux
Gut irritation and bleeding
Ulcers
High blood pressure
Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney injury
Serious complications, like heart attacks and strokes, can happen when you take NSAIDs. But they’re not very common. Upset stomach, reflux, and gut irritation are the most common side effects. But even those don’t happen too often. Most people don’t experience any side effects when taking naproxen or other NSAIDs.
But experts are still learning more about naproxen side effects. So just because a side effect isn’t listed right now doesn’t mean it won’t be discovered as a side effect in the future.
Can taking naproxen and other NSAIDs cause erectile dysfunction?
There is conflicting research on the link between NSAIDS and ED.
Naproxen might not be the only cause of your symptoms. Check your medication list against our review of medications that cause erectile dysfunction (ED).
Drinks for ED: Certain drinks may help your ED treatment work better. Here are the best drinks for ED.
Need help affording ED treatment? Here’s how you can save on your Viagra prescription.
Some studies have shown a connection between Naproxen and other NSAIDs and ED. For example, one large study found that people who reported taking NSAIDs 3 times a day for more than 3 months were more than twice as likely to experience ED than people who didn’t take these medications.
Why would naproxen lead to ED?
The theory is that NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen can increase people’s chances of developing ED because these medications help stop prostaglandin production. Prostaglandin plays many roles in the body. One of its jobs is to dilate blood vessels in the penis so people can achieve an erection. So people with less prostaglandins can potentially develop ED.
What other factors could contribute to ED?
But this theory hasn’t been completely proven. In a clinical trial, researchers noted a small number of people did experience ED while taking NSAIDs. But the researchers conclude this was due to other factors and not NSAIDs.
A review of 12 studies on the relationship between ED and NSAIDs concluded that there was no clear evidence that NSAIDs directly caused ED. These researchers suggested that the reason for the link between NSAIDs and ED is simply a coincidence. They pointed out that people over age 50 have a 1 in 2 chance of developing ED. And that chance goes up if people have other medical conditions, like high cholesterol or blocked arteries.
So, it could have been that the people in the studies had ED for other reasons and not because they were taking NSAIDs. Since NSAIDs are a commonly prescribed medication, it’s natural to expect that some people over the age of 50 who were taking NSAIDs would also have ED.
So the relationship between sexual side effects and NSAIDs remains murky at best. Despite this, naproxen is still listed among medications that can lead to ED.
Quiz: Is it erectile dysfunction?
Can antireflux medications like omeprazole lead to erectile dysfunction?
Yes, antireflux medications can cause ED.
Many people who take NSAIDs, like naproxen and ibuprofen, also need to take antireflux medications to combat side effects like upset stomach and reflux.
Antireflux medications also help lower the risk of ulcers and gut irritation that people can develop from taking NSAIDs.
But some antireflux medications can also cause ED. H2 blockers are a class of antireflux medications that are strongly linked to ED. They include:
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Famotidine (Pepcid)
To avoid sexual side effects, people who take NSAIDs often turn to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — another class of antireflux medications. PPIs include:
Omeprazole
Pantoprazole
Esomeprazole
While PPIs aren’t strongly tied to sexual side effects, there have been reports of people developing ED while taking PPIs. Sexual side effects are uncommon. However, it’s worth keeping the risk in mind, especially when taking other medications that can potentially lead to ED.
Tips for managing the sexual side effects of naproxen
Most people don’t experience sexual side effects while taking naproxen.
But you can talk to your healthcare team about ways to lower your risk of developing ED and other sexual side effects. They can help you come up with a plan to lower your risk as much as possible. Here are some possible things the plan could include:
Take the lowest possible dose of naproxen for your condition.
Take breaks from naproxen when possible.
Swap other medications for options that aren’t known to cause ED.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no evidence that NSAIDs can help you achieve or maintain an erection for longer than usual.
Some antihistamines have been linked to ED, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine). OTC reflux medications like cimetidine (Tagamet) have also been linked to ED.
ED can’t always be reversed. But some causes of ED can be corrected, which can reverse ED. If medications are causing ED, stopping or switching these medications can help reverse ED.
Viagra and Cialis are medications that can treat ED. There are no known interactions between these two medications and NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen. You can take both NSAIDs and ED medications. But you don’t have to take them at the same time. There’s no evidence that taking them together helps either medication work better.
There’s no evidence that NSAIDs can help you achieve or maintain an erection for longer than usual.
Some antihistamines have been linked to ED, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine). OTC reflux medications like cimetidine (Tagamet) have also been linked to ED.
ED can’t always be reversed. But some causes of ED can be corrected, which can reverse ED. If medications are causing ED, stopping or switching these medications can help reverse ED.
Viagra and Cialis are medications that can treat ED. There are no known interactions between these two medications and NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen. You can take both NSAIDs and ED medications. But you don’t have to take them at the same time. There’s no evidence that taking them together helps either medication work better.
The bottom line
There’s no evidence that naproxen or other NSAIDs directly cause ED. Some people taking these medications experience sexual side effects. But these sexual side effects may be due to other factors like age, medical conditions, and other medications.
Why trust our experts?
References
British Heart Foundation. (2024). Are anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen bad for your heart?
Conaglen, H. M., et al. (2013). Drug-induced sexual dysfunction in men and women. Australian Prescriber.
Gleason, J. M., et al. (2011). Regular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and erectile dysfunction. The Journal of Urology.
Li, T., et al. (2018). Association between use of aspirin or non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and erectile dysfunction: A systematic review. Medicine.
Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre. (2006). Omeprazole and erectile dysfunction.
Patel, D. P., et al. (2015). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use not associated with erectile dysfunction risk: Results from the prostate cancer prevention trial. BJU International.
Perry, T. W. (2021). Abrupt-onset, profound erectile dysfunction in a healthy young man after initiating over-the-counter omeprazole: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Report.
Wongrakpanich, S., et al. (2018). A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly. Aging and Disease.
