Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2004 Sep;58(3):326-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02128.x.

Is decreased libido associated with the use of HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors?

L de Graaf  1 , A H P M Brouwers, W L Diemont
Affiliations
Review

Is decreased libido associated with the use of HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors?

L de Graaf et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004 Sep.

Abstract

Aims and methods: To describe patients with decreased libido during use of a HMG-CoA-reductase-inhibitor, and to discuss causality and pharmacological hypotheses for this association by analysis of the adverse drug reactions (ADR) database of the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb.

Results: Eight patients were identified as having decreased libido during use of statins. In two of these cases testosterone levels were determined and appeared to be decreased.

Conclusion: Decreased libido is a probable adverse drug reaction of HMG-CoA-reductase-inhibitors and is reversible. The ADR may be caused by low serum testosterone levels, mainly due to intracellular cholesterol depletion.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Rizvi K, Hampson JP, Harvey JN. Do lipid-lowering drugs cause erectile dysfunction? A systematic review. Fam Pract. 2002;19:95–8. - PubMed
    1. Crenshaw TL, Goldberg PJ. Testosterone in men. In: Crenshaw TL, Goldberg PJ, editors. Sexual Pharmacology. New York: WW Norton Co.; 1996. pp. 115–28.
    1. Griffin JE, Wilson JD. Disorders of the testes. In: Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kapser DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, editors. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 15. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division; 2001. pp. 2143–54.
    1. Jay RH, Sturley RH, Stirling C, et al. Effects of pravastatin and cholestyramine on gonadal and adrenal steroid production in familial hypercholesterolaemia. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1991;32:417–22. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ginsberg HN, Golberg IJ. Disorders of intermediary metabolism. In: Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Kapser DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, editors. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 15. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division; 2001. pp. 2245–57.

MeSH terms