Clozapine Sexual Side Effects

In clinical studies on clozapine, sexual side effects (changes in sex drive, impotence, and priapism) were reported. However, because such side effects are also common with the conditions clozapine is used to treat, it's unclear if the medication, the condition, or other factors are responsible. If you are taking clozapine and sexual side effects occur, your healthcare provider may recommend treatment options or prescribe a different medication.

 

An Overview of Clozapine Sexual Side Effects

Clozapine (Clozaril®, FazaClo®) is known to cause certain sexual side effects. These clozapine sexual side effects may include:
 
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Ejaculation problems
  • Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED
  • A painful erection of the penis that does not go away (priapism).
     

Clozapine and Sex Drive

Clozapine can cause changes in sex drive (also known as libido). In clinical studies, an increased or decreased sex drive was a rare clozapine side effect, occurring in less than 1 percent of people.
 

Clozapine and Ejaculation Problems

Clozapine is also known to cause problems with ejaculation. In most cases, these problems involve delayed ejaculation or an inability to ejaculate.
 
In clinical studies where the side effects of clozapine were documented, ejaculation problems occurred in up to 1 percent of men taking the drug.
 

Clozapine and Impotence

Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).
 
In studies, impotence occurred in less than 1 percent of men taking clozapine.
 
(Clozapine Sexual Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;