I'll confess - for as many of the hateful side effects of Solu-Medrol that I have experienced, erectile dysfunction never crossed my mind (for pretty obvious reasons). However, a recent comment from one male reader alerted me to the fact that this problem can get added to the list of side effects.
I tried to research erectile dysfunction and Solu-Medrol in the medical literature and came up pretty empty. However, one clue I did uncover was an abstract that discussed the use of prednisone (the oral version of Solu-Medrol) in combination with another drug to prevent and treat recurrent ischemic priapism (this is a condition of an erection that lasts more than 4 hours without sexual stimulation and is considered a potential medical emergency). Since the prednisone was effective in treating this condition and preventing an unwanted erection, it seems like we can deduce that it might also prevent a "wanted" erection from happening - especially in the massive doses that are given for MS relapses.
Clearly, Solu-Medrol can impact sexual performance with other side effects, like anxiety or just feeling completely weird. But have any of you noticed erectile dysfunction that seemed more "mechanical" in nature while using Solu-Medrol (or the Medrol Dose Pack taper of prednisone pills)? How long did it take for this to go away? While it may be not the most comfortable subject to discuss, you may be helping someone out with your comment. The last thing anyone needs during Solu-Medrol treatment is more anxiety about something...) Leave your comment below.
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I haven’t noticed this effect. But that’s not really a surprise considering that my ex broke up with me shortly after I was diagnosed because she didn’t like the possibility that she might end up being a caregiver. I had stuck by her during a couple of health issues, then when the situation was reversed she couldn’t handle it. Since then I’ve not been in a relationship that developed far enough for this to be an issue. It seems that most of the women I meet are very reluctant to get into a relationship which might lead to them being caregiver to an invalid.
I’ll tell the truth but forgive the overshare. I went to the urologist because of “erctile dysfunction” but not really. When I lost some feeling for me the desire just went away. But that’s the interesting thing about not wanting something, you just don’t want it, so it doesn’t really bother you that much. In fact it’s kind of nice to have one less thing to worry about.
However it was such a change that I had a number of things I wanted to clear up that could have been other possible causes. But it’s probably just MS, it turns out.
I don’t know if other guys experience it in the same way, but for any partners out there who might be confused, that’s what I feel. It’s not 100% gone, and it changes day to day, but it’s significant.
It seems not related to solumedrol, just MS.
I don’t have a partner but it has made me think a lot about the sexual politics of couples. I fear there’s a lot of dishonesty there in an effort to satisfy the other’s needs and not be sexually “useless”. It makes me sad.
Low dose Medrol actually restored my sex drive and function much to my surprise and joy. I can see where Solu Medrol would suppress any hormonal activity at the doses used but the low dose anti-inflammatory effects seem to allow that area to function even though low dose oral medrol is not a satisfactory way to manage MS. It does allow me to function at work etc outside of the original discussion here:) so there seems to be some temporary benefit other than restoration of love life.
Although comments most likely will be from guys, I’ll give my feedback. Along with the sickest I ever had in my life, I had numbness and complete loss of sexual feeling after receiving Solu-Medrol. It has taken 2-3 years to almost start feeling like myself again.
I’m no doctor but your comment of Solu-Medrol being a the oral version of Solu-Medrol” is both correct and incorrect.
Wikipedia states that Solu-Medrol is “a variant of prednisolone, methylated at carbon 6 of the B ring…[but is] also the active metabolite of prednisone” and Methylprednisolone is the synthetic version of Medrol and Solu-Medrol.
I now refuse to take Solu-Medro and prefer brand name, Prednisone, but even high doses of it can cause me to be sick as well.
I realize every drug has a generic name, but I learned from my pharmacist that Prednisone has both a brand name drug and generic name drug, each called PREDNISONE.
I received a prednisone dose slightly higher than the regular dose pack. Since that dose, about 2 months ago, I’ve noticed a significant decline in my ability to get an erection. It’s not dysfunctional yet, but just lower. Like many people mentioned here, I just didn’t want it, so it didn’t really matter at first. But now it’s getting annoying and I just want to be myself again. Keeping my fingers crossed for its effects to wear away.
I was diagnosed with ITP/TTP years ago. Had a flair up last week- treated with solu medrol for the first time- no erection- all feelings have disappeared. Never had a problem before with just prednisone but my doctor claims it’s not the solu medrol?